Let The Drink Talk

[talisker25]

On 31 October it will be Hallowe’en once again. The night before All Saints Day or All Hallows, traditionally the time when malevolent spirits were out and about doing their dirty deeds. And who’s to say they are not still at it?

To get you into the spirits, here are a few things you should know:

* Queen Victoria used to preside over a Hallowe’en ritual at Balmoral Castle in which an effigy of a witch called Shandy Dann was burnt on a large bonfire. Before Shandy was cast into the flames an indictment against her was read aloud. Then everyone, including the crowned head of the world’s largest empire, danced around to the sound of bagpipes and felt better about the year to come.

* In parts of Scotland “trick or treating” is known as guising and the children, or guisers, are expected to work harder for their reward by performing a song, a dance, a trick or a joke. In earlier times, guisers were often cross-dressing young men and women – but they seem to have grown out of the habit.

* Black cats have a long association with Hallowe’en. It was believed that souls of the dead were returned to the living world in the body of a black cat, which probably explains that knowing look they give you when using the litter tray.

* Hallowe’en is called Pooky Night in Ireland, after the pookah , a mischievous spirit. It’s also easier to spell than Hallowe’en.

* Before Americans introduced the softer and more malleable pumpkin, Hallowe’en enthusiasts had the tough task of hacking into a turnip to make their “jack o’ lanterns”. Turnip pie is not a patch on pumpkin pie either.

* One quaint Hallowe’en custom was to throw a white stone into a bonfire or, to give its proper name, the Hallow Fire. If next morning it was still there among the ashes, completely intact, the omens were good. If it was missing or cracked, your path ahead in life would be, well, stony.

* In some areas of northern England at Hallowe’en, between the hours of 11pm and midnight, individuals would each carry a lighted candle as they walked across the local countryside. If the flame remained steady throughout they would be immune from witchcraft. If not, evil would soon befall them. The wisest amongst them would first check the weather forecast.

* If you wished to find out who your future wife or husband would be, Hallowe’en was a good time to do it. All you had to do was stand in front of a mirror eating an apple, while at the same time brushing or combing your hair. The image of your partner to come would then appear in the mirror, looking over your left shoulder. If no one turned up by the time you finished your apple, your best bet was to settle for a good book.

* Anoka, Minnesota, describes itself as the “Halloween Capital of the World”, having staged the first recorded Hallowe’en celebration in America, back in 1921. The now annual week-long festival includes grand parades, massed bands and a ghost run performed by a septuagenarian athlete through a local cemetery. No wonder the spirits stay away.
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[Johnny]

Thanks for that Talisker, we have the candles in and the sweets fot the dressed up kids, not the ones who just turn up and demand money, or is that the tax man? We've got a glass pumpkin bought from Gretna Green when we got wed there a couple of years ago, so we'll be definitley get into the spirit in more ways than one
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[Pearson]

evil's Night is one name associated with October 30, the night before Halloween, particularly in the metropolitan Detroit, Michigan, area, though it is also "celebrated" in other areas in the United States like Camden, New Jersey. It is also known as Mischief night

Traditionally, kids and teens in the Metro Detroit area played pranks on their neighbors, which largely consisted of ringing doorbells and running away, soaping or waxing windows, throwing eggs at houses, overturning garbage cans, and "decorating" trees with toilet paper.

Beginning in the 1970s the mischief became more destructive, particuarly in Detroit's inner-city neighborhoods, and extended into hundreds of acts of arson and vandalism. The destruction reached a peak in the mid- to late-1980s, with more than 800 fires set in 1984, and 500-800 fires in the three days and nights before Halloween in typical years.

In 1995, Detroit city officials organized and created Angel's Night on and around October 30. Each year, as many as 40,000 volunteers are gathered to patrol neighborhoods and prevent crime. Additionally youth curfews of as early as 6pm are instituted on the days preceding Halloween. This has resulted in a decline to 50-60 fires per day in the days around Halloween.

Devil's Night was chronicled in sociologist Ze'ev Chafets' 1991 book Devil's Night and Other True Tales of Detroit, and fictionalized in the 1994 movie The Crow. While the term is still well-known by Michigan residents, the news media in Detroit currently refer to the event as Angel's Night in an effort to boost the efforts of the volunteers.

The name Devil's Night or Mischief Night is used by various pranksters in the eastern U.S. and Canada, although the acts are far less destructive, criminal or violent. A survey done in the United States graphically shows the comparative popularity of various names for this night around the country.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil's_Night
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[Johnny]

Look at this one, hopefully not to upsetting for fundamentalist christians who find Harry Potter an abomination

WITH the loving approval of their parents, children dress up in weird costumes and play pranks on Halloween night--little realizing that for over a thousand years this one evening in the year has been specially dedicated by spirit mediums and witches to the worship of Satan.

Halloween has nothing to do with Christianity. It is a festival which no one—child or adult—should have anything to do with. We need to better understand the origins of Halloween and its dangers.

During the Dark Ages, a number of pagan customs were adopted by the dominant Christian church in Europe. One of these was devil night, which was later named, "Halloween." This special night, celebrated since antiquity as the night when the devils came out and walked about the streets, was a satanic festival on October 31 of each year. The next day was called "All Saints Day" or "All Hallows Day", so "Halloween" was the night before Saints’ day. Like the night before it, All Hallows Day was dedicated to honoring the dead.

Satan Was Worshiped In A Variety Of Peculiar Ways
The Druids were an order of priests in ancient France and Britain. They were devil-worshipers who told the people they must hold an annual celebration to their two leading gods: the Celtic sun god and their lord of the dead. On this night the god who brings death—Satan—was worshiped in a variety of peculiar ways. This October 31 festival was named Samhain or "summer’s end." The next day, the sun god was worshiped.

On the night of October 31, they believed the dead came out of the graves and walked around, so they offered up sacrifices and had special feasts to honor them. The priests of Druid taught them that they must do this or, when they themselves died, they would be reincarnated as animals instead of people.

But pretended communication with the dead is the basis of spiritualism, which is one of the most dangerous practices in society, for it invites the control of demons! We should have nothing to do with anything connected with spiritualism.

Druidic priests became nominally converted to Christianity when it entered their land in the 5th century, and Druidic practices, including the October 31 festival to devils, came into the church in 558 A.D.

It is of interest that November 1 was the first day of the Druidic New Year. This made the evening before very special. As might be expected, because the night of October 31 had for centuries been dedicated to devils, the new church ruling only intensified the celebrations that took place that night. The devils made sure of that. Soon Halloween (Hallowe’en, All Hallows’ Eve, or Hallows’ Evening), originally a pagan festival, became the outstanding Christian event held every autumn.

Celebrations of all kinds took place. In Ireland, carvings on pumpkins were made, and called Jack-O-Laterns. The legend was that a man named Jack had played practical jokes on the devil and bothered him, so the devil kept him out of heaven. Jack, therefore, had to live forever on earth carrying a lit lantern, warning people not to offend the devil. The lesson for little children: do not offend the devil.

It Soon Seemed As If All The Devils Came Out!
Yet such teachings did not help either the people nor the morals of society. Throughout Europe, on this one night of the year, it soon seemed as if all the devils came out! Indeed, that was the hidden meaning of Halloween, and the wild excitement and orgies of the people on that night seemed to fulfill it.

The Druids believed that on Halloween, ghosts, spirits, fairies, witches, and elves came out to harm people. These evil creatures must be placated with offerings of food. The Celts would go with their children to one another’s house to gather food for the devil gods.

Animals were feared on that night also. Dogs, owls, snakes, and pigs were particularly worshipped in fear on that night, but among them, the cat was regarded with a special veneration. The Druid priests taught that cats—especially black ones—were sacred. This is why, today, we think of cats, as well as skeletons, pumpkins, skulls, and children with sheets over their heads, when we think of Halloween.

The Celtic priests also taught that witches ride on brooms through the skies on that night, and fling down curses on those who do not honor the dead by taking part in the ritual ceremonies of that night.

This Holiday Originated In
Paganism Not Christianity
After being adopted by nominal Christianity in the Dark Ages, the festival of Halloween spread throughout Europe and to most countries later colonized by them. Yet few today are aware that this holiday originated in paganism, not Christianity, and that it is the most dangerous "holiday" in the year. For long ages, Halloween has been a night especially dedicated to satanic agencies. Every October 31 we see the clearest evidence of that fact.

Vandalism on a major scale now plagues our cities on that night. A few years ago, Detroit alone experienced three days of riots, arson, and mass destruction. For three days children and adults seemed possessed, and the city seemed out of control.

Should we today celebrate this pagan night, which every witch, clairvoyant, wizard, and spirit medium will tell you is the outstanding occultic night in the year? It may seem like fun and games. You may be saying now, the information above may be well and fine, but we do not worship the devil and I see nothing wrong with it. Well, don’t forget that it is still "Satan’s Holiday." Far better to keep our children home on that night, and pray to God and read the Bible! Dedicate your life anew to the true God, and shun the amusements and follies of the devil gods. Although very inviting, they will only bring you trouble and misery, confusion of mind and an empty life without happiness.

Few people realize how very dangerous it is to dabble in spiritualism. It may seem like innocent fun, but is it? Lets look at what God’s Word says about it:

"When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee." Deuteronomy 18:9-12

They Are All An Abomination To God
Did you notice that it is talking about fortune telling, horoscopes, trying to communicate with the dead, etc. They are all an abomination to God, and we need to avoid them.

http://www.preparingforeternity.com/hallween.htm


How does the music to Deliverence go again?
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[talisker25]

[Johnny]

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[Alister]