#MERV

[thenightling]

A theory about Merv

I have a theory about Mervyn Pumpkinhead.  I’d say it’s a headcanon but it’s more a theory. 

  According to the tale of Stingy Jack (the origin of the jack-o-Lantern) we carve Jack-o-lanterns to drive away old Jack and other wandering ghosts.  The Jack-o-lantern is a protection ward against supernatural threats from entering your home. One superstition has it that if you blow out the Jack-o-lantern before midnight on Halloween you invite evil spirits to enter your home for the entire year.  It’s only safe to blow it out after midnight. Another superstition is if you let the Jack-o-lantern burn out naturally you invite good luck for the entire year and have warded your home against evil for the full year.  It is especially good luck if it manages to burn until after sunrise. In The House with a clock in its walls Pumpkin Jack-o-lanterns are used as protection wards all year long. Jack-o-lanterns, at their heart, are symbols of protection.  Now, because we see Mervyn as a Mervyn Turniphead in The Sandman story The Tempest, it’s very clear that his Jack-o-lantern head isn’t just for the aesthetic. In his Turnip form, that is an old school Irish Jack-o-lantern.  That is a pre-Halloween decoration (use for any time of year) Protection symbol against supernatural threats.

So even in present day when Mervyn has a modern Pumpkin Jack-o-lantern head, Mervyn is a walking, talking, protection ward against supernatural threats.  He’s not just the groundskeeper or janitor.  He’s a line of defense.   This does explain why Mervyn stands up to The Furies (The Kindly Ones) the way he does.

And this is also one of the many reasons I, myself, love Jack-o-lanterns.  They aren’t just symbols of Halloween. They are kind of comforting in their protective light. 

[archaeoart]

Fortress ruins at Abdullakhan-Kala, Merv in Turkmenistan, circa 1890.

[martimer-underground]

Collection of Sillies Pt2

[onlytiktoks]

@a-captions-blog

[thoughtportal]

Merv loves Charles

[designtheendless]

The Crew- Lucienne, Mazikeen and Merv

(This au as always is inspired by @valeriianz 🎼)

[postcard-from-the-past]

Ancient ruins of Merv in Turkmenistan

Russian vintage postcard

[ultra-nohai]

Merv Griffin from Hercules

Requested by TudorMickeyMouse

(WARNING: Any unauthorized copying of this artwork will be reported and will urge the user to take it down without warranty.)

[mylittleyuna]

If you don’t know merv the cat- this won’t make a ton of sense 🤍🪽

[asofterdream]

the best revenge is bitter sarcasm and unhappiness

[thenightling]

I just noticed a possible Easter Egg. I was skimming through episode 9 when I noticed this statue behind Mervyn. There are a few but the one closest to him.. is that Calliope? Does Morpheus still hold a torch?

[141135]

absolutely wild how much i pretend to know about history and yet i've never heard of this place. heartbreaking.

[martimer-underground]

Another couple 'o guys being dudes. 0 ft apart bc they're gay.

Reference...

[chmerkovskiyvalentin]

(IG Stories) valentin: 03.11.23