Halloween 2017

[IpswichIan]

31 october in Sweden and in America ???

Real picture.

And video.

Another video.

 

[Dirk]

On 31/10 we celebrate "Reformation Day" in Germany. This year marks the 500th anniversary of the declaration of the 95 theses by Martin Luther

 

[Indian Dan]

On 31/10 we celebrate "Reformation Day" in Germany. This year marks the 500th anniversary of the declaration of the 95 theses by Martin Luther

Ooh. I like Idris Elba.

 

[eightiesrobin]

It always bugs me a little bit on those Sky ads where Idris says "Haitch Dee", instead of "Aitch Dee".

 

[Cornish Piskie]

31 October - 1 November sees the Wiccan festival of Samhain here. It crosses over two days because the Wiccan day begins and ends at Sunset. 31 October is pretty much half way between the Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice.

In Wicca, it is believed that Samhain is when the boundary between this world and the other world can be easily crossed and the spirits of the dead (Aos Si in the Cornish (Kernewek) language) will come to visit their former homes to seek hospitality. Traditionally, offerings of food and drink are left out for them.

Mumming and guising are a part of the festival, and involves people going door-to-door in costume or disguise reciting verses in exchange for food. Sound familiar..?

Here in Celtic Cornwall, Allantide (Kalan Gwav in Kernewek) is celebrated on 31 October. This is the feast of Saint Allan and traditionally, Allan Apples (very large, red, juicy and sweet), polished up to a high shine, are given as tokens of friendship and good luck.

Robert Hunt's Popular Romances Of The West Of England described a festival scene here in Penzance in the 19th Century: "The shops in Penzance would display Allan apples, which were highly polished large apples. On the day itself, these apples were given as gifts to each member of the family as a token of good luck. Older girls would place these apples under their pillows and hope to dream of the person whom they would one day marry. A local game is also recorded where two pieces of wood were nailed together in the shape of a cross. It was then suspended with 4 candles on each outcrop of the cross shape. Allan apples would then be suspended under the cross. The goal of the game was to catch the apples in your mouth, with hot wax being the penalty for slowness or inaccuracy."

Sorry if I'm going on a bit, but my adopted home is the source of so many incredible myths, legends and historic practices (including those mischievous Piskies..!!) that it's an endless source of fascination for me.



PS....

Samhain should not be confused with English county cricketer Sam Hain

Apologies to him for showing him being clean bowled, but it was the only pic I could find with his name visible.

 

[Stevencc]

Trick or treat.