All Hallows' Eve, also known as Halloween, has its roots in ancient pagan rituals. The origins of this holiday can be traced back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. During Samhain, the ancient Celts believed that the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, allowing spirits to roam freely on Earth. To ward off these restless souls, people would light bonfires and wear disguises to confuse and scare away the spirits. Additionally, the Celts believed that the presence of these spirits made it easier for Druids, their religious leaders, to make predictions about the future. They would gather around bonfires and perform rituals, such as divination and fortune telling, to gain insights into what the coming year would bring.
Those are big high heels to fill. (Not “big” like Melinda had big feet, just “big” like significant).
Scarlett was known as The Princess of Magic when she performed a family-friendly afternoon show that ran six days a week in Planet Hollywood s V Theater. Apart from her staff or wand, she was placed with horses, a carriage and Arabic bronze jugs, together with a small piece of silver jewellery shaped like a woman with a large necklace.
They would gather around bonfires and perform rituals, such as divination and fortune telling, to gain insights into what the coming year would bring. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, pagan traditions began to merge with Christian beliefs. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as All Saints' Day, a day to honor all saints and martyrs.
The magic wands of Viking seeresses?
Two seeress’s magic staffs. The shorter one is from the Gävle area of Sweden and the longer from a grave at Fuldby, near Ringsted in Denmark.
Völva probably means staff or wand carrier. The staff or wand was also an important accessory in the carrying out of seid or magic.
There are several examples of mysterious iron staffs from Viking Age graves. They have most often been found in the graves of wealthy women. This emphasises the fact that völur belonged to the upper strata of society. An example of this type of female grave is the woman from Fyrkat, which is comparable to other richly-furnished völur women’s graves from Scandinavia.
The völva burial from Köpingsvik, on the Swedish island of Öland, contained an 82 cm long iron staff, with bronze ornamentation and a house represented on top. Accompanying this was a jug from Central Asia and a bronze cauldron from Western Europe. The woman was dressed in bear fur and was buried within a ship setting, or stone ship, which also contained sacrificed animals and humans.
Another völva burial is the Oseberg burial from Norway. This contained the bodies of two women. One was a woman of high status, whilst the other was a slave. Several of the objects in the burial are associated with seid and seeresses, for example a wooden staff or wand, and cannabis seeds in a purse.
At Hagebyhöga in Östergötland, Sweden, another seeress was buried. Apart from her staff or wand, she was placed with horses, a carriage and Arabic bronze jugs, together with a small piece of silver jewellery shaped like a woman with a large necklace. This figure can be interpreted as Freyja – the goddess of the Viking seeresses – who is wearing the necklace “Brísinga men”.
The evening before, October 31st, became known as All Hallows' Eve, eventually evolving into Halloween. Some of the pagan rituals associated with Halloween still survive today. For example, the practice of carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns originated from the custom of carving turnips and placing a burning piece of coal inside to ward off evil spirits. Trick-or-treating can also be traced back to ancient Celtic tradition. During Samhain, people would go door to door, offering prayers for the dead in exchange for treats. This practice evolved over time and eventually became the modern-day tradition of children dressing up in costumes and going from house to house, collecting candy. Furthermore, Halloween has become a time for people to embrace their fascination with the supernatural and the macabre. Haunted houses, horror movies, and ghost stories are all part of the modern celebration of Halloween, although they may not directly relate to the original pagan rituals. In conclusion, while the modern Halloween celebration may have evolved to incorporate various cultural and religious influences, it is clear that the holiday has deep pagan roots. The rituals and traditions associated with Halloween continue to evolve and change, but they remain an integral part of the holiday's rich history..
Reviews for "The Mystery of the Jack-o'-Lantern: Pagan Origins of a Halloween Symbol"
1. Jessica - 1/5 stars - "I was really looking forward to attending the All Halls Eve Pagan Rituals event, but unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. The organizers clearly had no clue what they were doing. The rituals seemed like a chaotic mishmash of different traditions, with no clear direction or purpose. It felt like they were just trying to shock people rather than creating a meaningful and authentic experience. The atmosphere was also just not right; it lacked the mystical and mystical ambiance I was expecting. Overall, a complete waste of time and money."
2. David - 2/5 stars - "I had high expectations for the All Halls Eve Pagan Rituals gathering, but it fell short in many aspects. First of all, the event was extremely overcrowded, which made it difficult to fully participate and engage in the rituals. Additionally, the organizers did a poor job of explaining the significance and meaning of the rituals, leaving attendees feeling confused and disconnected. The lack of organization was evident, with long delays and disorganized schedules. While there were some genuine moments of connection and spirituality, they were overshadowed by the overall disarray of the event. Ultimately, I left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied with the experience."
3. Rachel - 1/5 stars - "The All Halls Eve Pagan Rituals event was a disaster from start to finish. The supposed rituals felt more like a parody of pagan practices rather than a genuine spiritual experience. The organizers seemed more interested in putting on a spectacle for shock value than creating a sacred space for exploration and connection. The event lacked structure and coherence, with no clear flow or purpose to the rituals. I was left feeling uncomfortable and deeply disappointed. If you're seeking an authentic pagan ritual experience, I would strongly advise looking elsewhere."