My grandmother passed away about 15 years ago, and not a day goes by that I don't think of her. I often catch myself wondering what she would think if she could see certain world events, meet the people that are in my life now, or go on the trips that I've been on. I often take heed of Albus Dumbledoor's advice, "it does not do to dwell on dreams, and forget to live". Thanks to that lovely reminder, I often don't dwell on these things and I usually just let them pass as they come up, but sometimes it's hard not to, especially around this time of year.
I find it interesting that other cultures always celebrate their dead, not just at any specific time of year but all the time, and yet here, once they're gone we seem to forget about them. Now I know, that's certainly not always the case, but by and large I think it's something us North Americans tend to do. Passing by a graveyard, you'll typically see lots of flowers and such decorating the graves of loved ones, but you'll often notice there are quite a few barren, old, and forgotten looking ones too. I think that Samhain reminds us to remember those who have gone before us, and I think it's a very important time of year for that specific reason.
It irrks me when I overhear people at stores saying how they "don't believe in Halloween". I get that many people are religious Christians and that those people think that Halloween is Satan's holiday and that everyone partaking in the events of halloween will enjoy eternal damnation. I'm sorry, but children dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door for candy plays no part in summoning the fallen angel himself. At the same time, children dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door for candy have no part in celebrating their dead relatives, in much the same way that putting up a christmas tree, writing letters to Santa, and giving butt loads of presents to one another doesn't really celebrate the birth of Jesus. Sure there are people that know how these traditions evolved to become what they are today, but the general population don't know these things. They just do it because that's what you do. I'm sure that if I went into a mall at Christmas time and said that I don't believe in Christmas, I would get he dirtiest looks around, but when people say the same thing about Halloween no one batts an eye. I hate the stigma around Halloween, and unfortunately it is what it is. If I went up to those people in that store and told them what Halloween evolved from, I doubt that they'd re-think their hate-on for the holiday because no one takes it seriously. It probably shouldn't bother me as much as it does when I overhear people saying that, but I can't help it. It's like someone is trash-talking one of my most sacred holidays and I get really defensive. I know I shouldn't take it personally, but I sometimes I wish that I had pamphlets made up and ready to go so that I can educate the masses. Anyway, moving on...
I find it interesting that other cultures always celebrate their dead, not just at any specific time of year but all the time, and yet here, once they're gone we seem to forget about them. Now I know, that's certainly not always the case, but by and large I think it's something us North Americans tend to do. Passing by a graveyard, you'll typically see lots of flowers and such decorating the graves of loved ones, but you'll often notice there are quite a few barren, old, and forgotten looking ones too. I think that Samhain reminds us to remember those who have gone before us, and I think it's a very important time of year for that specific reason.
It irrks me when I overhear people at stores saying how they "don't believe in Halloween". I get that many people are religious Christians and that those people think that Halloween is Satan's holiday and that everyone partaking in the events of halloween will enjoy eternal damnation. I'm sorry, but children dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door for candy plays no part in summoning the fallen angel himself. At the same time, children dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door for candy have no part in celebrating their dead relatives, in much the same way that putting up a christmas tree, writing letters to Santa, and giving butt loads of presents to one another doesn't really celebrate the birth of Jesus. Sure there are people that know how these traditions evolved to become what they are today, but the general population don't know these things. They just do it because that's what you do. I'm sure that if I went into a mall at Christmas time and said that I don't believe in Christmas, I would get he dirtiest looks around, but when people say the same thing about Halloween no one batts an eye. I hate the stigma around Halloween, and unfortunately it is what it is. If I went up to those people in that store and told them what Halloween evolved from, I doubt that they'd re-think their hate-on for the holiday because no one takes it seriously. It probably shouldn't bother me as much as it does when I overhear people saying that, but I can't help it. It's like someone is trash-talking one of my most sacred holidays and I get really defensive. I know I shouldn't take it personally, but I sometimes I wish that I had pamphlets made up and ready to go so that I can educate the masses. Anyway, moving on...
I also find it interesting that Samhain follows closely behind our Thanksgiving, because I notice myself being even more thankful than I normally am for things. Thankful for the people I have in my life, for those that have breezed in and out of it, so to speak, and for those that are no longer on this earthly plane. Not just thankful for people though, but also for my situation in life. I'm not the most wealthy person around, I'm actually quite the contrary, but I have a full-time job and somehow I'm always able to pay the bills on time, and I have a roof over my head. I'm happily married (which is something I never thought would happen), and I have the best friends and family a person could ever hope for. I've seen things that some people never get the chance to see in a lifetime, and I've been places that I never thought I'd get to be in. I have it pretty damn good, and I feel like I owe the universe something for having provided me with this lot in life, but I find myself coming up short with ideas. I typically just send out as much gratitude as I possibly can and hope that it can scratch the surface.
I never used to view Samhain as the actual new year, but for the past couple of years I've been treating that way. It seems as though I become more reflective in the fall, and it also seems as though I get recharged somehow. When September hits its as if I get a breath of fresh air, and the stagnation I'd been feeling all summer clears up. I start looking forward to the projects I'd like to start or the things I'd like to accomplish. It wasn't until the last year or two that I realized this pattern in myself, but now that I have, everything makes more sense to me. Yes January 1st is just the new year on paper, but November 1st feels like the start of a new year to me. I feel like there are other people out there that feel like this but that don't realize it.
So, I leave you with these thoughts, as I hold my glass in a toast to the "mighty dead" (as Christopher Penczak so aptly put it). Hats off to a "New Year", and Happy Samhain everyone!
I never used to view Samhain as the actual new year, but for the past couple of years I've been treating that way. It seems as though I become more reflective in the fall, and it also seems as though I get recharged somehow. When September hits its as if I get a breath of fresh air, and the stagnation I'd been feeling all summer clears up. I start looking forward to the projects I'd like to start or the things I'd like to accomplish. It wasn't until the last year or two that I realized this pattern in myself, but now that I have, everything makes more sense to me. Yes January 1st is just the new year on paper, but November 1st feels like the start of a new year to me. I feel like there are other people out there that feel like this but that don't realize it.
So, I leave you with these thoughts, as I hold my glass in a toast to the "mighty dead" (as Christopher Penczak so aptly put it). Hats off to a "New Year", and Happy Samhain everyone!
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