DELIBERATELY DIVERSE
What’s in your garden?
When I was a young girl, Halloween was a favorite tradition.
Year after year, I chose the costume of a Witch, and still today: on Halloween, “Jude” transforms into “Sabine Moon.”
Today, many people transform their yards with elaborate decor, creating strange, magical “gardens.”
Some adults, like me, dress up as well, awaiting the chant, “Trick or treat,” from youngsters as they travel their own, sometimes eccentric and always fun neighborhood “gardens.” My thoughts behind the Spirit of Halloween, however, have evolved, just as customs have altered in history.
Halloween originally began as Samhain, pronounced saa-wn, first observed by Celtic Pagans.
Samhain marked the end of summer and the harvest season. This was natural, as the Celts were located primarily in northern countries having long dark nights of winter, which they associated with death. They carved pumpkins with faces to scare off fearful spirits and placed candles in them to attract the light of good spirits. On Nov. 1, the Celts believed the veil between the living and the dead was especially thin, allowing spirits of the dead to visit the living.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated Nov. 1 as a time to honor saints. Soon after, All Saints Day came to incorporate some of the traditions of Samhain. They believed the souls of deceased adults came to visit Nov. 2, which is also called All Souls Day. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later became Halloween.
Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead began in Mexico thousands of years ago.
Instead of grieving, it was important to keep the memories alive of those who passed by constructing an altar, or an inside “garden,” where pictures, foods, mementos are placed to honor and remember those deceased loved ones. I erect such an altar — as does our church — a beautiful garden of love, indeed!
Halloween has a rich and diverse history.
So, what do you have in your garden? I invite you into Sabine Moon’s Garden… I like a little danger, Lurking somewhere in my garden, Plus, a pinch of mischief in the mud pies that I make. And florals are essential So gardenia is a must, honeyed scents revoking time, invoke sweet memories for us!
I like a little danger lurking just around the corner As I wander in the thicket In the darkness of the night.
Crystals to reflect the stars Totem, with a pumpkin carved Friendly spiders, snakes, of course, a little mouse, or two.
If they’re naughty, they’ll be potion In a witch’s magic brew!
I like a little danger Bringing shivers of surprise Add an ounce or two of Wonder To keep us both alive Creeping in the shadows Snatching moonlight from the trees Eyes that open W I D E With each crackle in the breeze.
Where shadow meets with darkness you must put its cloak on, tooA nd travel in the world between, watching, breathless, for the “BOO”!
— By Judith Pyeatt Grissom “Deliberately Diverse” represents the individual thoughts and opinions of a group of Taylor friends who almost never completely agree about anything but are gratified by the opportunity to stimulate deliberately diverse discussions in our beloved community.
Today’s column represents the thoughts and opinions of Frances Sorrow, NOT the Taylor Press.
