I took Friday off so I could use my last floating holiday for the year.
Dave took off, too, though he has INFINITELY more freedom to just take off whenever he wants to, and he gets 5 weeks of vacation a year, where I only get 14 days.
Friday night's full moon marked the high point of the festival of Samhain, which is known by several other names as well. In Welsh it is Calan Gaeaf. Samhain is based on the Gaelic word for Summer's End. This is the ancient festival upon which Halloween is based.
(Of course, it's only Samhain in the northern hemisphere. Down south, they're celebrating Beltane, the BEGINNING of summer, but that's another blog post, for another time!)
The old church placed their All Hallows (that's where the name of Hallowe'en comes from), All Saints, and All Souls over the existing festival, which took place all over Europe in pre-Christian times. As the new kids in town, the church did this to try to win converts to the new religion.
I find it utterly fascinating that there is a concurrent festival that developed in the pre-Christian Americas, which lives on as Dia de los Muertos. It, too, has been overshadowed by the church, but the ancient origins are apparent.
Most folks who practice various Pagan religions (as well as those who observe Muertos fest in the Americas) consider this the time to honor the dead, and to help the newly deceased souls find their way to peace and light.
We acknowledge them, give them our attention, making offerings, and saying prayers. Not to mention, protecting ourselves, our goods, and our property, from harm.
There were a lot of outraged and angry souls in this part of the world this year!
During this moon, which was the 13th moon of the lunar year, flocks were culled as well, thus granting the name Blood Moon to this moon.
(contrary to new, Facebook-based pseudo information, the Blood Moon is NOT when the moon turns red during a lunar eclipse!! One may, however, refer to the red eclipse moon as "blood on the moon," but the correct application of Blood Moon is the 13th moon in the old lunar and agricultural cycle)
As such, Samhin/Calan Gaeaf started the season of rest and planning for the coming year. This is why many modern Pagans refer to it as "Celtic New Year."
SO, there's your history lesson, combined with a Pagan spirituality primer for the holiday!
Anyway, we did our errands on Friday morning, which was such a luxury. I also got my first hair cut in 6 months.
They say that if you get your hair cut at full moon, it grows more quickly. Okay, I'll try that, HAHA!
The day was supposed to be clear and sunny, but it was chilly and drizzly. That was disappointing.
Then, we came home and cleaned house -- company was coming, after all, in the form of the spirits of our beloved dead.
We had a special supper, and did our ceremony observing the holiday.
After our ceremony (it was nice enough out to be able to conduct it on the back patio), I made us some hot, spiced cider. SO good!
Yesterday, since all of the chores were already done, we did some yard work and some actual relaxing. I also smoked a pork shoulder that we had found at the farmers market.
I had hoped to make pulled pork, but it dried out a little too much while smoking in the Weber, so we just sliced it.
It was delicious!!
Today, Dave will go take care of his dad's errands, and I will finish up laundry, and do some cooking. I also have a necklace to fix, and MIGHT finally get into my yarn box to start planning a weaving project.
It's supposed to be a GORGEOUS day, though, so I am hoping we will get the bikes out after Dave gets home. That may prevent the weaving project from starting today.
Don't forget to change your clocks, if you haven't already, and I hope you have a good Sunday Funday!!
Next weekend is 3 days, too, because my office is closed on Friday to observe Veterans' Day, and Dave took the day off, too. We're going to a Los Lobos concert that night! Can't Wait!
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