Happy Hallowe'en!

Just wanted to post a quick Happy Hallowe'en to one and all.  I'm Wiccan, and this is one of my high holy times of the year.  Wicca is neo-pagan, which is to say, it is not based on specific pre-Christian practices, but rather a melding of such practices, original and modified, which make sense to modern peoples. 

The word 'Hallowe'en' is a short form of 'All Hallows' Eve', which means in Roman Catholic parlais, 'the evening before All Saints' Day', which holy day was actually moved from May 13 to November 1st by Papal Bull.

Most neo-pagans refer to the pre-Christian title of Samhain, which is definitely of Gaelic origin, although search me for the dialect specifics. 

Samhain is the last harvest festival of the year, and as a people tied very much to the seasonal calendar, it also marks the end of the Celts' holy year.  Originally, Samhain was three days long.  You had the last day of the old year, the day between the years, and the first day of the new year.  It's uncertain exactly how these days would fall on the modern Gregorian calendar, but I mentally assign them to Oct 31st, Nov 1st, and Nov 2nd... This is primarily due to convenience - usually, I hold ritual on Oct 31st.  It's supposed to be at midnight, but the thing with Paxil is that I'm pretty knocked out by 10pm, regardless of religious significance, hah.

If I was extra-observant, I should hold ritual all three days.  On the 31st, to say goodbye to those who have gone on, on the 1st, to pay respects to the spirits, and on the 2nd, to say hello to those who are born in the new year.

I'm a slacker, however - like many Christians, I find it hard sometimes to be 'observant' in a pro-active manner, so I try for observance in thought, word, and deed, instead.  We do what we can.

And all this long ramble is just to explain one of my favorite holidays, and what, as a Holy Day, it means to me.  But seriously, for those who celebrate it, Happy Samhain.

And for those who celebrate *them*, Happy All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day.

And for everyone else, Happy Hallowe'en, in the fun, dress-up and trick-or-treating and parties sense of the word.  Be safe and have fun.

-boogieshoes