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deanna
Member
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# Posted: 31 Oct 2006 04:31
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http://www.explosm.net/comics/706/
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lzrman
Member
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# Posted: 31 Oct 2006 17:08
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Happy Halloween to all Outpost10F Patrons!!
If you've not figured out a pumpkin design, give this one above a try.
Lzrman
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citron
Member
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# Posted: 31 Oct 2006 18:46
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And be the biggest geek ever, no thanks.. I'll stick to a traditional scary face 
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darth_balco
Member
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# Posted: 31 Oct 2006 20:48
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I'll make a rick james face for my jack-o-latern, if I had the talent to do so. 
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kady
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2006 07:47
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13 Halloween Superstitions and Customs
Do you believe in superstition? Or do you think it's just hogwash our fore fathers believed, before they knew any better? Either way, Halloween superstition can be interesting and fun. In the following paragraphs, we will take a look at thirteen different Halloween superstitions and customs.
First, there is the old saying black cats are bad luck. It was once believed that black cats were the devil, or consumed by evil spirits. On Easter, back in the middle ages, black cats were hunted and burned. Today, many families own black cats, and do not experience unusual bad luck. In Britain, they believe white cats are bad luck.
Second, also in Britain, people used to believe that Satan was a nut-gatherer. On Halloween, nuts were used as magic charms.
Third, there is another Halloween superstition. This one claims if you put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards on Halloween night, at midnight you will see a witch in the sky. People used to believe witches were the devil, also, or that they were consumed by evil. There was a test done to tell whether or not a woman was a witch. They would throw her in the water. If she floated, she was indeed a witch. If she died, she was not a witch.
Fourth, there is an old saying if the flame on your candle goes out on Halloween, it means you are in the presence of a ghost. (I recommend you shut your window.)
Fifth, if you ring a bell on Halloween, it will scare evil spirits away. I wonder if door bells count? Millions of those kind of bells get rung on Halloween.
Sixth, there is an old Celtic custom that they used to do on Halloween. They would build big bonfires and wait for them to go out. Then they would make one circle with all the ashes from each fire. Inside the circle of ashes, near the outside, each member of the different families would place a stone. The day after Halloween, any stone that was damaged or out of place, it was thought the person who put the stone there would die within twelve months.
Seventh, a lot of people used to believe that owls would dive down to eat the souls of the dying on Halloween. When people would hear owls hooting, it would scare them. They used to think if you pulled your pockets out, and left them hanging, they'd be safe.
Numbers eight, nine, and ten are pertain to bats. First, it has been said if a bat flies into your house on Halloween, it is a sign that ghosts or spirits are near, and maybe they are in your home and let the bat in. Next, people used to believe that if bats are out early on Halloween, and they fly around playfully, then good weather is to come. And the last superstition about bats is that if a bat flies around your house three times on Halloween, death is to come.
Numbers eleven and twelve are both Halloween superstitions that deal with warding off evil spirits. Eleventh on the list is to ward off evil spirits on Halloween, you can bury animal bones in your front yard, or put a picture of an animal near your doorway. Twelfth on the list is another way to ward off evil. People used to believe you could walk around your house three times backwards before sunset on Halloween, and that would take care of all evil.
Lastly, we come to number thirteen Halloween superstition or custom. If you see a spider on Halloween, it could be the spirit of a dead loved one watching you. I will leave you to ponder that thought.
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kady
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2006 07:56
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Halloween - Fact or Fiction
Fact or Fiction: Halloween was originally a Celtic holiday celebrated on October 31.
Fact: The ancient Celts celebrated the new year on November 1, the beginning of winter. Summer's end (Samhain) was celebrated immediately before on October 31. Celtic priests, the Druids, established the night of October 31 as a gathering time for the spirits of death and evil. (Barth, 1972, p. 79)
Fact or Fiction: Trick-or-treating is a modern Halloween custom.
Fiction: Silver Ravenwolf (2000) explains: "We find the original source of trick-or-treating in the Celtic practice of leaving special food as an offering to the dead, much like the Mexican ofrenda. The practice of going from house to house is not a new one at all . . . House-begging on Halloween became the norm throughout the original Celtic territories. Some historical accounts say that only children practiced house-begging, but other references indicate that adults participated as well. It is from these house to house visits, involving laughter, song, and general revelry, that we have the birth of the American practice of trick-or-treating, the American Halloween parade, and costuming for both of these events." (p. 42)
Fact or Fiction: Turnips and beets served as the original jack-o'-lanterns.
Fact: In Ireland and Scotland children would hollow out large turnips, carve faces on them and place candles inside to scare away evil spirits at night. Once immigrants arrived in America, they found pumpkins more plentiful and used them instead.
Fact or Fiction: According to folklore, the jack-o'-lantern got his name from a man named Jack.
Fact: Rosemary Ellen Guilley (2001) recounts that "According to folklore, the jack-o'-lantern got it's name from a ne'er-do-well man named jack, who had a run-in with the Devil. Jack thwarted the Devil several times when claiming his soul, but the Devil had the last laugh. When Jack died, he could not get into heaven because of his mean ways in life. He went to the gates of hell, but the Devil wouldn't let him in, either. Instead, the Devil tossed out a piece of coal to help Jack find his way in the dark. Jack put the coal in a turnip, and the lantern serves as his light in his eternal wanderings about the earth." (p. 32)
Fact or Fiction: The "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" tradition began in Houston in 1967.
Fiction: The "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" tradition began in Philadelphia in 1950 with a youth group who collected $17 in decorated milk cartons on Halloween to help children overseas. Since then, the program has raised more than $115 million and grown to encompass the entire United States. For more information on this year's campaign, visit www.unicefusa.org/trickortreat.
Fact or Fiction: Valentine's Day is the top candy holiday.
Fiction: According to the National Confectioners Association and Chocolate Manufacturers Association, Halloween is the top candy holiday. Sales (in dollars) for 2001 for Halloween were 1 billion, 983 million. Other top candy holidays, in order, are Easter (1 billion, 856 million), the Winter Holidays (1 billion, 431 million), and Valentine's Day (1 billion, 59 million).
Fact or Fiction: Chicago is home to the first Halloween community festival.
Fiction: Independence, Kansas lays claim to this title with their Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) festival which premiered in 1918 and has been held at intervals since then. In 1920 Anoka, Minnesota began their Halloween festival and they've been holding it annually ever since. The Village Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village, NY is a relative new comer, premiering in 1973 and organized by mask maker and puppeteer Ralph Lee.
Fact or Fiction: Halloween was banned during World War II.
Fiction: Karen Sue Hybertsen (1993, p. 152) explains: Halloween . . . survived and even flourished. Halloween on the homefront became 'Conservation Day.' Community-based Halloween parties were enlisted in the war effort. For example, one hundred and fifty pounds of salvaged paper was the price of admission at one Halloween party where revelers enjoyed traditional games. Advice for Halloween parties reminded the reader that wartime Halloween parties required easy and inexpensive decorations fashioned from available materials. Some of the large scale community celebrations turned Halloween parades into celebrations of their contributions to the war. Parades showcased Red Cross Units, Air Raid Wardens, and Auxiliary Police Units; all attired in Halloween costumes. The climax of the parade was often a War Bond Auction with prizes donated by local merchants and sold for war bond pledges. The coordination of this new style of celebration was quickly standardized by the National Halloween Committee. Their purpose was to allow children to enjoy the holiday, to aid the war effort, and to entertain men and women. Traditional Halloween activities were created in wartime images. For example, traditional scavenger hunts were transformed into campaigns to collect needed scrap materials. Party games were also given a link to the war . . .
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kady
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2006 08:00
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Fun Pumpkin Facts
With Halloween right around the corner, and Thanksgiving after that, I decided to research some neat trivia facts about pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. We couldn't have Halloween without them.
How many years have pumpkins been around? They have been around for thousands of years. They originated in Central America, and over the years spread all over North and South America. Europeans, who arrived in the New World, were taught by Native Americans how to cook pumpkin, and the Europeans took the seeds home, spreading pumpkins throughout Europe and other countries.
Have you ever wondered how much the largest pumpkin the world weighs? I have, and I looked it up. The world's record for the biggest pumpkin is currently 1446 pounds! Now that is a BIG pumpkin. Imagine the pies it would make!
Growing pumpkins is enjoyed by many as a hobby. People compete, trying to grow the biggest, best pumpkin for their fall fairs and festivals. People have won up to $25,000 prize money for having the best pumpkin. Wouldn't that be a nice payday?
Carving pumpkins has become traditional when it comes to Halloween, but it hasn't always been so. In earlier times, Irish carved different vegetables, like turnips, rutabagas, and potatoes, and put a candle inside them, to ward off evil spirits on Halloween. When the Irish immigrants came to the USA, they realized pumpkins were easier to carve, and started using them. Can you imagine carving a potato for Halloween? Potatoes aren't even orange ... unless they are sweet potatoes.
Finally, did you know that there are no words in the Webster's dictionary that rhyme with orange? Nope, there is not one rhyming word. Purple and Silver have no rhyming words either, but that's not important. There are no purple or silver pumpkins.
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kady
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2006 08:06
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Why A Festival For The Dead?
The pagan roots of Halloween goes back considerably further than the Christian era. According to biblical accounts and works of historians, about 4300 years ago almost all known civilization was wiped out by a cataclysmic deluge. The following is taken from http://personals.galaxyinternet.net/tunga/Flood.htm:
Stories of the Great Flood are almost universal among the civilizations on Earth. Anthropologists who study legends and folktales from different geographical locations (China, Babylon, Mexico, Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Persia, India, Norway, Wales, Ireland, Indonesia, Romania, Mexico, Peru, Australia, Greece, Tanzania etc.) and cultures consistently have reported one particular group of legends that is common to practically every civilization, the story of the Great Flood. Historians estimate that these legends number into the hundreds. In 95% of the stories, the flood was worldwide; in 88%, a certain family was favored; in 70%, survival was by means of a boat; in 67% animals were also saved; in 66% the flood was due to the wickedness of man; in 66% the survivors had been forewarned; in 57% they ended up on a mountain; in 35% birds were sent out from the boat; and in 9% exactly eight people were spared. The reality of a global Great Flood event is supported by the universal nature of these accounts.
From http://uplink.space.com/printth....e=post:
In times past, certain primitive people (in Australia, Egypt, Fiji, Society Islands, Peru, Mexico, and other places) preserved a possible remnant of these traditions about the Flood by observing in November a 'Feast of Ancestors' or a 'Festival of the Dead.' Such customs reflected a memory of the destruction caused by the Deluge. According to the book Life and Work at the Great Pyramid, the festival in Mexico was held on the 17th of November because they "had a tradition that at that time the world had been previously destroyed; and they dreaded lest a similar catastrophe would, at the end of a cycle, annihilate the human race." (By Professor C. Piazzi Smyth, Edinburgh, 1867, Vol. II, pp. 390, 391) Notes the book The Worship of the Dead: "This festival [of the dead] is . . . held by all on or about the very day on which, according to the Mosaic account, the Deluge took place, viz., the seventeenth day of the second month-the month nearly corresponding with our November." (By J. Garnier, London, 1904, p. 4) Interestingly, the Bible reports that the Flood began "in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month." (Ge 7:11) That "second month" corresponds to the latter part of October and the first part of November on our calendar." - Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 1, pp. 610-611
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kady
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2006 08:09
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Where Does Halloween Come From?
It takes some historical digging to come up with why we celebrate Halloween.
by Clark Humphrey
Most of America's big holidays have more-or-less self-explanatory purposes--to celebrate aspects of the Christian tradition, to honor the coming of the new year or the change of seasons, to remember the legacy of family members or noted historical figures.
But Halloween doesn't seem to fit in any of those above categories.
It takes some historical digging to come up with why we celebrate the eerie and the spooky on Oct. 31.
One person who's done such a dig is Rosemary Ellen Guiley. According to Guiley, the origins of Halloween are a lot like the origins of Christmas and Easter as we practice them today--Ancient Roman, Catholic, and European Pagan lore, all blended together.
The name Halloween is Scottish in origin and is short for "All Hallow's Eve," the night before "All Hallow's Day," or All Saint's Day. That day was set by Pope Boniface IV to honor the Catholic saints, and also to replace a Roman pagan festival of the dead (which had been held in late February, the end of the old Roman year). Later, Pope Gregory III changed All Saint's Day to November 1.
By the time Christianity came to the British Isles, local folk had already been celebrating their own festival of the dead on Samhain (November 1, the Celtic new year). According to author Jack Santino in "Halloween and other Festivals of Death and Life" (University of Tennessee Press), "Many traditional beliefs and customs associated with Samhain, most notable that night was the time of the wandering dead, the practice of leaving offerings of food and drink to masked and costumed revelers, and the lighting of bonfires, continued to be practiced on 31 October."
In other words, the Christian church incorporated local Irish, Scottish, and Welsh pagan traditions into one of its own holy days. Just as the old fertility symbols of the rabbit and the evergreen tree became parts of Easter and Christmas, so have the symbols of the end of the fall harvest season and the coming of darkness become parts of a modern western-world celebration.
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kady
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2006 08:13
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I have *WAY* too much time on my hands. Sorry I just flooded your thread with my pastings, Kym.
I adore that cartoon, though! 
And, I didn't carve any pumpkins this year, Will, but if I had, I would have carved that one! WAY cool! 
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polson
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2006 08:53
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Who's the moron who thought Valentines was the top candy holiday?
My own personal Halloween traditions are very different. We did the trick-or-treat thing until I was eight when a couple in our church put up a stink about it and went all principle on the church board. It rose quite a controversy and the board decided in order to settle everyone down, they would make an official stand against Halloween. So, my parents being good submissive church members (I can't remember if at that time my dad was on the church board and got out voted) decided we would not celebrate Halloween any more, but they had to give us a reason why so they told us the principle behind it.
A few weeks later, the church recanted and changed their position to be much more neutral, more of a "we'll offer alternative activities but we won't make an official stand against Halloween" kind of deal and my parents were like "but we already told our kids no! We went all principle! We can't go back on that now!"
My parent's solution was to turn Halloween into a family day for us. Every year on Halloween my sister and I skipped school and we would all do something as a family, go to Banff for the day, go to West Ed and do the waterpark for the day, etc, etc, and Ami and I got a pillow case full of CHOICE candy, no crap like you get when you go out, but our favorite stuff, and twice as much as we could get trick or treating (you can tell our parents felt guilty). It was awesome. Both my sister and I agree we'd probably do the same thing with our kids if/when we have them. We never felt like we got the short end of the stick.
I actually think my parents handled the situation well because neither Ami nor I grew up with animosity over the situation, nor are we annoying pompus principle proclaimers, because we know there isn't a big deal about whether someone does or doesn't celebrate it.
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kady
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2006 09:14
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Pols, I think it's cool that your parents gave you something to replace Halloween. A lot of times, church type parents just say, "Don't go there," and just pretend that the day doesn't exist. But, children are *always* aware of what is going on. They see their friends having a good time, getting all that candy, and wonder why they can't. And a lot of times those kids who are sheltered and don't get to participate develop complexes over this.
I'm definitely from a strong religious family, though I denounced my faith several years ago and am now wondering what my beliefs are again. Basically, my grandmothers on both sides of the family were women who taught Sunday school and never missed a day of church. My Mom followed in their footsteps, and believe it or not I taught a group of 8-10 year olds in a Sunday School class and a youth group for almost 2 years. My dad is now *the* Church Board.....basically, he's been given a lot of power.
I grew up doing the trick-or-treating. I watch all the Halloween specials on television. I have some very fond childhood memories of my cousins and friends and I at all my Halloween parties and our Halloween excursions. And I *still* want to go on a ghost tour at night (I did one in the day, but that's just not the same). But, I am reasonable enough to know that this stuff isn't real and don't get caught up in it.
Honestly, I don't know how I'm going to raise my children (provided I ever have any). I do like your idea, Polson, on how to do the alternative Halloween thing. It sounds like more fun than the typical kids have!
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darth_balco
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2006 10:09
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See Halloween is another reason I would have kids. I would try to have at least 9 kids. Then divide them into 3 task squads, give them 5 sets of masks and costumes, and teach them how to change their voice in 5 different ways. So for 5 hours I would let my kids loose on the neighborhood to grab as much candy as they can. Then, I would get 75% of the total candy loot they retrieved and let them have the rest. If anyone wants to join me on this plan, then let's go to the foster home office place thingy-mah-jig and get this plan going! \o/
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rolly
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2006 14:42
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wow thats alot on info ,i learned alot  ,it's just like being back in school thanks kady
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polson
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2006 19:16
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Balco, foster home? But that takes all the fun out of getting the kids. Of course, then you have to wait for them to grow up...oh I'm so torn! Go into the candy business with Balco or not? *rubs temple*
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darth_balco
Member
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# Posted: 1 Nov 2006 21:52
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<!--QuoteBegin--polson+Nov. 01 2006,19:16--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (polson @ Nov. 01 2006,19:16)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->Balco, foster home? But that takes all the fun out of getting the kids. Of course, then you have to wait for them to grow up...oh I'm so torn! Go into the candy business with Balco or not? *rubs temple*<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--><br>But having kids the old-fashioned way would work! You should put them through harsh regiment trick-or-treat training for five years and then let them loose! Plus make them take pills that keeps them young for another 10 years. *nods*
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polson
Member
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# Posted: 2 Nov 2006 07:41
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That lends itself to bad pick up lines.
"So...wanna start a super human trick-or-treating special forces team?"
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darth_balco
Member
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# Posted: 2 Nov 2006 09:37
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<!--QuoteBegin--polson+Nov. 02 2006,07:41--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (polson @ Nov. 02 2006,07:41)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->That lends itself to bad pick up lines.<br><br>"So...wanna start a super human trick-or-treating special forces team?"<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--><br>But if you mention there's the possibility for profit to be made, then they would be totally for it and drag you to Las Vegas to get married! Cause let's not forget how much, good fashioned capitalist candy sells for on the third-world Black Market, we'll make tons of money! \o/
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bria
Member
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# Posted: 2 Nov 2006 15:24
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There's controversy over Hallowe'en? Sheesh.
I never had Hallowe'en growing up, 'cause it's not really done in Germany. We have Karneval instead, in February.
We carved a pumpkin this year, though. Well, I did. I carved a Balrog on it. Andrew's got a picture of it somewhere. Hardcore, I say!
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darth_balco
Member
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# Posted: 2 Nov 2006 23:00
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That's sounds like an awesome pumpkin there!
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kady
Member
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# Posted: 3 Nov 2006 06:20
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I have absolutely no idea what a balrog is.
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babel
Member
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# Posted: 4 Nov 2006 02:10
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Samhain is an important festival.
It is the night when the veil between this world and the next is lifted and the dead walk among us . . . that's why many pagans leave out gifts of food and drink for those passing through. It is NOT a festival that celebrates evil - as many people tried to portray it as. It has nothing to do with witches, or monsters, or vampires *l*
It is simply a time to remember those who have passed on.
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deanna
Member
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# Posted: 4 Nov 2006 06:10
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The above comment was brought to you by the man who posed as a devil this year *L*
This comment was brought to you by the woman who dressed as an angel this year *L* 
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bria
Member
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# Posted: 4 Nov 2006 09:05
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Samhain started out as a ritual where cattle were driven through a fire, in order to drive out evil spirits or whatever before winter set in. Winter's dark and cold and "bad", so they had a celebration with lots of noise, laughter, fire, dancing etc to keep the evil winter spirits away.
I dunno why anyone would think that evil, and I dunno why anyone would "ban" it. At this stage, it's just a bit of fun.
But then again, I'd be burned as a witch these days, if that practice was still around, so I'm not one to comment, am I.
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darth_balco
Member
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# Posted: 4 Nov 2006 12:11
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<!--QuoteBegin--bria+Nov. 04 2006,09:05--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (bria @ Nov. 04 2006,09:05)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin--><font color=#9999ff>Samhain started out as a ritual where cattle were driven through a fire, in order to drive out evil spirits or whatever before winter set in. Winter's dark and cold and "bad", so they had a celebration with lots of noise, laughter, fire, dancing etc to keep the evil winter spirits away.<br><br>I dunno why anyone would think that evil, and I dunno why anyone would "ban" it. At this stage, it's just a bit of fun.<br><br>But then again, I'd be burned as a witch these days, if <i>that</i> practice was still around, so I'm not one to comment, am I. <!--emo&:P--><img src="http://www.outpost10f.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/ton.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':P'><!--endemo--></font><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--><br>But what if they put you on a scale to see if you weight more than a duck with means you're made out of wood which makes you a witch? <!--emo&:?--><img src="http://www.outpost10f.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/srp.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':?'><!--endemo-->
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kady
Member
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# Posted: 4 Nov 2006 14:18
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<!--QuoteBegin--bria+Nov. 04 2006,09:05--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (bria @ Nov. 04 2006,09:05)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin--><font color=#9999ff>Samhain started out as a ritual where cattle were driven through a fire, in order to drive out evil spirits or whatever before winter set in. Winter's dark and cold and "bad", so they had a celebration with lots of noise, laughter, fire, dancing etc to keep the evil winter spirits away.<br><br>I dunno why anyone would think that evil, and I dunno why anyone would "ban" it. At this stage, it's just a bit of fun.<br><br>But then again, I'd be burned as a witch these days, if <i>that</i> practice was still around, so I'm not one to comment, am I. <!--emo&:P--><img src="http://www.outpost10f.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/ton.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':P'><!--endemo--></font><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--><br>I can think of a number of animal right's groups who would try to ban it and call it "evil." <br><br><br><br>I think every woman would be burned as a witch nowadays. <!--emo&:(--><img src="http://www.outpost10f.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('><!--endemo-->
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darth_balco
Member
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# Posted: 5 Nov 2006 00:48
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All I know according to Buffy, is that Halloween was a day that evil forces took the day off.
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