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greenwitchcrafts · 6 months ago

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August 2024 Witch Guide

New Moon: August 4th

First Quarter: August 12th

Full moon: August 19th

Last Quarter: August 26th

Sabbats: Lughnasadh/Lammas- August 1st

August Sturgeon Moon

Also known as: Barely Moon, Black Cherries Moon, Corn moon, Dispute Moon, Harvest moon, Herb Moon, grain moon, Mountain Shadows Moon, Red moon, Ricing Moon, Weodmonath & Wyrt moon

Element: Fire

Zodiac: Leo & Virgo

Animal spirts: Dryads

Deities: Diana, Ganesha, Hathor, Hecate, Mars, Nemesis, Thot & Vulcan

Animals: Dragon, lion, phoenix & sphinx

Birds: Crane, eagle & falcon

Trees: Alder, cedar & hazel

Herbs: Basil, bay, fennel, orange, rosemary, rue & St.John's wort

Flowers: Angelica, chamomile, marigold & sunflower

Scents: Frankincense & heliotrope

Stones: Carnelian, cats/tiger's eye, emerald, fire agate, garnet, jade, moonstone, peridot, red jasper, red agate, sardonyx, topaz & tourmaline

Colors: Dark green, gold, orange, red & yellow

Energy: Abundance, appreciation, authority, courage, entertainment, finding your voice, friendship, gathering, harvesting energy, health, love, pleasures, power, prophecy, prosperity, vitality & wisdom

The name Sturgeon Moon comes from the giant lake sturgeon of the Great Lakes & Lake Champlain; this native freshwater fish was readily caught during this part of summer & an important food staple for Native Americans who lived in the region. At one time the lake sturgeon was quite abundant in late summer, though they are rarer today.

• August's full moon is the first Supermoon of the year, which means that it will appear bigger & brighter than the full Moons we have seen so far!

Lughnasadh

Known as: Lammas, August Eve & Feast of Bread

Season: Summer

Element: Fire

Symbols: corn, grain dollies & shafts of grain

Colors: Gold, golden yellow, green, light brown, orange, purple, red & yellow

Oils/Incense: Aloe, apple, corn, eucalyptus, safflower, rose & sandalwood

Animals: Cattle (bull & calf)

Birds: Chicken/Rooster

Stones: Aventurine, carnelian, citrine, peridot, sardonyx & yellow diamond

Food: Apples, barely cakes, berries, berry pies, breads, colcannon, cider, corn, grains, honey, lamb, nuts, potatoes, rice, sun-shaped cookies & wild berries

Herbs/Plants: Alfalfa, aloe, blackberry, bramble, corn, cornsilk, corn stalk, crab apple, fenugreek, frankincense, ginseng, goldenseal, gorse, grape, medowsweet, oak leaves, pear, rye, sloe & wheat

Flowers: Clyclamen, heather hollyhock & sunflower

Trees: Acacia, apple, myrtle,oak & rowan

Goddesses: Aine, Alphito, Bracacia, Carmen, Ceres, Damina, Danu, Demeter, Ereshkigal, Freya, Frigga, Gaia, Inanna Ishtar, Kait, Persephone, Sul, Taillte, Tea & Zaramama

Gods: Athar, Bes, Bran, Dagon, Dumuzi, Ebisu, Ghanan, Howtu, Liber, Lono, Lugh, Neper, Odin & Xochipilli

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Accomplishment, agriculture, challenges, darkness, death, endings, release & transformation

Spellwork: Abundance, bounty, fire magick, rituals of thanks & sun magick

Activities:

• Bake fresh bread

• Weave wheat

• Take walks in nature or along bodies of water

• Craft a corn doll

• Learn a new skill

• Watch the sunrise/sunset

• Leave grains and seeds in a place where birds, squirrels and other small animals can appreciate them

• Eat outside with family/friends/coven members

• Donate to your local foodbank

• Prepare a feast with your garden harvest

• Give thanks & offerings to the Earth

• Trade crafts of make deals

• Gather and/or dry herbs to use for the upcoming year

• Celebrate/honor the god Lugh by hosting a competition of games

• Participate in matchmaking or handfasting ceremonies

• Decorate your altar with symbols of the season

• Clean up a space in nature

• Plant saved seeds or save seeds to use in the future

Lughnasadh or Lammas is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. Historically it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland & the Isle of Man. Traditionally it is held on 1 August, or about halfway between the summer solstice & autumn equinox. In recent centuries some of the celebrations have shifted to the Sunday nearest this date.

Lughnasadh is mentioned in early Irish literature & has pagan origins. The festival is named after Lugh the god of craftsmanship. It was also founded by the god Lugh as a funeral feast & athletic competition/funeral games in memory of his foster-mother Tailtiu. She was said to have died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland for agriculture.

• Tailtiu may have been an earth goddess who represented the dying vegetation that fed mankind.

• Another tale says that Lugh founded the festival in memory of his two wives, the sisters Nás & Bói.

In the Middle Ages it involved great gatherings that included ceremonies, athletic contests (most notably the Tailteann Games which were extremely dangerous), horse racing, feasting, matchmaking & trading.

• With the coming of Christianity to the Celtic lands, the old festival of Lughnasadh took on Christian symbolism. Loaves of bread were baked from the first of the harvested grain & placed on the church altar on the first Sunday of August. The Christianized name for the feast of Lughnasadh is Lammas which means “loaf mass”.

Some believe this is the time where the God has weakened & is losing his strength as seen in the waning of the day's light. The Goddess is pregnant with the young God who will be born on Yule.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2024 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living

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space-station-nursery · 1 month ago

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◜🌲𓂃 Happy Yule! ‧ 🕯️◞

⁺　　◍ 　 . 　 ⁺　　☆　　⁺ 　 . 　 ◍　　⁺

Yes, i am aware yule has started, however i feel that since its not over yet, its still a good time to educate!! So happy yule, and lets take some time to learn about it!

⁺　　◍ 　 . 　 ⁺　　☆　　⁺ 　 . 　 ◍　　⁺

★﹒┊What is yule? ⁔⁔

Yule is a festival of the Winter Solstice [shortest day of the year] historically observed by Germanic peoples that got integrated into Christmas, during the Christianization of the Germanic peoples.

⁺　　◍ 　 . 　 ⁺　　☆　　⁺ 　 . 　 ◍　　⁺

★﹒┊Where does it come from? ⁔⁔

Yule celebrations are believed to have originated from the Norse festival of jol, which focuses on themes of light, fire, and feasting. Some historians suggest sacrifices were a significant part of the observance, possibly to gods or the dead [or both!]. It was argued that the original festival of Yule was a Norse day of the dead, with Odin [or Jolnir] acting as the god of the dead, however this has been disputed as a new year festival to set the tone for the coming months.

⁺　　◍ 　 . 　 ⁺　　☆　　⁺ 　 . 　 ◍　　⁺

★﹒┊How is yule celebrated? ⁔⁔

⧼ 🪵 ⧽ Yule log and food

It is thought that the original Yule log was a large log that was ceremoniously lit on Christmas Eve and kept burning for the twelve nights of Christmas, leading up to Twelfth Night. A popular modern take on the Yule log is a roulade-style cake decorated to look like a log eaten at sometime during the season. During Yule, many cattle are slaughtered due to being unable to be fed during harsh winters, thus giving a hearty feast for all during the winter months. It also meant that offerings could be left out for the gods. After the 9th century when King Haakon Haraldsson went to visit England, everyone was required to have ale from a measure of grain and keep the holiday while the ale lasted or else be subject to a fine.

⧼ 🦌 ⧽ Decorations

A remaining tradition in many areas is the Yule goat, made from straw, believed to have originated in ancient times as a tribute to Thor, who rode in a chariot pulled by goats. In Sweden, the goat is associated with Christmas celebrations and Santa Claus. Many homes also decorate with nature seen as important, like pinecones, candles [white, red, gold, silver and green], holly as a form of protection, mistletoe for love, and more!

⧼ ⚔️ ⧽ Other celebrants

Currently, Yule is observed by many Neo-Pagans and Wiccans as the second sabbat of the Wheel of the Year, with rituals to welcome the Sun's return. Some reenact Celtic legends [like the battle of the Holly king and Oak king], recreate ancient Norse traditions [like burning yule], or staying awake until dawn to observe nature's cycles

⁺　　◍ 　 . 　 ⁺　　☆　　⁺ 　 . 　 ◍　　⁺

18+ blogs // DD!LG, AB!DL and variants [even "SFW"] // 27 and older // DNI

Fact OTD: The yule log is a different wood type in every culture that celebrates! In England, oak is the wood of choice for the Yule log, while Scotland prefers birch. In France, cherry wood is used, and the log is even sprinkled with wine before burning, filling the air with a delightful aroma.

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adventuresofalgy · 1 month ago

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********** Submissions Invited! ********** (Original photos and artwork only please.)

As Algy's more longstanding tumblr friends will know, Algy sometimes hosts an exciting tumblr party on his sideblog @lovefromalgy by posting contributions from his tumblr friends around the world.

Algy is planning a Hogmanay Hootenanny on New Year's Eve 2024: Help him see in the New Year in Style! 🥂🍾🎆🥂🍾🎆🥂🍾🎆🥂🍾🎆🥂🍾🎆🥂🍾🎆🥂🍾🎆

Use the submission form on Algy's sideblog @lovefromalgy or send Algy a link to a post on your own tumblr blog.

You are all invited to submit (or send a link to your own post) original photos, artwork, short video clips or music suitable for a joyful, fluffy Hogmanay Hootenanny.

Subjects might include fireworks (real or created artistically), party and festive decorations of all kinds (including gorgeous flowers), fluffy friends, or anything happy or magical or fun for the hootenanny.

[Only submit your own images etc please – Algy doesn't reblog third party material.]

Any questions, just ask 😀

Algy knows that in reality quite a few people are lonely or unable to join in any real celebrations on New Year's Eve (or Hogmanay as we call it in Scotland), so let's have some fun here on tumblr…

🥂🍾🎆🥂🍾🎆🥂🍾🎆🥂🍾🎆🥂🍾🎆🥂🍾🎆🥂🍾🎆

The celebrations will start at 1 p.m. GMT on 31st December, as that marks the start of the New Year in Australia – and continue into the New Year here in Scotland.

It all happens on Algy's sideblog @lovefromalgy …

Use the submission form on Algy's sideblog @lovefromalgy or send Algy a link to a post on your own tumblr blog.

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camisoledadparis · 1 month ago

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presents THIS DAY IN GAY HISTORY

based on: The White Crane Institute's 'Gay Wisdom', Gay Birthdays, Gay For Today, Famous GLBT, glbt-Gay Encylopedia, Today in Gay History, Wikipedia, and more … December 31

HAPPY HOGMANAY! What's is Hogmanay you say? Why the roots of Hogmanay reach back to the celebration of the winter solstice among the Norse, as well as incorporating customs from the Gaelic New Year's celebration of Samhain.

In Europe, winter solstice evolved into the ancient celebration of Saturnalia, a great Roman winter festival, where people celebrated completely free of restraint and inhibition. The Vikings celebrated Yule, which later contributed to the Twelve Days of Christmas, or the "Daft Days" (really) as they were sometimes called in Scotland. The winter festival went underground with the Protestant Reformation and ensuing years, but re-emerged near the end of the 17th century. A very Scottish thing Hogmanay. Wear a kilt to this evening's festivities to set the mood right!

192 – The Roman emperor Commodus died on this date (b.161). It's New Year's Eve and, after a long year's journey, we are finally at the end of this year. To be on the safe side, why not stay home and watch old reruns of Guy Lombardo and spend a quiet evening in memory of the emperor Commodus, who called his exceptionally well-endowed cup-bearer "my donkey," and was strangled by an over- enthusiastic wrestler named Narcissus on this day.

In 2000's neo-blood and sandals epic Gladiator, Commodus was portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix in an Academy-Award-nominated performance. The historical character of Commodus is fictionalized in the movie as a deranged megalomaniac who murders Marcus Aurelius to usurp the throne. There is no historical evidence suggesting Marcus Aurelius was murdered, much less by his own son. However the movie removes some of the most bizarre eccentricities of Commodus. The film's protagonist, Maximus Decimus Meridius (played by Russell Crowe) is loosely inspired by Narcissus, and was named so in a previous draft of the screenplay, but as in The Fall of the Roman Empire Commodus is killed in hand-to-hand combat. Commodus's death marked the end of the Nervan-Antonian and of the Pax Romana.

Dressing Tony Curtis for "Some Like It Hot"

1897 – Orry-Kelly was the professional name of Orry George Kelly (d.1964), a prolific Hollywood costume designer.

He was born in Kiama, New South Wales, Australia, and was known as Jack Kelly. His father William Kelly, was born on the Isle of Man and was a gentleman tailor in Kiama. Orry was a name of an ancient King of Man. Jack Kelly studied art in Sydney, and worked as a tailor's apprentice and window dresser.

He journeyed to New York to pursue an acting career. He shared an apartment there with Charlie Spangles and Cary Grant. Director Gillian Armstrong writes of this time:

''The big secret is that when Orry first got to New York and was trying to get his start, painting murals on walls and selling hand-painted ties, he ended up rooming with a young British actor called Archie Leach. They definitely became lovers and were living together for about five years.''

The job painting murals in a nightclub led to his employment by Fox East Coast studios illustrating titles. He designed costumes and sets for Broadway's Shubert Revues and George White's Scandals. His lover, Archie Leach, went on to become Cary Grant.

Orry-Kelly went to Hollywood in 1932, working for all the major studios (Warner Brothers, Universal, RKO, 20th Century Fox, and MGM), and designed for all the great actresses of the day, including Bette Davis, Kay Francis, Olivia de Havilland, Katharine Hepburn, Dolores del Río, Ava Gardner, Ann Sheridan, Barbara Stanwyck, and Merle Oberon.

He worked on many films now deemed classics, including 42nd Street, The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, Arsenic and Old Lace, Harvey, Oklahoma!, Auntie Mame, and Some Like It Hot.He won three Academy Awards for Best Costume Design (for An American in Paris, Cole Porter's Les Girls, and Some Like It Hot) and was nominated for a fourth (for Gypsy). A longtime alcoholic, he died of liver cancer in Hollywood. His pallbearers included Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Billy Wilder and George Cukor and his eulogy was read by Jack Warner. His Academy Awards went to Jack Warner's wife, Ann.

1948 – Joe Dallesandro, is an American actor and Warhol superstar. Although he never became a mainstream film star, Dallesandro is generally considered to be the most famous male sex symbol of American underground films of the 20th century, as well as a sex symbol of gay subculture

Born into a dysfunctional family, Joe was placed in foster homes. Dallesandro began acting out and became aggressive. He repeatedly ran away from his foster home until his father finally relented and allowed him to live with him. At the age of 14, Dallesandro and his brother moved to Queens to live with their paternal grandparents and their father.

At 15, he was expelled from school for punching the principal, who had insulted his father. After his expulsion, Dallesandro began hanging out with gangs and started stealing cars. In once such instance, Dallesandro panicked and smashed the stolen car he was driving through the gate of the Holland Tunnel. He was stopped by a police roadblock and shot once in the leg by police who mistakenly thought he was armed. Dallesandro managed to escape being caught by police, but was later arrested when his father took him to the hospital for his gunshot wound. He was sentenced to Camp Cass Rehabilitation Center for Boys in the Catskills in 1964

The following year, Dallesandro ran away from Camp Cass. He supported himself by prostitution and later nude modeling, appearing most notably in short films and magazine photos for Bob Mizer's Athletic Model Guild.

Dallesandro met Andy Warhol and Paul Morrissey in 1967 while they were shooting Four Stars, and they cast him in the film on the spot. Warhol would later comment "In my movies, everyone's in love with Joe Dallesandro."

Dallesandro played a hustler in his third Warhol film, Flesh (1968), where he had several nude scenes. Flesh became a crossover hit with mainstream audiences, and Dallesandro became the most popular of the Warhol stars. New York Times film critic Vincent Canby wrote of him: "His physique is so magnificently shaped that men as well as women become disconnected at the sight of him."

A Warhol photograph of the crotch bulge of Dallesandro's tight blue jeans graces the famous cover of the Rolling Stones album Sticky Fingers. Dallesandro explained to biographer Michael Ferguson, "It was just out of a collection of junk photos that Andy pulled from. He didn't pull it out for the design or anything, it was just the first one he got that he felt was the right shape to fit what he wanted to use for the fly."

As Dallesandro's underground fame began to cross over into the popular culture, he graced the cover of Rolling Stone in April 1971. He was also photographed by some of the top celebrity photographers of the time.

He continued to star in films made mainly in France and Italy for the rest of the decade, returning to America in the 1980s. He made several mainstream films during the 1980s and 1990s. One of his first notable roles was that of 1920s gangster Lucky Luciano in Francis Coppola's The Cotton Club. He also had roles in Critical Condition (1987), Sunset (1988) , Guncrazy (1992), Cry-Baby (1990), and The Limey.

In addition to films, Dallesandro has also worked in television. In 1986, he co-starred in the ABC drama series Fortune Dane. The series lasted only five episodes. Dallesandro has also made guest appearances on Wiseguy, Miami Vice, and Matlock.

In 2009, Dallesandro wrote and produced the documentary film Little Joe. The film chronicles Dallesandro's life and career.

Dallesandro, who identifies himself as bisexual, has been married three times and has two children. He is semi-retired from acting, and currently manages an apartment building in Los Angeles.

1948 – The American singer Donna Summer, was born on this date (d.2012). She was an American singer, songwriter and artist, best known for a string of disco hits in the late 1970s that earned her the title "Queen Of Disco" and as one of the few disco-based artists to have longevity on the charts through the late 1980s and beyond.

The question with Donna Summer is, "is she or isn't she?" Homophobic that is!

In the mid 1980s, rumors began circulating that Summer had allegedly made anti-gay comments regarding the AIDS epidemic as being a punishment from God for homosexuality. The fallout from the alleged quote had a significantly negative impact on Summer's career, which saw thousands of her records being returned to her record company by angered fans. However, Summer denied making any such remarks and many years later she filed a lawsuit against New York magazine when it reprinted the rumors as fact, just as Summer was about to release her latest album Mistaken Identity in 1991. According to an A&E Biography program in which Summer participated in 1995, the lawsuit was settled out of court with neither side discussing details of the settlement.

D.L. Groover of Houston's OutSmart magazine wrote that after a 1983 concert in Atlantic City, Summer was talking to the fans, as she liked to do at this first- comeback point in her career. A man with AIDS asked her to pray for him, because he knew of her born-again Christian beliefs, and she said she would be delighted. Someone else piped up that she was being hypocritical. At that point, all accounts get fuzzy and overblown, but every witness says that the heated situation deteriorated, with many outraged patrons shouting as they left the auditorium. In more than one account, Summer said that AIDS appeared in the gay community because of its reckless lifestyle... but did not say that AIDS was God's punishment. She and the gay fan prayed together, she asked him to turn his life to Christ, and she embraced him - a courageous act at a time when most people would have run screaming from the room to get away from someone with the deadly disease.

For her part Summer told The Advocate in 1989 that "A couple of the people I write with are gay, and they have been ever since I met them. What people want to do with their bodies is their personal preference. I'm not going to stand in judgment about what the Bible says about someone else's life. I've got things in my life I've got to clean up. What's in your life is your business." Make of that what you will.

Rick Sandford as Ben Barker

1950 – Rick Sandford (d.1995) was a documentary research assistant, editor and actor of gay erotic movies and author.

Rick Steven Sandford was born in Denver, Colorado, and grew up in the Lake Tahoe area. His early difficulties learning to read led his parents to enroll him in a private school.

After his graduation in 1969, he first went to Los Angeles on vacation, to see the musical, Hair and the Russian motion picture version of War and Peace, and after 1972, Sandford remained in Los Angeles employed in various positions, from an usher at Grauman's Chinese Theatre to a television show stand-in.

In 1977 he met Josh Becker, American writer and director, of films and television, who would become his long-time friend, according to Becker, Sandford only heterosexual friend.

Initially living in a bungalow behind a house in West Hollywood, Sandford was evicted and with his best friend, Stacey, with whom he had grown up in Reno, he moved into a one-bedroom apartment at 666 N. Van Ness.

Sandford received credit as research assistant on 50 Golden Years of Oscar: the Official History of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and Ronald Haver's David O. Selznick's Hollywood. Sandford served as assistant on the 1990 documentary Hollywood Mavericks.

Sandford appeared on television shows and in motion pictures as an extra and in a few bit parts: in episodes of Police Woman in 1974 and Step by Step in 1991. During the late 1970s and early 1980s he worked as an editor on 3 gay erotic films and appeared as Benjamin Barker or Ben Barker in 13 gay erotic motion pictures including Kip Noll and the Westside Boys, Rear Deliveries, Skin Deep, The Class of '84 Part 2 Jocks, Gold Rush Boys, The Boys of San Francisco, A Night at Halsted's, and Games.In the mid 1980s, Don Bachardy sketched Sandford for his book, Drawing of the Male Nude; both Bachardy and his partner Christopher Isherwood were friends with Sandford. During this time, Sandford introduced Bachardy and Isherwood to Yale-trained actor Peter Evans and his then lover Craig Lucas. Sandford and Lucas had a fling, and Lucas remembered

"He came to New York with a strip show. To [the song] 'Another Hundred People' from 'Company', he arrived onstage with a suitcase, and met invisible New Yorkers, stripping for them, looking for love. Afterward, we had to wait while older men went into his dressing room to make appointments. Or something."

In 1991, his short story Forster & Rosenthal Reevaluated: An Investigative Report was published. In 1994, another of his short stories, Purim was published. Two more of Sandford's short stories were published posthumously, The Gospel Of Bartholemew Legate: Three Fragments and Manifest White. In 2000, his novel, Boys Across the Street was published, also posthumously.

Boys Across the Street is a candidly hilarious look at the gay life of Rick, an exporn star, who lives near a boy's Hasidic school, as he becomes obsessed with building relationships with the boys, leading to a fascination with Hasidism, which reviles his sexual orientation.

Sandford died of AIDS during the evening of September 28, 1995.

1958 – David Pevsner is an American actor, singer, dancer, porn star, and writer. Pevsner appeared in the 1990 revival of Fiddler on the Roof, 1991 revival of Rags, and some other theatrical productions. He also wrote three songs for the 1999 musical Naked Boys Singing!, including "Perky Little Porn Star." He wrote and produced two one-person shows, To Bitter and Back (2003) and Musical Comedy Whore (2013). Pevsner portrayed mostly minor roles in films and television. His major screen roles are Ebenezer Scrooge in Scrooge & Marley, the 2012 film adaptation of A Christmas Carol, and Ross Stein in a 2011 web series Old Dogs & New Tricks. He recorded the 2016 album Most Versatile, whose album cover pays homage to Bruce Springsteen's album Born in the U.S.A.

David Pevsner was raised in Skokie, Illinois. He attended Niles East High School in the same Chicago suburb and participated in its theater program. He graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

He appeared in the 1991 revival of the 1986 musical Rags, set in 1910, portraying the dual roles of Saul and Nathan. He appeared in the 1995 theatrical play Party, portraying the role of Kevin. In the play, Kevin, a college teacher who lives with his partner, hosts a party at his apartment, where the males characters play the naked truth-or-dare game. Pevsner appeared in the two-act gay revue musical When Pigs Fly from 1996 to 1998. Pevsner appeared in F*cking Men, the 2009 explicit play written by Joe DiPietro about the lives of gay urban men, portraying Jack, who commits adultery with another man, while his husband does the same.

Pevsner co-wrote the 1999 musical Naked Boys Singing! with the writing team. He wrote three songs for the musical, including "Perky Little Porn Star" and "The Naked Maid."

Pevsner appeared in films, mostly portraying minor roles in such films as The Fluffer (2001) and Adam & Steve (2006). He also portrayed a major role of Ebenezer Scrooge in Scrooge & Marley, the 2012 film adaptation that tells the gay interpretation of the 19th-century novel A Christmas Carol.

Pevsner also portrayed minor roles in television series, particularly a bartender of a gay bar in an episode of NYPD Blue.

Pevsner recorded the 2016 album Most Versatile, whose title was inspired by his being voted "Most Versatile" in a survey back in high school. The album's working title was Shameless, named after his Tumblr blog and "for [being] something with a little skin." The songs of the album explores "a whirlwind of one man's gay experiences" and feature Jim J. Bullock, Maxwell Caulfield, and some others as guest artists. He wrote the lyrics of all thirteen songs.

In his 60s Pevsner is today earning money doing erotic performances on OnlyFans.

Pevsner is Jewish. He is also openly gay.

1969 – The first performance of The Cockettes took place on New Years Eve 1969, at the Palace Theatre in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood and soon became a "must-see" for San Francisco's hip gay community, combining LSD-influenced dancing, set design, costumes and their own versions of show tunes (or original tunes in the same vein). Initially, shows were performed every six weeks, performing on stage prior to the Saturday midnight "Nocturnal Dream Show" of underground films at the Palace Theatre. Show titles included Gone With the Showboat to Oklahoma, Tinsel Tarts In A Hot Coma, Journey to the Center of Uranus, Smacky & Our Gang, Hollywood Babylon and Pearls Over Shanghai.

Word quickly got out that nothing like these shows had ever been seen before, and within a few months the Cockettes were getting enormous attention from the media. Not only hippie magazines, such as Earth and Rolling Stone, wanted stories on the Cockettes, but also mainstream magazines such as Look, Life and Esquire were anxious to do features as well. The Cockettes were the subject of a documentary called, of course, The Cockettes. If you haven't seen it, do. Torrent users can find it on isoHunt.com

1993 – Transman Brandon Teena is murdered by the same young men who raped him a week earlier after discovering he’d been born female. His story is captured in the film Boys Don’t Cry. The headstone on his grave is inscribed with his birth name and uses female descriptors. Teena’s murder, along with that of Matthew Shepard, led to increased lobbying for hate crime laws in the United States.

2014 – Russian large gay club called Central Station was forced to close after countless attacks of sprays of bullets and being gassed. It later reopened with the use of bulletproof glass.

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tedwardremus · 10 months ago

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Works in Progress

Snuffles & Son - Sirius raises Harry and opens a shop that specializes in repairing cursed artifacts and places protection wards on family heirlooms. One day, an Unspeakable from the Department of Mysteries walks in with a cursed artifact from his cousin's confiscated Gringotts vault, requesting Sirius's assistance.

Be Not Afraid Of Greatness - A collection of Frank Longbottom stories

Without A Trace - Babies don't just disappear without a trace

HP Instagram AU - Instagram feeds from various Harry Potter characters. Feel free to request a character or couple.

completed fics and one-shots under the cut

Marauder's Era/Jily

It's here. Now’s the time. I tell myself I’ll be fine -

It was a normal feeling to be nervous, a rite of passage for any mother or father. After all, eleven years old wasn’t that mature—children at that age were still so small, so dependent on their parents for guidance, comfort, and care.

Hope Lupin hugs her son goodbye before he boards the Hogwarts Express.

Unresolved Questions Of Wizard Cosmology - Ten-year-old Sirius and his father take a trip to the British Magical Observatory.

Interesting House Guests - (Or The time Sirius invited the lads to spend the week at Grimmauld Place)

Those Whom The Gods Love Die Young - Once upon a time, four boys entered an ancient magical forest in Scotland. They loved life, the forest, and each other very much. Together, they become beasts of the woods and grow to understand the forest more than anyone else who had entered the magical realm before them.

Tree Cutting - Every Gryffindor in the tower heard Walburga's howler calling Sirius a filthy traitor. Lily knows what it feels like when someone you love calls you nasty names.

Tipping The Scales - James helps Lily get back something that is hers from the Slytherin dorms.

Career Advice with James F. Potter - Lily Evans is stressed about her career advice meeting but luckily James Potter is willing to share his expert advice on the matter.

A Decent Bloke - In the Hogwarts library, James Potter eats an apple while Lily Evans works on a History of Magic essay.

Perspective - Lily asks James about the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Lily also learns how soft James Potter's hands are.

Light Is The Most Glorious - James takes Lily on a journey around Hogwarts the night before the Christmas holidays.

Does Permanent Mean Forever? - It is James Potter's seventeenth birthday, and to commemorate the occasion, he proposes to the gang that they go out and get tattooed.

Your Friend, James - It is the summer before their 7th year, and Lily and James spend the entire holiday writing letters to each other as their relationship slowly changes from friends to something more.

Rumor Has It - Severus doesn't believe the rumors that Lily finally agreed to go out with James Potter.

A Happy Thought - The 7th-year Defense Against the Dark Arts Class learns the Patronus Charm. James is shocked to learn what Lily's Patronus is.

Awful Euphemisms - Lily and James exchange laughs while discovering a new level of intimacy.

A Promise - James sees no problem that they are only seventeen and have yet to meet each other's parents.

Hold On To The Memories, They Will Hold On To You - Lily Evans is ready to spend New Year's Eve alone in her bedroom until James Potter flies in and offers her a midnight ride.

An Academic Study of Dungeon Dwellers - It was common knowledge that when the weather turned warm, students were impossible to teach and used their precious free time to soak up the sun and enjoy the outdoors. Unless of course, you were the Girlfriendus Potterus, also known by her common name, Lily Evans, who—despite the migration of most students to the sun-drenched grounds—had yet to leave the castle's confines.

A Miraculous Christmas Moment - A married Lily and James Potter wander around a London Christmas Market. James misses celebrating Christmas in Godric's Hollow.

Comfort and Joy - Baby Harry helps James decorate the Christmas Tree.

Querencia - The time Lily, James, and Harry spent as a family in their little house in the West Country was far too brief, but it was overfilled with love, laughter, and, above all, life.

30 Times James Potter Thought He Was Going To Die and 1 Time He Did - 31 microfics for Jilytober

Jily Challenge Fics

Three Lemons and a Dragon - Once upon a time there lived a Prince named James who had to save his father's Kingdom by getting married. One day an older woman gifts him three lemons that will lead him to his true love.

Erasmus Lovegoods’s Guide to Brewing Love Potions -At the start of every school year, the Ministry of Magic distributed leaflets to all students taking potions classes regarding the regulations and legality of highly controlled potions.

I'll Meet You After Dark - An Alternate Universe where the Statute of Secrecy hasn't been enacted yet. Tensions between the magical and non-magical communities are high.

My dog said I can't go out with you - Lily had been waiting patiently for James to ask her out for the first Hogsmeade weekend of the term. Sirius insists she turn James down so Sirius can hang out with her instead. (it's all part of Sirius' greater matchmaking plan)

Tranquil Solitude (Until You Came Along) - All Lily wanted to do was take a nice, quiet swim on a hot day. And then James Potter showed up. And Lily had already removed her clothes for the private swim.

Midnight Train To London - An escaped yeti causes a magical snow storm that leaves the Hogwarts Express stranded without any power. Head students Lily and James take charge and bring a little holiday cheer to the students trapped on the train.

Summer Fling Don't Mean A Thing - Lily and James meet at a potions camp over the summer and have a fling. James promises to write to her when the summer is over, but he never does. Then Hogwarts hosts an academic competition inviting all the top students from around the country to attend, including students from Cockersand Coven Academy, the school that Lily happens to attend.

This Town Is Fake But You're The Real Thing - Teen radio star Lily Evans works for a show on the wizarding wireless network called, The Marauders. The teen soap drama stars James Potter as an arrogant school jock and centers on the secret adventures of his friends in the forbidden forest as illegal animagus and a werewolf. The show's antagonist, played by Severus Snape, left after a scandal, and now Lily has a romantic storyline with James in the final season of the show. Basically, her life is a disaster.

Field Study - Lily and James get left behind on a deserted island after A Care of Magical Creatures field trip.

These things that are pleasin' you can hurt you somehow - Lily is stuck in potions for a classroom disturbance she didn't cause.

In walks James Potter who she had been avoiding all week.

Other Jily/Maruader Era Fics

Rage Against The Dying Of The Light - In a universe where James and Lily Potter survive Voldemort's attack on Halloween night. Most of wizarding society is enjoying newfound peace after a decade of war, except the young heroes who fought the war learn you can never really go back to the way things were before

Cuckoo (or the unwanted interloper baby in the nest) - Sirius rescues Regulus from the cave and drops him off at the Potters house so he can clean up his brother's mess. Regulus has an awful time.... until he doesn't.

Katabasis - Snape gets hurt when he goes into the Shrieking Shack on the full moon. It is time for Remus to face the consequences.

Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter - Sirius is an Olympic athlete competing in the wizard pentathlon, James is a quidditch player, and Lily is a sports reporter. The three of them meet at the Olympic Village. And well, you know what happens at the Olympic Village...

Finding Your Magical Roots - The Black Family welcomes the reality show Finding Your Magical Roots into their home to film a special episode.

101 Padfoots - An accident in potions class results in 101 Padfoots running around Hogwarts while Lily and James work together to round them all up

First War Era

She Faced Danger, But Never Feared It - Dorcas Meadowes is a healer at St. Mungo's who specializes in emergency healing. A grandmother in her 60s who believes in caring for all members of the magical community. She is recruited by Albus Dumbledore to join the Order after she publishes and article in the Daily Prophet arguing that the rise of dark magic is a public health crisis.

When Death Would Not Come - Moody and the others will be here soon. Just endure for one more minute. Thirty more seconds. Five more seconds. As long as Neville was okay, she could endure anything.

Lighting Era

Goodbyes and Surprise Greetings - Ginny's brothers have abandoned her at the Burrow while they go to school or leave the country. But then she gets a surprise visitor.

The Past is a Bucket of Ash - Over burnt photographs, Harry had a late-night chat with Sirius about his family history.

The Parting Glass - The last full moon, Moony and Padfoot spend together.

Retrouvaille (or the happiness of meeting someone you love after a long time) - The times Sirius and Harry reunited and the times they were forced to say goodbye.

Attinge - Harry shaves his head after the battle. Only Ginny understands why.

Secret Garden - Neville plants Hannah a secret garden on the roof of the Leaky Cauldron. She wants to show him how grateful she is for the gift.

Burnt Cookies - Hannah keeps burning cookies as she gets ready for the Leaky Cauldron's Halloween party.

Luckily, Neville is there to comfort her.

Lightening Era - AU

1994 Quidditch World Cup - Harry wants only one thing for his fourteenth birthday: tickets to see the final match of the Quidditch World Cup. Well, two things if you count his sudden desire to kiss Ginny Weasley.

Padfoot in Privet Drive - Sirius Black follows Harry to Privet Drive after the Triwizard Tournament.

A Time To Mourn - Sirius Black, recently declared innocent by the Ministry of Magic, visits his godson on Halloween.

Next Gen

Feels Like Home To Me - Snippets inside the Potter family home

We're Going On A Hippogriff Hunt -Two young boys go on a hippogriff hunt in the woods behind their house. Teddy hopes James doesn't figure out he knows nothing about hippogriffs.

Werewolf Registration Act of 1947 - A history of magic essay helps Teddy understand his deceased father a littler bit better.

Tethered - Teddy and Vic discover the isolated and deserted Hogwarts boathouse to be the perfect place to be alone together.

Am I To Suffer This Constant Stream of Interruption? - Teddy Lupin and Victoire Weasley go on their first official date. James Sirius Potter is now a third-year at Hogwarts and is able to visit the village.

A Wonderful Idea - Vic planned a very grown-up date for her and Teddy. Too bad Teddy can't ice skate.

It's All About The Timing - James Sirius Potter has wanted to ask Ellie Longbottom out since he was twelve years old. Unfortunately, he can never get the timing right.

Know Your Roots - Albus Potter is unsure if helping Uncle Neville repot moonwort plants is part of detention or a lame attempt at godfather and godson bonding. It might be both.

Acting Professional - Teddy wants to see Victoire's new office while at a work event.

Ginny's Very Serious Investigation - When Luna casually mentions in the postscript of her latest letter that she got married, Ginny is not having it. Who the hell is Rolf Scamander, and why is Luna marrying him without any prior warning?

#harry potter fanfiction #harry potter #james potter #sirius black #jily #lily potter #lily evans #remus lupin #jily fanfiction #peter pettigrew #ginny weasley #neville longbottom #james sirius potter #albus severus potter #teddy lupin #victoire weasley #hp next gen

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tansyuduri · 9 months ago

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Merlin Loregasm Rewatch S1E4

Hi Everyone! Welcome to my rewatch of Merlin focusing on the lore. I am a giant nerd so pretty excited about this. We're on THE POISONED CHALICE

OKAY so @catsconflictscopicsandchamomile our resident Old English expert explained to me something really interesting. the spell used by Nimueh draws its power from the Spear-Danes, the semi pagan culture featured in Beowulf (Who had their own lake lady in Grendel's mother who was likely a priestess of the old religion And linguisticly called Disir) There is more though The first lines of the spell also seem to be Nimue saying she owes her magic to the spear Danes (that Grendel the monster in Beowolf ate) At this point I'm wondering if its meant to establish she is saying HEY MY SPELLS ARE PAGEN This will not be the only Beowulf reference in this episode. (Its never referenced or quoted after this episode) I'm wondering if the translators threw this in as a joke or easter egg Or in my freind's words "fuck it. lets canonize Beowulf in this universe real fast" (Okay I just discovered one of their choices I'll talk about later and HOLY FREAKING SHIT)

Mercia is traditionally thought of as a kingdom formed during the anglo-saxon settlement of Britain (Which occurs post Merlin acoirding to Merlin having saxons of enemies in later seasons) The historic king Arthur if he existed was said to have fought against the anglo saxons but this is just a footnote as we are focusing on Merlin Universe) HOWEVER a 13th century text says "“Pagans came from Germany and occupied East Anglia, that is, the country of the East Angles; and some of them invaded Mercia, and waged war against the British.”

British here being Original pre-saxon inhabitents. SO it is possible that a Mercia existed before The Anglo-Saxons. This could also be the Historian using the name he knows. Bayard is not a recorded later King of Mercia either so good choice in name if we want him to be a Britonic king from a Mercia founded before the Anglo-Saxons apear. Fun fact Mercia also resisted leaving paganism longer than any other Anglo-Saxon kingdom! BUT Anyway in Merlin Mercia is a thing, Its ruled by Bayard, and its color is blue. It would be in the midlands of England most likely.

Also he was at war with Camalot, but now is not. I wonder if that has to do with Uther having not inherited but taking over the kingdom! Uther: The treaty we sign today marks an end to war and the beginning of a new friendship between our peoples

I also think Uther as a peacemaker is interesting, especially as we see this more than once. It might be why some people view him as "A good king."

So this at first glance SEEMS like it hints more toward paganism. Beltane is a Gaelic May Day festival. But its renamed version May Day was not exactly Christianized. See most other big Gaelic festivals (usually religious) Were kinda taken over by Christianity when it came. Yule became Christmas Samhain became All Saints Day (All Hollows Eve) ETC. Beltane was also celebrated in some places ALONG with Christianity until the 1800s. (Scotland did this specifically) In modern times Beltane is VERY Pagan. And it is very possible this hints further toward the Camalot is pagan or just nonreligious side of the entire debate. (Despite people using words like god or hell.) But it's not quite as conclusive as many other type of references would be.

(For context despite it saying we've Arthur here is talking about Merlin, who just announced his cup was poisoned, exclusively which is interesting!) See slow gin is a type of alcohol made with juniper berries and blackthorn fruits. It was traditionally brewed (With a lot of home brewing) in October and November and used as a warming drink in the depths of winter. AS you can tell this episode does not take place in winter. I think there are two possibilities for Arthur picking this drink specifically to mention despite that. The first is that as a prince perhaps the drink is available to him year round if he wants it and he doesn't know that is not true of most people yet. The second is he is so panicked at the prospect of the trouble Merlin is in his mind latched on to the first drink that popped into it.

Okay, so Mort means death in Latin. And the ending suffix here Usually makes the word an adjective from proper or place names BUT often appears in flower naming. So basically this plant is named The "Death Flower" Flower or "Capital D Deathly" Flower

Gaius: it can only be found in the caves deep beneeth the forest of Baloch The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree.

Uh okay. THERE IS SOME SHIT GOING DOWN with this plant. First of all, flowers growing from the roots of a tree is just weird. flowers are basically there to attract things to pollinate a plant usualy. If a tree has flowers they do not grow from the roots. Second of all its kinda weird for flowers or trees to grow in DEEP caves. Sunlight cannot read them there. I would give it a pass if it did not say deep because if there were cracks in the ceiling of the cave that could put light though. It does kinda explain why they can ONLY be found there though. If its so odd and specialized it might be the only place it can grow.

This flower is either innately magical in some odd way or does not conform to evolution. So at this point I am pretty sure it was bred/engineered/magiced into being but some sorcerer. Likely specifically for poisoning people. and that person wanted to limit the people who knew of it and thus kept it in once set of caves. BUT SOMHOW news got out about it. Ok so I also looked up Baloch. In Welsh it can mean dig or sorry. In Irish it means boy and in scottish the same thing. So no info to be gleaned from that

Gauis: A cockatrice-- it guards the forest. Its venom is extremely potent, a single drop would mean certain death. OK first of all I'm doubling down on there being some past sorcerer, Because they were FOR SURE using these as guard dogs. Second of all I LOVE Merlin paying fast and loose with magical creatures from folklore because I can too in my fics A Cockatrice in folklore was a monster created when a toad or snake egg was hatched beneath a chicken. It could kill with a look, or a breath, or a touch, and was basically a two-legged dragonish creature with a rooster head. In the Merlin world it is very diferant. We'll see one soon! "Few who have crossed the mountains of Isgard in search of the Moraeus flower have made it back alive." Yeah can't find any meaning behind the name Isgard! BUT HAVE I MENTIONED I THINK A SORCER ONCE LIVED IN THE CAVES/FOREST.

Okay I think this is a reference to the actual historical job of taster. Basically important people (ESP royalty) would hire someone to taste all their food before thay ate it. That way if it was poisoned the taster would die instead of them. It was viewed as a pretty plum gig because poisoning didn't often happen (ESP if people knew there was a taster) and the taster got to eat REALLY good food and get paid for it. I think its also an interesting character detail that while this kinda implies that Uther might have someone (At least for his private food and not banquets) We see multiple times that Arthur in fact does NOT. It is quite possible he managed to put his foot down and get out of this somehow because he believes it to be wrong. Which not gonna lie is a very Arthur thing to do.

(Context: Arthur talking about how Gaius said they can save Merlin if they get the leaf so it is not a fools errand) Waiiit is this trying to imply that Gaius was the one who brought up the idea that one could use the old religion to give Uther a son? I mean we knew he was the messenger. but HOLY SHIT. And if that is true, Uther somhow forgave him? Why would Uther forgive him? The only thing I can think is if Gaius talked about how magic had tricked him and gave Uther something else to blame. This is all conjecture though. Uther could be referring on how Gaius is close to Merlin or something else. It just feels like it might be a nod at what all went down around Arthur's birth.

Okay so this is Merlin quoting Beowolf here. A Poem that is yet to be written down but might have had some oral tradition and actually takes place at the traditional time Arthur is said to have lived. Merlin is basically talking about how Arthur/Beowolf is endowed with honnor. This happens right after Arthur decides to ride out to save Merlin.

Magic Rule Established: Potions/Poisons can be more potent if magic is used in their preperation

Okay MORE Beowolf

Merlin says Arthurs name then basically talks about a young man doing good deeds.

Playing hard and fast as I said. LOOK Dinosaur!

Okay so more Beowolf At this point I am 99.99% sure the people hired to write the spells at the time where having the time of their life. Let me explain

This line talks about gifts of treasure (the light) he conjuress to help Arthur. Fine. BUT then it mentions Arthur being under his father's protection. Expect Merlinto protectg him. The spell writers used a freaking old english poem to let Merlin call himself Arthur's "daddy" I am not sure what I am expected to do with this knowledge. (It might have been chosen so they could use the next line of the spell but THEY DID NOT HAVE TO DO THIS) The next line (Which is actually also the next line in the poem) says something about how so that when Arthur is older his companions can stand with him when war comes.

Okay so yeah turns out there is no tree or roots. I'm chalking this up to he said she said. STILL GOING WITH THE SORCERER.

OKAY so it a potion is made using magic the antidote may ALSO need magic

Oh look our first hint Merlin is immortal. I find his brand of immortality intersting. HE CAN DIE he just comes back after a bit.

#lore #merlin lore #bbc merlin #merlin lorgasm rewatch #merlin lore rewatch #merlin rewatch #merlin bbc #merlin loregasm rewatch

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ros64 · 1 month ago

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Buon capodanno a tutti e grazie a @sassenach77yle per la gentile concessione.

Happy Hogmanay 🎇 Bliadhna Mhath Ùr 🎇 Happy New Year to everyone

from Outlander Elite on FB — Period drama, books & TV series

New Year’s Eve in Scotland is something incredible and has a very specific name: Hogmanay.

If you’re wondering what Hogmanay means and what traditions are associated with it, here’s some information and fun trivia for you.

Hogmanay is the Scottish term for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the festivities and celebrations linked to New Year’s Eve. Unlike other parts of the world, these festivities don’t end in just one night.

Hogmanay celebrations usually continue into New Year’s Day and, sometimes, even into January 2nd, which is a public holiday in Scotland.

The origins of the name Hogmanay are not entirely clear, and there are several theories about its etymology.

The most likely one seems to come from the Old Norman term hoguinan, which meant “New Year’s gift.”

The word has certainly existed since at least 1604, when it first appeared in written records.

Some have also hypothesized that Hogmanay derives from the French word hoginane, meaning “festival day.”

Viking traditions have intertwined with pre-existing pagan rituals over time.

The fireworks displays and spectacular torchlight processions seen today in Edinburgh and other Scottish cities harken back to these ancient pagan celebrations and Viking traditions.

There are, moreover, various traditions and superstitions said to be observed during Hogmanay. Are you ready to discover them with us?

▪︎ House Cleaning (Redding)

Among the various traditions, house cleaning—known as Redding—is common. This includes removing ashes from the hearth and settling all debts before the clock strikes midnight.

The underlying message is to eliminate remnants of the old year, and after a thorough cleaning, welcome a new and prosperous year.

Instead of spring cleaning, Scots do New Year’s cleaning to prepare the home for the year ahead.

▪︎ First-Footing

One of the most famous Hogmanay traditions is First-Footing, a unique ritual for bringing good fortune into the New Year.

According to tradition, the First-Foot is the first person to cross the threshold of a house after midnight on New Year’s Day. The arrival of this special guest is believed to bring luck and prosperity for the year ahead.

Traditionally, the first visitor of the year must meet specific requirements: they should be male, tall, dark-haired, and, ideally, good-looking.

It’s said that the preference for dark-haired men dates back to the Viking invasions when lighter-haired visitors might signify imminent danger!

The First-Foot must also bring symbolic gifts, such as a silver coin, coal, whisky, salt, or sweets.

Once inside, the First-Foot is guided into the home—which has been thoroughly cleaned as per tradition—and places the coal in the fireplace.

Finally, they make a toast to the household and its residents.

If every detail of the ritual is observed, the First-Foot earns the privilege of kissing all the women in the family (hence the good looks being an advantage!).

Today, First-Footing is a delightful excuse to visit friends and neighbors, celebrating all night with songs, dances, and drinks in good company.

Other “first steps” considered particularly lucky include new brides, new mothers, and anyone born on January 1st.

▪︎ Singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ Together

Just after midnight, it’s tradition to sing Auld Lang Syne, written by Scotland’s great bard, Robert Burns.

Burns composed the lyrics for this famous song in 1788, although the melody predates it.

Though the meaning of the song remains somewhat unclear, it’s believed that the opening lines pose a rhetorical question:

“Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?”

The phrase auld lang syne roughly translates to “for the sake of old times.”

The song is about cherishing old friendships and reminiscing about the year’s events.

It’s sung worldwide, evoking a sense of belonging and brotherhood, tinged with nostalgia.

Auld Lang Syne,

known in Italy as The Candlelight Waltz, is a widely popular song in English-speaking countries, where it is traditionally sung on New Year’s Eve to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one.

This tradition originated in Scotland, where the song was traditionally sung during Hogmanay celebrations. It later spread to the rest of Britain and America through Scottish emigrants.

The title, a Scottish phrase, translates into English as old long since, meaning “the good old times.” The song tells the story of two friends who meet again after many years apart and toast to the cherished memories of the past that will never return.

Source: Scozia Viaggi.

Happy Hogmanay 🎇Bliadhna mhath ùr 🎇Buon Anno a @tutti

Il Capodanno in Scozia è qualcosa di incredibile ed ha un nome ben preciso: Hogmanay.

Se però vi state chiedendo cosa significa esattamente Hogmanay, quali sono le tradizioni vi lascio qui qualche informazione e simpatica curiosità.

Hogmanay è il termine scozzese che sta ad indicare l’ultimo giorno dell’anno ed è sinonimo delle feste e delle celebrazioni associate al Capodanno.

A differenza di altre parti del mondo, però, queste festività non si limitano solo ad una notte.

Le celebrazioni dell’Hogmanay di solito continuano a Capodanno e, talvolta, anche il 2 gennaio, che in Scozia è giorno festivo.

Le origini del nome Hogmanay non sono del tutto chiare e ci sono diverse teorie sull’origine del termine.

La più probabile sembra essere hoguinan, che in antico Normanno doveva significare regalo di capodanno.

Di certo, la parola esiste da almeno il 1604, quando è apparsa per la prima volta in documenti scritti.

Alcuni hanno, quindi, ipotizzato che Hogmanay derivi dalla parola francesce “hoginane” che significa “giorno di festa“.

Le tradizioni vichinghe sono poi andate a mescolarsi ai riti pagani già esistenti.

Gli spettacoli pirotecnici e le scenografiche fiaccolate/processioni che ora si godono a Edimburgo e in molte città della Scozia ricordano proprio le antiche feste pagane e le tradizioni vichinghe dei tempi passati.

Ci sono, peraltro, diverse tradizioni e superstizioni che in occasione dell’Hogmanay si dice andrebbero rispettate.

Siete pronti a scoprirle con noi?

▪︎Tra le varie tradizioni, ricordiamo la pulizia della casa (nota anche come Redding) e la rimozione delle ceneri dal fuoco e l’obbligo di estinguere tutti i debiti prima che “le campane” suonino a mezzanotte, .

Il messaggio di fondo è quello di eliminare i resti del vecchio anno, e, dopo una ripulita generale, dare il benvenuto a un nuovo e felice anno nuovo.

Al posto delle pulizie di primavera gli scozzesi fanno le pulizie di Capodanno, per preparare la casa all’anno che verrà.

▪︎First -Footing

Una delle più famose tradizioni di Hogmanay è però il First-Footing, che rientra a pieno titolo tra i riti propiziatori più originali del Capodanno.

Secondo la tradizione il First-Foot è la prima persona a varcare la soglia di una casa nell’anno nuovo dopo lo scoccare della mezzanotte.

L’ingresso di questo ospite speciale è in grado di assicurare fortuna e prosperità per l’anno appena iniziato.

Tradizione vuole che il primo visitatore dell’anno risponda a precisi e fondamentali requisiti: deve essere di sesso maschile, alto, bruno e, possibilmente, di bell’aspetto.

Si dice che il fatto che debba essere scuro di capelli risalga alle invasioni vichinghe, poiché i vichinghi erano in genere più biondi, quindi l’arrivo di un uomo biondo avrebbe potuto significare un pericolo imminente!

Il First-Foot deve, inoltre, portare con sé un dono simbolico, generalmente una moneta d’argento, del carbone, whisky, sale, biscotti o dolci.

Una volta entrato, il First-Foot dovrà essere accompagnato in casa, che come da tradizione sarà stata pulita da cima a fondo, e collocare il carbone nel fuoco del camino.

Infine, farà un brindisi in onore della casa e dei suoi residenti.

Se ogni dettaglio del rituale sarà stato osservato, al First-Foot sarà concesso di baciare tutte le donne della famiglia (capito perché dovrebbe essere di bell’aspetto?).

L’antica pratica del First-Footing è ormai diventata un simpatico pretesto per far visita ad amici e conoscenti e festeggiare tutta la notte in allegria, tra canti, balli e bevute in compagnia.

Altri “primi passi” ritenuti particolarmente fortunati sono le nuove spose, le neomamme e chiunque sia nato il 1° gennaio.

▪︎Cantare insieme ‘Auld Land Syne’

Subito dopo la mezzanotte è tradizione cantare insieme “Auld Lang Syne“, nella versione di Robert Burns, il grande bardo scozzese.

Burns scrisse il testo di questa famosa canzone nel 1788, sebbene la melodia esistesse già.

Anche se il significato di questa canzone continua a creare confusione, si pensa che i versi di apertura corrispondano ad una domanda retorica: “Un conoscente dovrebbe forse essere dimenticato e mai ricordato?”.

La frase “auld lang syne” si traduce approssimativamente in “per amore dei vecchi tempi“.

La canzone parla, infatti, di preservare le vecchie amicizie e ricordare insieme gli eventi dell’anno.

È cantata in tutto il mondo, evocando un senso di appartenenza e di fratellanza, venato di nostalgia.

Auld Lang Syne, conosciuta in Italia come Il Valzer delle Candele, è una delle canzoni più popolari nei paesi di lingua inglese, dove è tradizione intonarla a Capodanno per dare l’addio al vecchio anno e accogliere quello nuovo.

Questa tradizione ha avuto origine proprio in Scozia, dove la canzone veniva cantata durante le celebrazioni di Hogmanay. Successivamente, con l’emigrazione degli scozzesi, si diffuse nel resto della Gran Bretagna e negli Stati Uniti.

Il titolo, un’espressione scozzese, si traduce in inglese come old long since, ovvero “i bei tempi andati”. Il brano racconta la storia di due amici che, dopo molti anni di lontananza, si ritrovano, brindando ai ricordi dei momenti felici del passato che non torneranno più.

Fonte: Scozia Viaggi.

RICETTA SHORTBREAD

Ingredienti

300 g Farina

200 g Burro

100 g Zucchero

5 g Sale

Preparazione

Mettete il burro freddissimo di frigo e tagliato a pezzetti nel mixer insieme alla farina.

Frullate per qualche minuto in modo da ottenere un composto sbricioloso.

Trasferite il composto sul piano da lavoro e aggiungete zucchero e sale.

Impastate energicamente per qualche minuto fino ad ottenere un impasto liscio e omogeneo.

Avvolgete l’impasto nella pellicola trasparente e mettetelo a riposare in frigo per 1 ora circa.

Trascorso il tempo di riposo riprendete l’impasto, lavoratelo velocemente e stendetelo tra due fogli di carta forno.

Stendete con il matterello fino ad arrivare a uno spessore di circa 1 centimetro e tagliate a rettangoli i biscotti.

Bucherellate con uno stuzzicadenti in modo da farli più simili possibili agli originali e trasferiteli su carta forno.

Cuocete gli shortbread in forno preriscaldato a 180° per 15/20 minuti circa fino a che vedrete che inizieranno a diventare ambrati.

Sfornate gli shortbread e fateli raffreddare totalmente.

#sam heughan #clan mcpeakers italian #my peak challenge #outlander #outlanderedit #diana gabaldon #samheughanupdates #@ all my mutuals

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vigilskeep · 1 year ago

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festivals of thedas!!

five major holidays are celebrated all across thedas "from tevinter to ferelden", tied to the transition of seasons. (they are generally in the andrastian tradition, and have links to tevinter culture considering its widespread imperialism and influence.) i'm going to talk about what we know from the lore and also what i think the real world inspirations are, but i'm not the most knowledgeable person on that specifically, so if anyone has extra contributions especially for the latter, or thoughts of what their own cultural background might bring to some of these, i would love that!!

first day is celebrated, naturally, on the first day of the year! in the january equivalent month of wintermarch/verimensis. on this holiday, you visit family and neighbours, which in remote areas was once literally just an annual check that everyone was alive. there's a town gathering to commemorate the past year, with drinking and merriment, of course. celebrating the start of a new year is one of the oldest traditional holidays in the world. i might compare the tradition of making visits to scotland's 'first-footing' on hogmanay (new year's eve), where the first person who enters a home is a bringer of fortune (and gifts!). in scotland it should specifically be a dark-haired man to ensure good luck, but there are similar practises in other places with different standards

wintersend is a festival for the end of winter, celebrated at the end of the february equivalent, guardian/pluitanis. originally called "urthalis" and dedicated to urthemiel, old god of beauty and the archdemon from dao, it now celebrates the maker. i would imagine for both it stood to thank them as the bounty and plenty of creation returned to the world. we have some information on how it varies between regions. in the south, it is a day to gather, trade, arrange marriages, and attend theatre. in tevinter, it marks great tourneys and contests at the proving grounds in minrathous. nevarra, too, has "particularly grand" wintersend tournaments.

summerday (you begin to see how creative these names are) honours, you guessed it, the beginning of summer, celebrated at the beginning of may, or bloomingtide/molioris. apparently universally celebrated as a time for joy and marriage, which may explain why it was once called andoralis and sacred to andoral, old god of unity. time for those marriages the southerners arranged at wintersend to be celebrated! but most specifically, it's the day for coming of age. there's no details on at what age this occurs, and it may vary across thedas, but on summerday boys and girls wear white tunics and gowns in a grand procession to the local chantry to be taught the responsibilities of adulthood there. so most characters raised andrastian probably went through this! lots of cultures have coming of age celebrations but i'm not super familiar with them personally as my own is lacking, so i would love to have other people's takes on what else this might involve and if you see any similarities!!

funalis is now much better known in thedas as all soul's day, since after the first blight its original associations with dumat, the old god of silence, became rather unpopular. it's now spent in sombre remembrance of the dead. in some northern lands (i would expect this to be mainly acceptable in tevinter), there are parades after midnight where the people dress as spirits, which sounds so fucking cool, by the way, WHAT does that look like in the cultural imagination. in the south, it memorialises the death of andraste, with public bonfires to mark her death on the pyre, and religious plays depicting the events. all of this is obviously influenced by the real world all souls' day, a christian commemoration of the departed on 2 november, and i suspect visuals of the mexican day of the dead are being called up for the parades. however, funalis is actually celebrated at the start of august/matrinalis, which is equivalent to... you know... august. thedas gets an early start on spooky season i guess? for the southern andrastian stuff i would look at the history of miracle plays and catholic festivals

lastly, satinalia is a holiday accompanied by wild celebration, the wearing of masks, and naming the town fool as ruler for a day. it was once dedicated to zazikel, the old goddess of freedom, but is now more attributed to satina, thedas' second moon. this is very obviously linked to the ancient roman festival of saturnalia, which involved a similar switching of roles for the day, with slaves having the banquets and freedom of speech their masters would normally enjoy, and the rules changing for the day on how dress indicated rank, potentially including mask-wearing. you can see why the goddess of freedom was relevant. it's also been connected to later traditions like the british 'lord of misrule', which could be an influence too! there are many other festivals of masks to look to, as well. satinalia is celebrated at the beginning of firstfall/umbralis, which is november. in antiva, it last for a week or more, while a week of fasting follows. in others, it's marked by large feasts and the giving of gifts.

these are the festival days celebrated in all of thedas (in andrastian culture, at least), and there are likely many more regionally. for example, there's a delightful page in world of thedas vol 2 outlining all nevarra city's entertainments throughout the year, including ancestral pageants of the dead in the autumn, and winter styles of dance that mimic dragon hunting featuring armoured dress and fluttering red cloth, likely inspired by the pasodoble's mimicry of bull and matador. every place and culture in thedas surely has their own, and their own variations on the shared festivals above

i would loveeee if people included these more in their thoughts and fics and hcs. let your beloved characters get engaged at wintersend and remember their coming of age on summerday and dress up for parades!! pls. for my health.

#zevsurana academics #as requested!! :D

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drarrymicrofic · 2 years ago

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Wheel Of Drarry (WoD) Round 1/2023 Masterlist

Hello there!

Recently the Drarrymicrofic Discord Server ran its latest round of Wheel of Drarry (WoD) Fic Gift Exchange between participating members. Here is the compiled Masterlist, based on the details submitted by the gifters themselves. Please enjoy these beautiful works <3 To participants: If you see any errors with the links or the usernames, or if you don’t see your fic and want to be included, please reach out to Isami (isamijoo) on Discord.

1. Gift for @peachydreamxx by @makeitp1nk

Title: Overcome with light

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 295

Summary: For dear Eliza, as part of the WoD exchange for @drarrymicrofic, based on her prompt ethereal. A gazillion thanks to my beloved @crazybutgood for the always excellent beta. Inspired by The Dreamer Trilogy; the title is from the song with the same name by Bowerbirds. Hope you like it!

LINK TO FIC

2. Gift for @steampunkserpent27 by @cavendishbutterfly

Title: As it was written

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 4772

Tags: Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Post-Second Wizarding War with Voldemort (Harry Potter), War Trauma, Depression, Nightmares, Canon-Typical Violence, Trans Male Draco Malfoy, Hurt/Comfort, Healing, Angst with a Happy Ending, snuggling with your former enemy, and weeping in their arms, a kneazle who probably has a secret evil agenda

Summary: Harry keeps having nightmares after the war. Someone keeps saving him.

LINK TO FIC

3. Gift for @geesenoises by @wolfpants

Title: The Holly and the Ivy

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 4640

Tags: EWE, Non-Linear Narrative, Hogwarts Eighth Year, Quidditch Player Draco Malfoy, Castles, Flashbacks, References to A Christmas Carol, Miscommunication, Idiots in Love, Misunderstandings, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Holidays, Christmas, Fluff, Light Angst, Explicit Sexual Content, Charity Auctions, Rich Harry Potter, Prickly Draco Malfoy, POV Draco Malfoy

Summary: This year at the Annual Ministry Yule Auction, Magpies Seeker Draco Malfoy's time is up for sale. When Harry places the winning bid, will their contracturally-binding weekend together heal old wounds, or worsen them? Featuring a fluffy black cat called Marley, a castle on the western coast of Scotland, an Eighth Year Christmas kiss, and stupid boys who can't express their feelings.

LINK TO FIC

4. Gift for @thebooktopus by @themountainsgreen

Title: Midnight Confessions

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 1576

Tags: Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Potioneer Draco Malfoy, Auror Harry Potter, Idiots in Love, New Years Eve, Fluff, Holidays, Confessions, Falling In Love, Drarry, alternating POV

Summary: Sometimes, you need that special charm to realise what's right in front of you.

Harry's and Draco's is a tentative friendship, built on the ruins of Hogwarts and losses they’ve both suffered. This year marks the first time they spend New Year's Eve together.

LINK TO FIC

5. Gift for @isamijoo by @steampunkserpent27

Title: Shared Glimpses and First Kisses

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 2029

Tags: Harry Potter EWE, Eighth Year, Pining, Fluff, Gift Giving, Getting Together, Yule Party, Dancing, Good Harry Potter, Good Draco Malfoy, Established Friendship, Oblivious Harry Potter, Banter, First Kiss, Boys in Love, Boys Kissing, Happy Ending

Summary: The Eighth years have put on their very own magical Yule Party to celebrate how far they have all come. Harry has invited Draco, knowing that his new-found friend has been having a tough year, but will he show up?

LINK TO FIC

6. Gift for @tink-wondering by @gallifrey1sburning

Title: Waifs and Strays

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 5279

Tags: Alernate Universe - Different First Meeting, Chance Meetings, Runaway Harry Potter, Lost Draco Malfoy, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Light Angst, Canonical Child Abuse (but nothing graphic), Libraries, Good Influence Tonks, Cousins don't let cousins grow up to be bigots, and friends don't leave their friends' kids in abusive households, pre-Harry/Draco, very very pre, they are small children then have many years to go, Alternate Universe - Pre-Canon

Summary: When Draco Malfoy was seven years old, he got lost in Diagon Alley and met a cousin he’d never heard of. When Harry Potter was seven years old, he ran away from home and met a friend he never knew he had. A story of how chance encounters can change everything.

LINK TO FIC

7. Gift for @basicallyahedgehog by @nelweensfic

Title: Patience is the best gift

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 4037

Tags: Omegaverse, mpreg, smut, fluff, Omega Harry Potter, Alpha Draco Malfoy, christmas

Summary: After almost a decade of being both a teacher at Hogwarts, and an Omega, Harry realises there’s only one thing he's finally ready for: founding his own family.

LINK TO FIC

8. Gift for @wolfpants by @isamijoo

Title: Take Your Time

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 3000

Tags: Post-Hogwarts, Post-Battle of Hogwarts, Not Epilogue Compliant, Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Getting Together, Kissing, The Deathly Hallows

Summary: Ten years after the Battle of Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy owns a repair shop in Knockturn Alley. One day, Harry Potter came with a job for him.

LINK TO FIC

9. Gift for @blue--dreaming by @peachydreamxx

Title: Treacle Tarts and Longing Hearts

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 4230

Tags: Hogwarts Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence, First Kiss, POV Draco Malfoy, Friends to Lovers, Flirting, Pining, Fluff, Awkward Crush Feelings

Summary: Draco would usually find studying an absolute breeze, if it weren’t for Harry Potter being such a frustratingly gorgeous distraction.

LINK TO FIC

10. Gift for @quackquackcey by @sorrybutblog

Title: Two of Us

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 5559

Tags: Professional Quidditch, Fake/Pretend Relationship, except not really because Harry is too dumb to realize he’s doing it, Pining, Jealousy, Quidditch teammates, Himbo Harry Potter, Smut, based on the vibes of a hockey rpf!!, Harry is a little repressed but he gets it in the end

Summary: The gang goes to a gay bar. Or: five times Harry accidentally pretended to be Draco’s boyfriend and one time Draco told him to put out or shut up.

LINK TO FIC

11. Gift for @cluelesspigeons by @shealynn88

Title: For Everything, a Season

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 1344

Tags: established Drarry, fluff, empty nest, parents with adult children

Summary: Harry misses the kids, but Draco knows how to cheer him up.

LINK TO FIC

12. Gift for @gallifrey1sburning by @blue--dreaming

Title: waiting for courage

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 1125

Tags: Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Pre-Canon, Pre-Slash, Canon Divergence - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Happy Ending, Post Sectumsempra Scene | Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter's Duel in the Bathroom

Summary: In which Draco forgets about finding an odd book in the library as a child, but is somehow set on a better course anyway after an unexpected tumble.

LINK TO FIC

13. Gift for @nelweensfic by @cluelesspigeons

Title: Counting Down To The New Year With You

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 2117

Tags: Minor Seamus Finnigan/Dean Thomas, Minor Luna Lovegood/Ginny Weasley, Minor Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley, New Year's Eve, New Year's Party, New Year's Kiss, Fights, Making Up, Grumpy Harry Potter, Healer Draco Malfoy, Sulking Harry Potter

Summary: Just before Harry left for the party, he and Draco had a massive fight. Will Draco forgive him before the new year begins?

LINK TO FIC

14. Gift for @sorrybutblog by @quackquackcey

Title: "Little Blond Shite"

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 22557

Tags: Hogwarts Eighth Year, Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Draco Malfoy Wielding a Bat, Humor, Crack Treated Seriously, Hijinks & Shenanigans, A little bit of mystery, Some Action, Baking, Everyone Thinks They're Together, Getting to Know Each Other, Getting Together, Falling In Love, Some pining, Banter, Eventual Smut, Probably one of the best things I’ve ever written, Wheel Of Drarry Mini-Exchange 2023, Animagus Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy Has Long Hair

Summary: Picture Draco Malfoy now in the habit of swingin’ a Beater’s bat—(not unlike Steve Harrington from Stranger Things)—after Harry Potter snatched his wand during the war. Now picture Draco Malfoy in eighth year minding his own business, getting rid of his excess handbaked goods by offering them to fairies, only to accidentally push Harry Potter into a fairy ring and get him cursed. That’s the story.

LINK TO FIC

15. Gift for @written-in-ash by @tink-wondering

Title: Lacrima Mortis

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 13954

Tags: Dementors, the Kiss, Azkaban, Veela!Draco, depressive thoughts, borderline suicidal ideation, self-harm, very brief and not really self-harm, but tagging it just in case, low self-esteem, mental health, microfics, within the fic itself, angst, happy ending, kind of an open ending, love is an important theme in this, as much as it is in the original story, canon divergent after the Lily’s and James’ deaths, wherein Voldemort truly died that night, but with a slight twist, so kind of, Alternate Universe, time travel, or more like time imprisonment, time-turner, Minor character death, nothing graphic and not from the character’s POV, No beta we die like Sirius, Spoiler alert?, canon compliant violence, Veela!Draco finding his mate, Panic Attack, cremation

Summary: Through history, Veelas have been hunted and almost decimated for one thing. A single thing that seems trivial and useless at first. A lone tear. Their last tear. Lacrima Mortis. Many advocated against the kills, yet it remains a potent potion ingredient. And now, though illegal, the hunt still perdures.

LINK TO FIC

Please read, leave a kudos and comment of these wonderful fics. Until next time, have a lovely day!

#wheel of drarry 2023 #wheel of drarry #drarrymicrofic #drarry #harry/draco #Draco/Harry #draco malfoy x harry potter #harry potter x draco malfoy #wheel of drarry masterlist

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cyarsk5230 · 1 month ago

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“Auld Lang Syne" is an ode to memory, friendship, & the human experience of time passing, encouraging us to hold dear those who have shared our past as we move into the future. Here's the meaning behind it: It’s a traditional Scottish song that has become synonymous with New Year's Eve celebrations around the world.

- Title: The phrase "Auld Lang Syne" translates roughly from Scots language to English as "old long since," or more poetically, "for old time's sake" or "days gone by." It essentially asks, "for the sake of old times, should old acquaintance be forgot?"

- Lyrics and Theme: The song's lyrics, penned by Robert Burns in 1788, are based on an even older folk song. Burns claimed he took down the words from an old man's singing, suggesting the song's roots go deep into Scottish oral tradition. The song's theme is nostalgia, remembrance, and the cherishing of old friendships. It reflects on whether we should forget old times and old friends now that new times are here, advocating that we should remember them instead.

- Structure: The song starts with a rhetorical question about forgetting old times, followed by verses reminiscing about past experiences shared with friends, like wandering together, drinking together, and swearing mutual support. The refrain, or chorus, is a toast to these old times, symbolized by the act of taking a "cup of kindness" for old times' sake.

- Cultural Significance:

- New Year's Eve: In many English-speaking countries, particularly in Scotland, England, and the United States, "Auld Lang Syne" is sung at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve as part of the celebration, symbolizing a moment to reflect on the past year and to embrace new beginnings while not forgetting old friendships.

- Other Occasions: Beyond New Year's, it's often played at farewells, graduations, and other significant endings, encapsulating a moment of looking back with fondness before moving forward.

- Global Recognition: The melody and sentiment have made "Auld Lang Syne" a universal symbol for reflection and continuity, adopted in various cultures with their own translations or adaptations of the song.

In essence, "Auld Lang Syne" is an ode to memory, friendship, and the human experience of time passing, encouraging us to hold dear those who have shared our past as we move into the future.

#Spotify

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scotianostra · 10 months ago

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April 15th 1924 saw the birth of Rikki Fulton.

Robert Kerr “Rikki” Fulton was a Scottish comedian and actor best remembered for writing and performing in the long-running BBC Scotland sketch show, Scotch and Wry.

The youngest of three brothers, Robert was born into a non-theatrical family at 46 Appin Road, Dennistoun, Glasgow. Fulton completed his education in 1939 and decided to enter the world of acting after a backstage visit at the Glasgow Pavilion Theatre.In 1941, aged 17, Fulton joined the Royal Navy. The following year he was posted to HMS Ibis, but that November the ship was sunk in the Bay of Algiers. Fulton spent five hours in the water before being rescueHe later joined the Coastal Forces for D-Day, travelling back and forth between Gosport and Arromanches with vital supplies. In 1945, four years after signing up, Fulton was invalided out of the Navy due to blackout, leaving with the rank of sub-lieutenant

In the early 1950s, Fulton moved to London and became the compère of The Show Band Show, working alongside the likes of singer Frank Sinatra.

After a short period, Fulton returned to Scotland to perform for Howard & Wyndham Ltd inn pantomime from 1956 at the Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow with Jimmy Logan and Kenneth McKellar followed by the “Five Past Eight” summer revues with Stanley Baxter and Fay Lenore. In 1985, under the pseudonym “Rabaith”, Fulton, along with Denise Coffey, adapted the French playwright Molière’s, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme as A Wee Touch o’ Class.

Alongside his Scotch and Wry co-stars Gregor Fisher and Tony Roper, Fulton made two appearances in Rab C. Nesbitt; once in 1988 and 10 years later in 1998. Although he would reprise his famous Rev I.M Jolly character one last time for a short skit on New Year’s Eve 1999 as part of the “Millennium” celebrations. Rikki’s early shows include,The Rikki Fulton Show The Five past eight, The Adventures of Francie and Josie but he also acted in various shows like Charles Esquire , Square Mile of Murder, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, Bergerac, Local Hero, Gorky Park, Comfort and Joy, The Holy City, The Girl in the Picture, Supergran and the aforementioned Rab C. Nesbitt. Notable Characters Scotch and Wry Supercop a frequently dimwitted traffic cop who rides a motorbike, his trademark is how he removes his goggles (pings off and flies off camera), is often getting into more trouble than those he stops.

Rev. I.M Jolly a very downtrodden and pessimistic minister of the Church of Scotland, presents a fictional show “Last Call” where he has a heart to heart with the audience where he tells them what he has been up to that week. his tone is always low-key and down beat.

Dickie Dandruff owner of “The Fourways Café” also goes by the moniker “The Gallowgate Gourmet” and presents a cooking segment called “Dirty Dick’s Delicat'messen” where he prepares food in comedic style from his filthy café kitchen in the Gallowgate area of Glasgow.

Fulton’s death sparked numerous dedications in his memory. The then-BBC Scotland Controller, John McCormick, said “he [Fulton] was a legend for people across the whole country.”

Fulton’s funeral took place six days after his death. In tribute to his Scotch and Wry character Supercop (a police traffic officer), police motorcyclists escorted the funeral cortège as it made its way to Clydebank Crematorium. The Reverend Alastair Symington, who was a close friend of Fulton, led the service, which featured tributes from Fulton’s widow Kate Matheson and Tony Roper.

Symington had previously collaborated with Fulton on the book, For God’s Sake, Ask!. Both Rikki and his Kate were strong supporters of the Scottish SPCA, which received a financial donation following Fulton’s funeral. A Scottish SPCA inspector represented the animal welfare organisation at the service.

Fulton's funeral took place six days after his death. In tribute to his Scotch and Wry character Supercop (a police traffic officer), police motorcyclists escorted the funeral cortège as it made its way to Clydebank Crematorium.

#scotland #scottish #history #comedian #entertainer #actor

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piscesseer · 1 year ago

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Samhain Traditions

Toward the end of October the leaves change, the air crisps, and the world seems to take on an eerie, magical glow. Samhain is celebrated on October 31st, and it’s a time to remember the dead and to celebrate the coming of the new year. It is the third and final harvest festival.

Samhain (pronounced "sow-in") is believed to have its roots in Celtic Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The Celts, an ancient people who lived in these regions more than 2,000 years ago, celebrated Samhain as a significant holiday. It marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker half of the year.

Samhain was celebrated from the evening of October 31st to November 1st, coinciding with the end of the Celtic calendar year. This was a time when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds was thought to be at its thinnest. To honor this unique period, the Celts engaged in a festival of fire. Bonfires were lit to symbolize the sun's waning power, ward off malevolent spirits, and guide the souls of the departed to the Otherworld. People would wear disguises, often made from animal skins, to ward off vengeful spirits and trickster fairies.

One of the most important aspects of Samhain was paying tribute to deceased family members and ancestors. Celts believed that during Samhain, the spirits of the dead could return to the earthly realm. Offerings of food and drink were left out for these spirits, and places were set at the dinner table to welcome them. It was a time for remembering, celebrating, and seeking guidance from the other side.

When Christianity spread to the Celtic regions, it attempted to integrate the existing pagan traditions into the new faith. In the 9th century, the Catholic Church established All Saints' Day on November 1st, which was followed by All Souls' Day on November 2nd. These days incorporate elements of Samhain, such as the veneration of the dead. Over time, this blending of cultures resulted in the creation of All Hallows' Eve, which eventually became Halloween.

Fast forward to the present day, and Halloween has become known for its spooky decorations, costumes, trick-or-treating, and jack-o'-lanterns. It still retains many aspects of Samhain's spirit, emphasizing the thrill of the mysterious and the connection between the living and the dead.

Samhain, rooted in the cycles of nature and the mysteries of the afterlife, has stood the test of time, evolving and adapting across centuries and cultures. As we partake in the festivities of Halloween, we are, in a way, carrying forward the traditions and spirit of Samhain, honoring our ancestors and embracing the magic of this enchanting season.

There are many different ways to celebrate Samhain. Some people attend festivals, while others hold private rituals in their homes. Some common activities include:

Decorate the house and altar with the appropriate correspondents:

Colors: orange, black, purple, gold, silver, white

Symbols: pumpkins, acorns and nuts, fall leaves, apples, brooms, black candles, cauldrons, pomegranate, photos of ancestors and loved ones who have passed on

Animals: bats, cats (specifically black cats), owls, crows and ravens

Crystals: aquamarine, bloodstone, carnelian, jet, obsidian, onyx, smokey quartz

Herbs & Flowers: allspice, calendula, cosmos, chrysanthemum (mum), deadly nightshade, mandrake, mint, nutmeg, rosemary, sage, thistle, wormwood

We can also eat traditional foods like apple cider and roasted nuts. Some recipes to try include: Herb bread for abundance, Squash Soup for cleansing, Pumpkin Scones for Success, Apples Cider for Balance, Mushroom Pasta for Divination, Concannon for Wealth

Carving pumpkins is a wonderful combination of Samhain and Halloween. Jack O Lantern faces are meant to ward off bad spirits.

Observe the changes in nature. Take a nature walk or hike to connect with the changing season. Collect fallen leaves, acorns, or pinecones to use in decorations or rituals. Spend time in contemplation, feeling the energy of the earth as it prepares for winter's rest.

It’s a great time to perform closing rituals, or release rituals.

One of the central aspects of Samhain is honoring and connecting with our ancestors. Set up a special altar in your home with photographs, mementos, and offerings that represent our ancestors. Take a few moments to remember and connect with those who came before us. Honor the dead.

Samhain is an ideal time for divination and communication with the spirit realm. Tarot readings, scrying with a crystal ball or a dark mirror, or even a simple game of divination like apple bobbing can be great ways to connect with the mystical. Be open to symbols that pop up.

Samhain is a time to reflect on the past year and to look forward to the future. It is a time to connect with nature and with the spirit world. It is a time to celebrate life and death.

Journal Prompts and Reflections for Samhain:

What aspects of your life no longer serve you? What do you need to release or leave behind in order to move forward?

What were the highlights and challenges of the past year? What lessons have you learned? How have you grown and transformed?

What are your goals and intentions for the upcoming year? What steps can you take to bring your intentions to fruition?

Who are your ancestors, and what do you know about their lives?

#samhain #celebrations #holidays #halloween

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goldieghoulie · 3 months ago

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New Chapter! (15 of 18)

Isabel and Secondo meet up in the chapel for some early morning ‘prayer’. Bunny starts to grow suspicious, but that doesn’t stop them from celebrating Fat Tuesday.

Story summary

Having fled the instability of Scotland when the Bruce declared himself king, Isabel has spent the past years living off the goodwill of her royal godmother, but that can’t go on forever. With no offers of marriage forthcoming, and no other abbeys willing to take her, Isabel hopes the Ministry at Linköping will at last offer her a home.

Read on AO3

or a snippet below the cut

Did she feel some residual guilt about using the chapel as an assignation point? Perhaps. But that hadn’t stopped Isabel from slipping from bed while the world was still dark. The night before she had retired early. Bunny, in her infinite kindness, hadn’t questioned her and had simply bid her good night. Alone in their chamber, Isabel had prepared so that she could leave in the morning and not disturb her roommates more than necessary. She had set out her clothes and a candle in a holder on top of her chest and placed her boots where she could easily reach them by the door.

When she had awoken, the fire gave just enough light for her to see her earlier preparations, but mischievousness seized her as she reached for her clean shift. Secondo had mentioned the serpent in the garden and Eve hadn’t bothered with clothes. Fighting a smile, she instead pulled off the shift she had slept in and donned on her black habit directly. It was easy enough to remove quickly but unremarkable for her walk across the bailey. She placed all of her other additional layers on top of her underkirtle and bundled it up, keeping her garters free.

She tied them on their usual spot, even if the hose they should have kept up were absent, then slid her bare feet into her boots. She shivered slightly, though from excitement or cold she was hard pressed to say. She pulled her cloak over her shoulders and turned to gather the bundle of additional clothes under her cloak. She walked to the door silently, but the wood protested slightly as she eased it open. Isabel paused, checking if anyone had roused and saw the maid's sleepy head poking up. She waved her free hand at the maid, recognition clicked, and the maid laid down and rolled over.

Exhaling slowly in relief, she stepped into the hallway and pulled the door shut behind her. She took a moment to shift the things she was carrying. She had used her belt to hold the bundle of clothes together and slid her arm through that to free up both of her hands. She then pulled the candle free and moved to one of the torches left burning all night to light it. With her candle in hand, she navigated the stairs, crossed the hall, and pushed open the door. Hints of dawn were starting to lighten the sky, but it was still plenty early. The additional light reflected from the snow made the trip across the bailey easier, but she was still shivering, this time definitely from cold, by the time she eased into the chapel.

She looked around the dark space, almost surprised to have beaten Secondo here. He always seems to be first, or show up when and where she didn’t expect him, but the chapel was silent and dark. Isabel cursed as a drip of wax ran down on her finger, still warm but not burning, and it spurred her into action. She used her candle to light some of the candles on either side of the door. Then, using the additional light those cast, she navigated down the aisle and lit the candles on either side of the altar. The four sets of candles she had lit weren’t enough to fully illuminate the chapel, but it was enough that she could see the doors from where she stood in front of the altar. That was probably good enough. She blew out the candle she carried and placed it down by the first pew. She placed her bundle of clothes on the pew as well, but then stood with her hands on her hips debating what to do next.

If she was in the ministry, she’d have no qualms about shedding her clothes, undoing her hair, hopping up on the altar, and waiting for her lover to arrive. Here? It wouldn’t be the wisest idea. Though she saw no reason for anyone other than Secondo to come through those doors, it wasn’t guaranteed. And, unlike at the ministry where sitting nude on the altar, hair down, come hither expression on one’s face was considered de rigueur, being caught in such a state here would be harder to explain. With a sigh, she settled for sitting down in the pew, in the same spot she had been for mass last week.

As the minutes crept by, she wished that she had brought something to occupy her hands and mind. Maybe not the embroidery, perhaps the still half-finished mittens. Just something to do other than bounce her knee and wait. At last, she heard the shuffle of boots outside the door and felt the blast of cold as it was opened. She rose and turned, relieved to see Secondo pushing the door open.

He paused in the door and Isabel could feel the heat in his gaze across the chapel. He turned to shut the door and Isabel jumped into action. Her cloak fell to the ground as she undid the clasp then she grabbed handfuls of fabric about her hips and pulled it overhead, taking the habit off in one smooth motion. She dropped it, still inside out, on the pew and then quickly pulled off her cap.

She heard the door bolt slam home and looked up in time to see Secondo freeze by the door again. Even with the dim light she could see his mouth slightly ajar, eyes roaming her exposed flesh. Unable to help her smile, she finished pulling the pins from her hair and began slowly undoing her braids. She stepped out from behind the pew to stand in the middle of the aisle. His eyes devoured her, scanning down her body and catching on her garters. She could see his nose flair on an inhale.

#the band ghost #papa secondo #papa emeritus ii #ghost fanfiction #secondo x oc #fanfic #goldiewrites

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thepastisalreadywritten · 1 year ago

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1 January 2024

By Doug Faulkner, BBC News

The UK marked the beginning of 2024 with fireworks, street parties, and a message of inclusivity as people celebrated across Britain.

As Big Ben struck, midnight drones lit up the London sky with the message "London, a place for everyone," before a vibrant firework display began.

About 100,000 people gathered to watch the 15-minute spectacular in the city.

In Scotland, Britpop band Pulp performed as thousands braved the cold to mark Hogmanay.

There was also a fireworks display as Edinburgh marked its 30th year of the celebrations, while there was a mass ceilidh staged in Inverness.

London's display included more than 12,000 fireworks, 600 drones, and 430 lights.

It quoted Shakespeare heard from the King and also paid homage to the NHS, which celebrated 75 years in 2023.

A quote from King Charles III was used to mark the 75th anniversary of the Windrush crossing in which he said new arrivals "collectively enrich the fabric of our national life."

Further messages throughout the show were heard from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Dame Helen Mirren, Bella Ramsey, Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, George the Poet, and Baroness Floella Benjamin, who read a poem by the late Benjamin Zephaniah.

The celebration continued with a New Year's Day parade, which started in Piccadilly at midday before making its way towards Westminster's Parliament Square.

Several days of weather warnings did not put off revellers in Scotland with tens of thousands watching Edinburgh's firework display.

Visitors from more than 80 countries gathered in the city, while Pulp headlined a concert in Princes Street Gardens.

Following the fireworks, thousands continued to celebrate, singing Auld Lang Syne, and dancing.

Inverness was host to the Red Hot Highland Fling, described by organisers as "one of the biggest ceilidhs on the planet," where folk singer Siobhan Miller entertained partygoers up to midnight.

Later, hundreds of hardy swimmers are expected to brave the waters of the Firth of Forth as part of the annual Loony Dook — dook being a Scots word for dip or bathe.

People are encouraged to don fancy dress for the charity swim.

In Allendale, Northumberland, the annual Allendale Tar Bar'l ceremony was held.

The centuries-old tradition sees 45 local men carry burning whiskey barrels through the town.

Before the celebrations, King Charles III and Queen Camilla waved to onlookers as they attended the New Year's Eve service at a church in Sandringham, Norfolk.

Ahead of giving his New Year message, the Archbishop of Canterbury urged politicians not to treat their opponents as enemies but as fellow human beings.

He told the BBC:

"Our capacity to disagree deeply and not destructively is cause for hope."

His message will be broadcast on BBC1 and iPlayer at 12:55 GMT.

In his New Year message, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hinted at tax cuts in an election year and said the UK should "look forward with pride and optimism."

He said his resolution would be to "keep driving forward."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer used his message to say that while it had been "another tough year economically for millions of people, hope was the fuel of change."

Meanwhile, Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, renewed his party's call for electoral reform and appealed to "transform the nature of British politics for good."

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what-if-queen-camilla · 2 years ago

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Chapter 31

1st December 1995

Clarence House

"Margaret tells me Diana is throwing a big party on New Year's Eve.", the Queen Mother said warily and Charles shrugged his shoulders. He was visiting his grandmother at Clarence House for their weekly Afternoon Tea. "And?", he asked, looking at her in expectation. He didn't care what his ex was up to. She'd ruined everything, she'd hurt him, their sons, the love of his life and now even attacked his little daughter. Illegitimate or not, she was a child and none of that was her fault. He was still so angry with her that he never wanted to see or hear anything about her again. He'd very much appreciated had she just decided to move to the moon. "Um, that's certainly not going to be something for the boys.", his grandmother went on. "So I was wondering… whether I could throw a little party, too.", she added mysteriously, motioning for a servant to refill her cup of tea, which the young lady happily did immediately. "Of course, Granny. Any concrete plans yet?", Charles asked, refilling his cup of tea on his own, much to the servant's disappointment. "I thought we could go up to Scotland maybe.", she said, heartily sinking her teeth into a huge scone. "We?", Charles repeated, frowning his forehead. "Oh yes, yes.", she nodded. "With the others staying at Sandringham until approximately Easter, none of them will notice if the two of us and the boys disappear for a couple of days.", she said "Going to Birkhall. To meet with some good friends… Camilla and her children." She had mentioned Camilla and her children so randomly that, for a moment, Charles wasn't sure whether she had really said that or whether he had been dreaming and he almost choked at his salmon sandwich. "Isn't that something you'd like?", she asked innocently, smiling and him and twinkling her eye, which made him realise that she had, indeed, really said that - and that she meant it. "That… Oh Granny…", he stuttered, rushing up from his seat and over to, affectionately hugging the old lady. "Oh Granny, you're such a darling!", he sighed, lovingly kissing both her cheeks. The Queen Mother vividly enjoyed receiving so much love and smiled like a Cheshire cat. "So you're in?", she asked, looking at him intently. "Of course!", he cheered. "Fabulous.", she replied firmly, adding: "Because Camilla has already accepted my invitation."

It had been quite a surprise to receive an invitation for New Year's Eve at Birkhall from Charles' grandmother and at first she had been reluctant to accept it. She hadn't seen or heard anything from the Queen Mother since Diana’s interview and had actually expected the royal family to never speak to her again and thought it was a joke at first, but there was a heartfelt letter attached, in which the old lady mentioned how delighted she was about the fact that she was now sharing her birthday with her great-granddaughter, and that she'd love for them all to welcome the new year together, which had brought a few tears to her eyes. She didn't bother too much about herself, she was almost used to being hated by now, but she didn't want her daughter to have to go through the same and the sweet words of Charles' grandmother - and Thea's great-grandmother - had given her just the spark of hope she had needed at the time. Laura had agreed to come, too, as she was good friends with Peter and Zara who had let her known that they'd join the party as well, Tom on the other hand preferred to celebrate with his friends from Oxford and Camilla didn't begrudge him for that. She was a bit nervous about the prospect of meeting with Charles' sons after their mother's accusations but apparently they were both curious to get to know their little sister, and of course, Thea was excited to meet her two brothers as well so she tried not to worry too much.

Meanwhile, she had also come to terms with the paternity test, which's unsurprisingly positive result had arrived two days ago. Charles had called her immediately and promised her to send her a copy of his statement before it was published later tonight and assured her over and over again that his parents or the palace wouldn't mess it up this time.

She and Thea were still staying with Annabel and Simon, and she had taken her daughter out of school until after Christmas - due to illness, officially, but Thea's teacher knew and totally understood the decision under the given circumstances and sent her all the course material and worksheets they'd been discussing in class and supported by her father, who had gladly undertaken the responsibility for maths and science he was much better with numbers than her, she was trying her best to homeschool her youngest child. To her very surprise, after some normal, initial difficulties and uncertainties on both sides, she actually began to enjoy the experience. It was good to have something sensible to keep herself busy and somehow it was fun to delve into the world of third-graders again. Camilla especially treasured the language lessons, the reading and writing. She had always been reading to and with Thea, with all her children actually, just like her father had read to her siblings and her when they were children, but doing so in another, more serious context, was exciting and, proving all her initial sorrows wrong, they worked quite well together as student and teacher and most of their courses didn't end in screams and tears, but in joy and laughter. Camilla was so proud of her brave, little girl who was doing so well. She knew how much Thea missed her friends and she felt incredibly bad and guilty for having put her into this situation - but there was no way they could've stayed on their own under the given circumstances and at least Laura, Alice and Katie, who all went to a boarding school nearby, made sure to come over at the weekends and play with her but of course that wasn't the same. She only hoped they'd be able to get back to some kind of normality once everything was official and fixed, though she was still incredibly anxious and scared of the public reaction and what it'd really mean for Thea's life. She felt so powerless, vulnerable and weak, it was her daughter, but there was nothing she could do to help or protect her anymore. She was completely dependent on Charles… and it frightened her…

Question: how do you think the public will react to Charles' upcoming statement?

#king charles #queen camilla #royal baby #royal family #fanfiction #fanfic #queen mother #prince william

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