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Each year at this time I write a “Where did Halloween come from?” piece in which I explain some of the ways and wherefores of the “dreaded night.” This year I offer you a wonderful and delightfully in-depth explanation of the holiday by Micaela Bahn. So well written and informative; enjoy!
'Twas the night before Halloween... Okay fine, we've still got a few nights until Halloween, but we can still enjoy a good old, haunted story during the spookiest month of the year. After all, eerie ghost tales along with pumpkin patches, classic Halloween movies, and trick-or-treating complete with DIY Halloween costumes and candy are what make America's favorite haunted holiday beloved by young and old alike. Though that has us wondering why we have these fun Halloween activities in the first place. Why do we carve pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, bob for apples, and dress up before heading door-to-door on October 31? Is there a reason why bats, candy, and the colors black and orange are so significant to the date? Speaking of, are black cats really bad luck? And are there any other superstitions to be wary of during the holiday? After all, there is a Friday the 13th in October 2023! The answer may lie in the real history of Halloween. After all, the holiday is a lot older than you may think! It dates way back to the Celts of ancient Europe. The costumes, fires, ghosts, and spooky stories are also a key part of that ancient history. In fact, it's trick-or-treating and neighborly get-togethers that are later additions! Here, you'll find the fascinating true story of how Halloween started and how it's evolved—including some eerily interesting Halloween facts. So, let's go back to the beginning... The origins of Halloween date all the way back to the Celts of ancient Ireland, who celebrated the new year on November 1. That day marked the transition from the warm, fruitful summer months to the cold and dark winter, a period that was most often associated with death. So, on October 31, the night before the new year, they celebrated what was known as (cue the spooky voice) Samhain. It was a night when the boundary between the living world and the world of the dead became thin, and ghosts could return to walk the earth. Or so they believed. These meddlesome ghosts damaged crops and caused trouble, but the blurred line to the spirit world also made it easier for Celtic priests to make predictions about the coming year. Those same prophecy-speaking priests commemorated the night by building huge bonfires that became the hub for evening activities. People gathered around in costume to disguise themselves from ghosts, tried to tell each other's fortunes, enjoyed a big feast, and made lanterns out of gourds (sound familiar?). Here's another bit of info: those big bonfires attracted insects, which then attracted bats. That's why the flying critters are now associated with the holiday. These pagan traditions continued until Christianity extended its influence into the Celtic lands, and the celebration became generally toned down. The name "Halloween" came from the Christian All Souls' Day celebration, also known as "All-hallows." And since All-hallows was on November 1, folks began to call Samhain "All Hallows Eve." That name was eventually shortened to Halloween. Now, what about some of the other Halloween traditions we know and love? When it comes to bobbing for apples, we can possibly attribute their introduction to early Roman conquests and the Romans' own fall holiday which was symbolized by an apple. As for black cats, the idea of being spooked by the felines actually has roots in the Middle Ages. Back then, many believed that witches avoided detection by turning themselves into black cats. Then there's the traditional Halloween colors of black and orange. This theme once again dates back to the Celtic festival of Samhain. For the Celts, black symbolized the “death” of summer while orange represented the harvest season. The Halloween that we know today is a result of the great American immigrant melting pot. At first, celebrations were pretty limited in colonial New England as the Puritans weren't on board with the holiday's pagan roots. Because of this, Halloween was more common in Maryland and the southern colonies. But as different European ethnic groups began to mix, a distinctly American version began with public events to celebrate the harvest. Neighbors would gather at these "play parties" to share stories of the dead—also known as ghost stories—and enjoy some mischief-making. Still, it was not until a large wave of Irish and Scottish immigrants came over during the 19th century that the holiday became widely celebrated across the country. Historians estimate that by the early 20th century, Halloween was celebrated across North America by most everyone. Wondering how trick-or-treating came about? Well, there's actually several theories about that. One idea is that the custom came from Ireland where young people once took part in a tradition called guising where they would dress in costume then sing, tell a joke, or perform another sort of “trick” before collecting a treat of fruit, nuts or coins. There's also the act of souling, which traces back to 15th-century Christians who would go door-to-door asking for treats or "soul cakes." They would take these pastries in exchange for a promise to pray for the souls of those homeowners’ dead relatives. Later, American children took a note out of the European book and began going door-to-door asking for treats. As the more serious, life-or-death parts of the Celtic traditions began to fade, new lighthearted variations emerged: Fortune-telling, for example, turned into bobbing for apples in which women could find out which suitor (the apple) she would eventually "bite into" (as in, marry 😂). Young Irish and Scottish kids helped bring about the tradition of costumes: The pranksters went from dressing up as priests to putting together scary creatures intended to spook the neighborhood. As for carving pumpkins, the Irish had a custom of carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them near doorways and windows to frighten away wandering spirits. One of those spirits is known as “Stingy Jack,” a man who outsmarts the Devil and avoids Hell. Because of this, his soul cannot go to Heaven and he instead wanders the Earth. In trying to avoid Jack and his sinful dealings, the Irish idea of Jack-o'-lanterns came to be. In time, the Irish brought this tradition with them to America and found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make for even better Jack-o’-lanterns. Eventually, the games, mischief-making, and hunt for sweets all melded together into trick-or-treating, and the whole thing became more about community than anything else. By the time the 20th century rolled around, it was an essentially secular holiday centered on neighborhood get-togethers and parties. Today Americans still love Halloween and put modern twists on their celebrations. You can find the most haunted states and visit their haunted houses or a corn maze, or even order your state's most popular candy to leave at your door. MICAELA BAHN. Micaela Bahn is a freelance writer and editor.
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Dear Creator Family,
The weather is turning cold, and the grey days are upon us, but we have the fire of the Holy Spirit to warm us and the light of Christ shines through the haze. It has been a long journey to replace our boiler. With price problems, injuries, build complications, and supply chain shortages, we are finally on the doorstep of actual work. The plan is for the boiler to be replaced in the next two weeks, barring any further problems. I know the Church has been growing steadily colder Sunday by Sunday, but the end (and the warmth) is in sight. Please pray for Bruce, who is doing the work, and pray for smooth sailing from here on out. We have started a new program on Wednesday night: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis; and a new Bible Study on Thursday night: The Letter of James. Please look for the Zoom link in Creator Calling or on the Church website: creatorchurch.net. It is hard to believe that we are just five weeks from Advent; time is moving so swiftly. Please pray for our parish and the many endeavors we are considering. Pray, also, for all our brothers and sisters as we move into the cold season. Peace in Christ, Fr. Bill+ Christian Mysticism: Session 7
The Way of Knowing God in the Darkness Settle yourself in solitude, and you will come upon God in yourself. ~St. Teresa of Avila So, what is the point of all this? Was it worth your time to read, or was it a waste of time to consider? Was there something here to take away, or were you left with nothing? How do you consider these questions? No; how you consider these questions is point, the value, the pearl of great price and the treasure buried in the field. How you consider all things is the door flung open. HOW is the abyss laid bare; it is the openness, the expanse, it is the pathway to union with Christ and peace beyond bounds. What was/is the point? To let you know that you are not alone. The separation we feel, the disconnect we experience from one another, from spiritual cares, from God; this separation has been felt by everyone through every time. You are not alone; sinking yourself into the business of the day to fill the void and smother the desperation. You are not alone in your loneliness, your unknowable-ness; the one you know you truly want, is there with you. St. Macarius the Egyptian wrote in his Fifty Spiritual Homilies, For it is in the renewing of the mind, and the peace of the thoughts, and the love and heavenly passion for the Lord, that the new creation of Christians distinguishes them from all the men of the world. This was the purpose of the Lord’s coming, to vouchsafe these spiritual blessings to those who truly believe in Him. Homily X.4 We must start somewhere and the somewhere is within us. Once embraced, this avenue of the eternal stretches before us, welcoming and open, beckoning. I pray that you are on this journey, or if not, that you will feel inspired to seek it out. So one who has found and has within him this heavenly treasure of the Spirit, effects thereby every righteousness of commandments and every accomplishment of virtues unblameably and purely, without forcing and with ease. Let us therefore beseech God, and seek and beg of Him, to bestow on us the treasure of His Spirit, and that thus we may be able to walk in all His commandments unblameably and purely, and to fulfil all the righteousness of the Spirit purely and perfectly, by means of the heavenly treasure, which is Christ. Homily XVIII.2 St. Catherine of Siena encourages us with prayer, In your nature, eternal Godhead, I shall come to know my nature. And what is my nature, boundless love? It is fire, because you are nothing but a fire of love. And you have given humankind a share in this nature, for by the fire of love you created us. And so with all other people and every created thing; you made them out of love. O ungrateful people! What nature has your God given you? His very own nature! Are you not ashamed to cut yourself off from such a noble thing through the guilt of deadly sin? O eternal Trinity, my sweet love! You, light, give us light. You, wisdom, give us wisdom. You, supreme strength, strengthen us. Today, eternal God, let our cloud be dissipated so that we may perfectly know and follow your Truth in truth, with a free and simple heart. God, come to our assistance! Lord, make haste to help us! Settle yourself in solitude and you will come upon God in yourself. Settling, Fr. Bill† Christian Mysticism: Session 6
The Way of Knowing God in the Darkness “Next week, we will review the steps thus far, answer a few questions I have received, and peer into a different kind of darkness.” Steps? What steps? We live a linear life, placing one foot in front of the other. Our sense of the world is based on time, and time is relentlessly predictable. It is no wonder we are so often at odds with ourselves; our time is disrupted. Our time -- what a strange thing to say and a sadder thing to live. Still, we must call it something, as we are linear, but we do not have to be oppressed by it. When we claim ownership of time, even as a turn of phrase, we corrupt our understanding of God’s presence and our enlightenment. God honors us by acting in the time that God owns. God calls us in God’s time out of time, to live in God’s presence. There are methods and ways of relinquishing ourselves to God in time (OK, let’s call them steps), but the end of our pursuit must be reflected in the journey. God honors us by freeing us from time. Our awareness of God—God’s gift of God’s self, becomes a timeless reality in time. Questions Q: “Is Christian Mysticism all about personal experience?” A: As with everything we do, experience is involved. The experience of the mystic is a spiritual closeness to God that transcends what we would call typical. From the study of Scripture through the prayer process, an ever-increasing awareness of God becomes normal. God is no longer “out there” or “sometimes;” God is present in everything always. This is not because God is actually in everything (that would be panentheism), but because the mystic is now aware of God and recognizes God everywhere. Q: “Is there a simple method I can follow to become a Christian Mystic?” A: There are many methods through which you can grow in spiritual depth and awareness. The starting point of every method is simple prayer. From there you can follow any one of many spiritual masters who outline prayer practices you can use. That is as simple as it gets, but that is only speaking about what you DO, not how you live within the doing. Outside of the self (spiritual self), you can follow a method that will aid you by focusing your attention through structure and repetition. The method is intended to become a habit of devotion and an intimate space of peace and harmony with God. Achieving peace and harmony is no small task, however, and requires an act of will beyond simple practice. The real work must/needs to take place within you. If you persevere through the struggle with your own thoughts and feelings, God will make God’s-self known to you. It is not your will that makes this happen, but thy will be done. While this sounds simple, in truth it is not (except the method part). There are many stages within the methods, within you, that must be dealt with. Q: “How will I know I am doing it right?” A: It boils down to the “doing it right” part has nothing to do with method or practice or habit. “Doing it right” rests in your willingness to relinquish yourself to God. When you can enter into prayer with an open heart, mind, and spirit, humbly placing yourself before God, you will no longer ask this question. Q: “How long will it take?” A: I suppose at this point I must make sure you understand what “it” is. If you are thinking “it” is a mystical union with God, I would have to ask you what you think that means. If by “it” you mean simply knowing that you are changing and moving toward God in a qualitative way, then I can answer: It will take a moment, a lifetime, a whisper, a grain of sand, a kiss, a book; it will take the amount of time it takes the light to reach your eye and the waves of the sea to pound the beach. It will take the time it takes for all things to come together and come to an end. It will take God’s time and your time and when time no longer matters it will be that time. A Different Kind of Darkness “Not all that glitters is gold” or is it? There are as many ways of expressing suffering as there are people. Each of us suffers in our own way by attributing special value to different aspects of our lives. Emotional, physical, spiritual--there is no end to the possibilities, to the mixtures of life that we suffer from. Our suffering is often referred to as darkness, as in, “It was a really dark time for me…” On the mystical path, there is a trial, referred to by St. John of the Cross as the “Dark Night of the Soul.” I will not spend time on that here, as it is much beyond our current measure, but St. John opened the door for us to understand an aspect of our lives that is already a mystical experience. Darkness, this/that “dark time,” is a place of suffering, long-standing or excruciatingly short, from which we cry to God for release and repose. Unanswered suffering can have the cumulative effect of wearing down our faith. I have often heard, “Why did God let me suffer?” a question most often asked precisely at the time when the answer can’t be heard. Darkness, in all its forms, is allowed by God because this is the world we live in, the world we make. Even people of faith go through the darkness, the suffering times of life feeling alone and distant from God. In fact, that feeling is a second darkness, and too tragically often, the most devastating one. We enter the darkness and God allows it, so God can find us. Suffering is a crucible that burns away the shallow and transitory of our lives, but it is also a gift through which we find and are found. Saint Faustina of the Divine Mercy Devotion, wrote in her diary of suffering: “Oh, if only the suffering soul knew how it is loved by God, it would die of joy and excess of happiness! Someday, we will know the value of suffering, but then we will no longer be able to suffer. The present moment is ours” (963). The experience of God we seek, and find too hard to receive, is already present to us in our suffering. This “Dark Night” of distance from God is, in reality, where we can be filled and healed. If you hold onto the suffering, past or present, as your burden to carry, you always will. You must embrace the suffering, and peer through darkness to the light that shines within; Jesus is there. In response, to Saint Faustina, the Lord spoke and said, “My daughter, suffering will be a sign to you that I am with you” (669). Embracing the darkness, Fr. Bill+ Christian Mysticism: Session 5
The Way of Knowing God in the Darkness She said, “I tried, and it didn’t work.” He replied, “...and it never will.” History is littered with story and legend extolling the pursuit of peace. World-breaking conflicts and personal crusades grip our imagination as we cheer on the hoped-for conclusion: peace. Everyone wants peace. Yes, I know even as you read this, there are some whose minds go to the witness of madmen and despots. However, the tragic and distorted lives of the notorious only serve to reinforce my statement. Even the insane and delusional want peace; they are simply incapable of the revelation of self. True peace, as an end of human effort, is an impossibility in this world. True peace is only possible through the relationship with Christ. To accept the peace we so desperately want and that is promised to us, we need to acknowledge and embrace the Darkness. The Way of Knowing God in the Darkness “Because of our God's deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79) As a child, protected by my parents, the darkness that terrified me was physical and it concealed the thing under my bed. As a young adult that fear subsided but was not gone. Instead, it was supplemented by another form of itself: the thing under the bed was now the thing out there or down there…in the dark. Darkness could also conceal violence, but with the proper tools it was easily overcome: just turn on the light. That simple remedy, the flick of a switch, was like a cleansing release and it brought hope and even courage. In the light I felt safe and in control and I thought no more of darkness or the thing that lay in wait. Being afraid of the dark is common to all cultures and peoples. It is a fear of being harmed, of being helpless, of being prey. It would be wonderful if I could say that when I became an adult I was “cured” of my fear and of the thing that lurks in the shadows, but that is not true. All people are aware of God and afraid of the thing. God is present to all his children, though many reject his presence. The deep interior awareness of God’s call is possible because God knows we need Him, and God makes it possible for us to be aware. But that awareness is not limited to God and rejecting God does not shut down the awareness. The darkness holds more than the absence of light: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. (Ephesians 6:12) Most of us don’t stop in the darkness; we rush through it to the light. Those who do stop, don’t linger and the few who stop and search for the thing, are sure to find it. Darkness is a physical reality in which physical dangers are present and darkness is a spiritual reality in which spiritual dangers lurk. We use darkness as a metaphor in our lives: darkness of thought, of emotion, and of knowing. The reality and dangers of darkness plagues and pursues us. We know it. God knows it, too. This is why Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”(John 8:12) Jesus acknowledges that we live on the edge of darkness and that we are frequently overtaken by it. He knows that we live in fear, a deep droning fear brought on by the uncertainty of the dark and of the thing that lives there. As adults, we learn to ignore the darkness as best we can, and to pretend the thing does not exist. But we can’t. God is the only solution, the only light that can pierce the darkness and illumine the Way. Growth in spiritual depth sharpens our awareness: God comes closer, Jesus is felt, and fear is arrested. The darkness in our lives does not go away. The thing never stops its pursuit. It is always with us. Thanks be to God that we are not left to face this alone: as we are assured that “ In him(Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.” (John 1:4-5) I cannot emphasize enough the change that is experienced when we are no longer afraid. When the fear we have learned to ignore is embraced and given over to Christ, there is a freedom never-before experienced. The invitation to walk in the spirit, to experience living in mystical union with Christ, is not meant to simply be an academic or intellectual pursuit. True spiritual union with God (deification) requires conscious devotion and, once undertaken, changes everything! St. Francis DeSales wrote, …so devotion is the real spiritual sweetness which takes away all bitterness from mortifications; and prevents consolations from disagreeing with the soul: it cures the poor of sadness, and the rich of presumption; it keeps the oppressed from feeling desolate, and the prosperous from insolence; it averts sadness from the lonely, and dissipation from social life; it is as warmth in winter and refreshing dew in summer; it knows how to abound and how to suffer want; how to profit alike by honor and contempt; it accepts gladness and sadness with an even mind, and fills one’s heart with a wondrous sweetness. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Ch 2) Jesus calls us to the light through the darkness: embrace the darkness. If you deny the thing in the darkness and ignore the fear by the dim light of platitude and excuse, you will not be able to accept Christ’s true light and true love. True devotion means truly opening yourself to God. You must open those doors you have bolted shut to let Christ’s light shine in that darkness. The healing illumination of your heart and spirit will change your effort into peace. Devotion is no longer an act you undertake because you want to, but the communion with God you need to have. It becomes not a means to an end, but truly a journey of discovery and new life. Next week, we will review the steps thus far, answer a few questions I have received, and peer into a different kind of darkness. “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8) In His Light, Fr. Bill+ |
AuthorFather Bill Burk† Archives
December 2024
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