The Renewing Mind: All Hallows Eve

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, which occasionally puts me at odds with others in the christian establishment.

For the most part, the people I hang out with the most now understand my enjoyment of the holiday and tend to feel at least somewhat similarly. However, once in a while I come across someone who is appalled that I actually really enjoy Halloween. 'It's the devils holiday.'

Actually, it isn't. At least not historically. Historically, it can be connected with a lot of pagan holidays, and a few of them did have death or the dead as its focus. However, the holiday most associated with Halloween is the Celtic festival of Samhain, which is primarily a festival for the end of harvest. Samhain did have some supernatural influences, but not as much to do with the 'day of the dead' as we have made it in modern times.

So then some may argue that 'it's still a pagan festival, we shouldn't celebrate it.' I don't disagree on the main point, that pagan festivals shouldn't be fully recognized, just as pagan gods shouldn't be worshiped. But our modern celebration of Christmas occurs in December, not because that's when Jesus was born (He was most likely born in Summer) but because the early church for some reason associated the birth of Christ with the pagan holiday of Saturnalia. The Christmas tree is from that background. The word Easter has nothing to do with Christianity, it is actually a an Old English/Germanic name for a long forgotten goddess and also the old name for the month we now call April. The egg hunts and the Easter Bunny all have their origin in non-Christian tradition.

It is posited that the early church adopted these dates and/or practices in order to more easily assimilate pagan cultures into Christianity as they converted. Whether you agree with that methodology or not, that is what has influenced the way we celebrate holidays in the modern world.

As for Halloween, Samhain became associated with All Hallows Eve, which is the night before All Saints Day (Nov. 1), the Catholic Church's recognition of all the saints.

I just like to put on crazy costumes and have some fun.

Sensitive Geek MAN: Poetry Day ~ We Run Like Rain

Occasionally, when I can't think of something worthwhile to write (or I need more time to develop a thought, I'll post something old.  Sometimes it will be my bad poetry. Sorry about that.
This is a piece I did for a poetry class.  It is written in the form of a pantoum.
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We run like rain down the cobblestone streets

through shadows of structures centuries old

The echo of footfalls faintly repeat

down halls of history too large to hold.

Through shadows of structures centuries old

past archways where once centurions stood

down halls of history too large to hold

joy that replaces the rivers of blood.

Past archways where once centurions stood

our giggling gameplay softly resounds.

Joy that replaces the rivers of blood

And softens still lingering battle sounds.

Our giggling gameplay softly resounds

Wafting gently to the arena floor

And softens still lingering battle sounds

From struggles settled centuries before.

Wafting gently to the arena floor

Our parents voices as they call our names.

From struggles settled centuries before

We draw the designs that govern our games.

Our parents voices as they call our names

Lost in the caverns where bodies once lied.

We draw the design that governs our games

Out of the soil where martyrs once died.

Lost in the caverns where bodies once lied

Our spiritual parents prayed for reprieve

Out of the soil where martyrs once died,

Prayed for a pardon they’d never receive.

Our spiritual parents prayed for reprieve

In hallways where we now play hide-and-seek

Prayed for a pardon they’d never receive

for the inheritance promised the meek.

In hallways where we now play hide-and-seek,

Prices were paid that we can’t understand

for the inheritance promised the meek

freedom to happily play hand in hand.

Prices were paid that we can’t understand

These histories now are simply our play.

Freedom to happily play hand in hand

drives any gloomy reflections away.

These histories now are simply our play

through these ancient archways, dungeons, and floors

we drive all gloomy reflections away

after racing through Coliseum doors.

Through these ancient archways, dungeons, and floors

The echo of footfalls faintly repeat

After racing through Coliseum doors

We run like the rain down the cobblestone streets.