Today Mummy and Nahla picked out our pumpkin for this Sunday's upcoming Halloween. I LOVE this tradition, love the scary, yet strangely welcoming pumpkin lanterns that grace doorsteps, love the children out trick-or-treating, love that it really marks that autumn is here and that we are starting to approach Christmas, love the bonfires, love love love it all. Anyway, as I have somewhat limited experience with pumpkin carving, I doubt our little pumpkin is going to look as good as these- but that is not the point. The point- and I know Nahla is only 10 months but still- is that I want to install this as an annual tradition, the picking of the pumpkin, the carving of scary faces, the decorating the house- glittery black scull table decorations anyone?! Holidays are just the perfect time to make and upkeep traditions, and I hope and think my little princess will love our little Halloween traditions in the years to come!
By the way, did you all know that Halloween originated in Ireland, and not at all in America, like most believe. Here's a short summery of the history of Halloween- just to get you in holiday spirit!
"Halloween is traced back to the ancient Celtics in Ireland, to a festival known as Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season. When Christianity spread through Europe, worshippers tried to introduce ideas which were Christian. Pope Boniface IV established November 1st as All Saints’ Day, which was intended to replace the pagan tradition of honoring the dead with honoring saints and martyrs. For Christians, this became an opportunity for venerating all of the saints and holy ones who had passed on. October 31 became All Hallows’ Eve, ‘hallow’ meaning saint.
Today, children use the phrase “trick-or-treat,” which traces back to the pagan holiday of Samhain, the ultimate night of demonic worshipping and euphoria. Spirits of the dead were believed to rise out of their graves and meander among local towns and villages, trying to return home. In an attempt to make peace, villagers offered gifts of fruit and nuts and began placing other tasty morsels on their doorsteps. Villagers feared that if they did not abide by this custom, the wandering spirits would destroy their property or harm their flock.
One way of trying to blend in among the spirits in an attempt to remain unnoticed was to join them. Townspeople would masquerade as demons, wearing disguises, masks or even blackening their faces with soot to keep themselves safe. From this came the Halloween ritual of dressing up as devils, witches, ogres and other demonic creatures, which then gave way to additional costumes."
So there you go, now you know the story, so go out and get your pumpkin already!
(Photo Credit from here)
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