#Harvest Celebrations

[harmonyhealinghub]

Unveiling the Spellbinding Origins of Halloween Shaina Tranquilino October 30, 2023

As orange leaves flutter to the ground and jack-o'-lanterns flicker in the night, it's undeniable that Halloween has become a beloved, spine-tingling celebration worldwide. But have you ever wondered about the bewitching origins hiding behind this enchanting holiday? Join us on a captivating journey as we unravel the mysterious history of Halloween.

Ancient Roots: The roots of Halloween can be traced back over 2,000 years to an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced sow-in). Celebrated by the Celts in Ireland, Scotland, and parts of Britain, Samhain marked the end of summer and welcomed the harvest season. On October 31st, they believed that the boundary between the living and dead blurred, allowing spirits to roam freely among them.

Trick-or-Treating Takes Shape: During Samhain festivities, people would dress in costumes made from animal hides, attempting to ward off evil spirits or disguise themselves from mischievous entities. They also lit bonfires as a form of protection against malevolent forces—a tradition that still echoes today with our glowing Jack-o'-lanterns.

Christian Influence: In the 9th century A.D., Christianity began spreading throughout Celtic lands. Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as All Saints' Day or All Hallows' Day to honour saints and martyrs who didn't have their own feast day yet. To integrate pagan traditions into Christian practices and discourage Celtic rituals during Samhain, November 1st became known as All Hallows' Eve—the precursor to modern-day Halloween.

Ghostly Evolutions: As time progressed, various customs blended together to shape Halloween into its present form. In Medieval England, "souling" emerged when beggars went door-to-door offering prayers for departed souls in exchange for food or money—a practice that later inspired modern-day trick-or-treating. Similarly, in Scotland and Ireland, "guising" appeared, with people dressing up in costumes to perform songs, poems, or tricks for treats.

The Immigrant Influence: Halloween as we know it today found its way to North America through Irish and Scottish immigrants during the 19th century. In the United States, these traditions merged with Indigenous harvest celebrations and other European customs. The result was a uniquely "American Halloween"—a time of community gatherings, parties, parades, and spooky festivities that captured hearts across the nation.

Modern-Day Celebrations: In recent decades, Halloween has gained immense popularity worldwide. It has evolved into a holiday celebrated by people of all ages—both young and old. Festivities range from creatively carved pumpkins to haunted houses, costume parties to horror movie marathons—all embraced as part of this spirited celebration.

As darkness descends on All Hallows' Eve each year, we're reminded of the fascinating history behind Halloween's enduring magic. From ancient Celtic rituals to religious adaptations and cultural exchanges, this captivating holiday has grown into an enchanting blend of tradition and fun.

So whether you find yourself mesmerized by ghostly tales around a bonfire or joining the chorus of tiny witches and superheroes chanting "trick-or-treat," remember that Halloween is more than just costumes and candy—it's a bewitching journey through time connecting us to centuries-old customs and shared human experiences.

[gubbacciindia]

Observing Pongal and Various Harvest Celebrations | Gubbacci

India's rich cultural diversity is evident in the various harvest celebrations, each region having its unique traditions, feasts, dances, and events. Notably, Sankranti and Pongal are vibrant festivals, prominently celebrated in South India. While Sankranti is observed across the nation, it holds a special place in the hearts of people in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. Pongal, on the other hand, is primarily celebrated in Tamil Nadu, focusing on honoring the harvest season.

The four-day Pongal festival in January involves Bhogi Pongal, marking new beginnings; Thai Pongal, dedicated to thanking the Sun God with special foods; Mattu Pongal, honoring cattle; and Kaanum Pongal, fostering family bonds through gatherings.

Read More...

[newspatron]

Unveil Makar Sankranti's Secrets: Sun, Sweets, & Celebrations

Share your Makar Sankranti memories, questions, or favorite recipes! Let's celebrate together!

Dive into the vibrant tapestry of Makar Sankranti! Discover the sun’s triumphant journey, delectable treats, and joyous traditions of this Indian harvest festival. Kissed by the Sun: A Journey Through the Vibrancy of Makar SankrantiMakar Sankranti 2024 HighlightsDateTimeImportanceRitualsDo’s and Don’tsGupta Lakshmi PujaScientific Explanations for Makar SankrantiScientific Reasons Behind the…

[chronurgy]

Reading forgotten realms lore is just like [standard fantasy worldbuilding] [standard fantasy worldbuilding] [standard fantasy worldbuilding] [something really unique and interesting] [standard fantasy worldbuilding] [standard fantasy worldbuilding] [EXTREMELY WEIRD SEX THING] [standard fantasy worldbuilding] [standard fantasy worldbuilding]

Except for when it's like [standard fantasy worldbuilding] [EXTREMELY WEIRD SEX THING] [EXTREMELY WEIRD SEX THING] [EXTREMELY WEIRD SEX THING] [EXTREMELY WEIRD SEX THING] [EXTREMELY WEIRD SEX THING] [standard fantasy worldbuilding] [EXTREMELY WEIRD SEX THING]

[todayintokyo]

Rabbits in moonlight by Utagawa Hiroshige

[galoogamelady]

Dunno if this is something you've been asked before but how does our favorite post apocalyptic beanboy and his most excellent gal celebrate Halloween in the Commonwealth?

It's been a long time since we talked about this in detail (probably in 2014-15?) but I think we established that many traditional American holidays were lost in the Great War (people were more concerned with surviving, obviously). A lot of these celebrations were kept alive by Vault residents however. Buttons does his best to inspire his fellow Arefu settlers to celebrate Halloween to some extent and Meg plays along, even if it makes no sense to her. The budget Brahmin has to be my favorite Halloween post so I did a quick redraw:

Buttons had a couple other Halloween costumes since 2014:

Butt-O-Ween skeleton

Slutty Molerat

Hancock (aka raunchy mayor)

GTA Online Buttons is a sexy cat every year

[ilikeit-art]

Traditional bull racing in Indonesia

"to push the cow in front of you.

[meirimerens]

Sorry if this question is a bit forward or too personal or if this isn't the place to ask. But what goddess do your worship?

her name is mother she looks like this

[brickbozo]

[156shadesofscarlet]

Blessed Samhain!

[enchantedliving]

Samhain Tea Ritual

By Whisper in the Wood

It is fall, and deep in the ancient groves of the enchanted wood, a woman gathers earthy roots and plump, fragrant mushrooms. She places them in her basket beside wild ruby-red rose hips, juicy dark-purple elderberries, and silvery mugwort gifted by the hedges.

Her hooded woolen cloak brushes against the soft ferns that line the path over spongy moss and pine needles as she makes her way home. There, at the edge of the wood, her small stone cottage is surrounded by goldenrod and purple aster swaying in the breeze. A black cat in the doorframe mews, eagerly awaiting her return.As the teakettle heats over the hearth fire, she crafts a Samhain tea blend with the flora and fungi she’s foraged in the wood. This autumnal tea ritual honors the bounties of harvest time and celebrates the Triple Goddess, who now begins her seasonal transformation from Mother to Crone. The spirit ancestors whisper to her from beyond the veil, which is at its thinnest this time of year.

Join her and the collective of ancestors who came before you by putting together your own Samhain tea ritual celebrating and honoring the vibrancy of autumn, the abundant gifts of the harvest, and the deep love given to and received by one’s ancestors in spirit.

KEEP READING AND GET THE RECIPE HERE

[invoke-parlay]

I’m very excited and grateful for the things I’ve been able to harvest this year so far 💚🥒 tomorrow I’ll be going down to the community garden and doing some weeding and harvesting, making some honey corn bread and processing some herbs I harvested as well.

[friendrat]

Welcome to the season of Christians affirming their Christianity by refusing to celebrate Christian holidays.

[5ecardaday]

Monster Popularity Contest: Legends of Innistrad

Well, it's been quite some time since I last posted anything here (all the way back in April, in fact!) but my long summer hiatus is finally over, and I'm happy to be back on a regular schedule once again. That starts with new Weekly Releases, including this brand-new series of monsters from Innistrad, the gothic-horror setting for Magic: the Gathering. Terrify your players with Kurbis, the huanted treefolk; whip-up a mad science mini-boss using Oglor, Devoted Assistant; or put your players firmly in celestial crosshairs using Sigarda, Font of Blessings!

And if you'd like to get early access to more releases like this, vote in weekly polls to decide what I make next, and get access to exclusive patron-only content (like a d100 table of Local Tavern Meals for your fantasy bar of choice), all for as little as $2/month, you can sign up to support me over on Patreon!

[frogshunnedshadows]

I'm calling this "Nature's Goodness."