This is our practice session for our Trick or Treat get together which is on Sunday the 31st. I gather the dogs and we go around Heaven casting eucalyptus smoke around (which make Sweepy sneeze) and praying for our dead ancestors and lighting a candle that will burn all night. This custom was meant to guide the dead back to their homes where food are served and they can rest their merry souls. Of course, we don't serve food on the table (I figure the dead souls can't eat anyway) and I don't expect our dead to get lost nor visit us, but we harvest candies from passers-by and I call out "boo!" (the dogs howl!) *u* and I barked: "STOP AND GIVE US TREATS OR WE'LL TRICK YOU!" And the people start running away from us while laughing. Sometimes they call back at us: "LUNATICS!". . . and I call back "same to you!" haha! . . . Now that sepia treated photograph above is for Mary's Sepia Scenes. Now back to reality (or so it seems) . . .
Today is also the day for Self Sagacity's Two Questions Thursday! And my 2 Qs are: (1) What does Halloween mean to you? (2) Do you also visit the dead like go to the cemetery which is what most Filipinos do on November 1 & 2 which is All Saints and All Souls Day?
But do you also know the beautiful story behind Halloween or Samhain? The ending of the year in Halloween is the Witch's New Year. So they believe the end is the beginning where the cycle repeats. Thousands of years ago and long before the burning times (when powerful women and weak men were burned and accused as witches and evil) the people believed in a female God. The Goddess ruled and conceives during Samhain and gives birth during the winter solstice (Christmas time). Since the Pagans (witches) coat their festivals in creative fashion with colorful rituals and traditions (so similar with a lot of religions today), their grand celebrations were held in devotion to the Goddess and the Horned God, her son who became the hunter and the hunted (later labeled as the devil) who wears the mask of a dead animal. I am the one wearing the mask above and if I am labeled as evil just because I wear a mask that looks like one, then you can imagine how and why people in the olden times did the same thing with the Horned God. A lot of great religions can be reduced to a ridicule and farce by people who does not respect and understand that all of creation springs from the same seed. And that each seed must work with the others to ensure the survival of all. In all our differences, we are all really the same. And as we end, so must we begin . . .
12 comments:
Wow,scary;)
Wow, I didn't know about the story until you shared.. I agreed with this 'in all our differences, we are all really the same.. and as we end, so must we begin...' :)
Alright now, time for the your questions..
1) Halloween is very much like the Hungry Ghost Month in our Lunar Calendar except that is the whole of 7th month but Halloween is just a day so yeah, it holds the same meaning (at least to me)...
2) Hmm, nope but I do attend Mass in Church.. For me, I still stick to Lunar Calendar since my dad and the rest of my relatives are, so there will be a month which is in 3th month of the Lunar Calendar when we will go to the cemetery for 'visit' and also made some offering and clearing up the tomb area..
Oh yes, dear, I have left you comment in the 2nd last comment you left - Gauge 1 so yeah, I hope the 'mountains' will not be much of a problem.. :P :P
oh, what an interesting and funny post, Lui! i love it! and your Halloween photos give me goosebumps!:p the purple version is my favorite.
1. Halloween used to be a hangover day for me (it's the day after my birthday :p), but not anymore. it's an ordinary day in our family.
2. We don't have a family tradition of visiting the dead in the cemetery. but i did go with my friends when i was in high school.:p for a couple of years now, i go to the Libingan ng mga Bayani to meet a good friend who visits her dad there. we also walk around and visit the tomb of the unknown soldier and my favorite statesman, Carlos P. Romulo.:p
Thanks for the Halloween lesson. I'm always interested in the stories behind our holidays. In answer to your question, Halloween first of all conjures up harvest, death and renewal. Then, I think of my loved ones who have passed away. But soon the door bell is ringing and excited children dressed in costumes are holding out bags for their treats and the fun begins. I don't visit the graveyard on Halloween, though it makes sense that many people do. Out of love and respect, not fear.
I don't really celebrate Halloween but more the season of Fall..
I don't go to the cemetery to see my loved ones because I feel their souls leave their body at the time of death and that is just their shell in the ground. My mind keeps them alive to me. I appreciate other peoples customs and I think your take on Halloween is so much sweeter than ours.
1) Halloween means having fun for children, and giving them a chance to play dressed-up!
2) No, I don't visit the dead!
Thanks for joining!
Very scary face.Happy Halloween!
By the way, I followed you in google connect. Hope you do the same. Thanks
What a great post and background on Halloween, thanks for that. I don't know much about witches except for Bewitched. :-)the TV series.
1) Halloween is just a day for the kids to dress up and be that fantasy person they always wanted. It means more work for me, buying preparing candy for school and home, decorations, making sure the costumes are good to go...etc.
2) If we were in Viet Nam, I think we would visit our ancestors or relatives at the graves around New Year, but in the US, our family prays for my dad once a year and visit his grave on Christmas- when he was killed.
I went to your other site again.. Hoping to see some signs of the mountains.. Okay, okay, I know I am just too excited.. You need time to come up with that..so yeah.. Anyway, I am here to tell you that I left a reply for you on Gauge 3 on Thursday Two Question.. Here is the direct link.. http://www.tingnovels.com/2010/10/can-you-tell-gauge-3.html
See you around.. :) *Hug*
Thanks for the Halloween information.
1) Halloween just means fun dressed-up costumes, candies, and parties for adults and kids..
2) I don't go to the graveyard, but on occasions go to church for all Saints and all Soul masses.
Hm..... a deep story you're coming with here.. Really I did not know all about this..! :O Exciting..
But we don't celebrate Halloween here in Norway.. eh.. well.. children born in the 90's and later are celebrating, in a way.. But not me and my boyfriend.
(We are too old- hush..!)
Some grownups maybe celebrate it, just for fun, without me to know....
Thanks for telling this.. :) I'm so glad you are ok---- even in that mask- haha! Fun, I had to laugh loud.. :)
By the waty---- I just love the two first photos!! The colors and the lack of colors.. beautiful! Especially the violet..!
says viola.. :))
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