and a story :
Hallow’s eve or Samhain is almost upon us. On Oct 31 according to the ancient Celtic tradition we move from the harvest into winter.
We’ve had beautiful weather on the coast with clear, vibrant and colourful days. The crunch of the woodland path, the kids coming out of the little school by the train tracks, the jack o’ lanterns on porches, all fold across the tapestry of time back to our own childhood. This was a month of excitement, carving pumpkins, making costumes, the smell of leaves burning at the foot of the garden and everyone piling into dad’s car and heading into town to buy Chinese fireworks.
–My father was a latent pyromaniac- and the bonfire and fireworks king of the neighbourhood! Our lovely border collie would run for the shelter of the bedroom at the first sight of Dad with his big bag of exploding delights. One time a malfunctioning Roman candle went off course, hissing and zigzagging across the ground with loud bangs and sending us all screaming and scrambling. The flying sparks set a dried part of the outer hedge alight. Dad had the extinguisher at hand but not before Mom ran out onto the porch and completed the row of pumpkin lanterns in their various states of menacing grimace. A practical Scotswoman (who had some rituals of her own), she loomed like the Halloween oracle with arms crossed and head nodding in vigorous affirmation of her dire predictions of celebratory disasters.
Of course in most cities now there are designated areas for fireworks but I remember all the kids that congregated on our lawn as my scallywag – hatted father with a botefeux in hand welcomed the motley neighbourhood crew of witches and goblins who excitedly arrived at the back gate along with various pirates, gypsies, a werewolf or two and even a Chinese Emperor. There was also a table with a lamp shade who shouted and danced joyously between the pinwheels and sparklers. Dad was actually quite military about it all and except for that one minor incident, no one was ever blown to smithereens or burnt to a crisp and no animals or children were ever harmed during production.
meanwhile, tread carefully in the woods as we approach the holiday, for the veil between life and death is very thin at this time of year and spirits may pass freely between two worlds.
and if you are lucky enough to be in Edinburgh this year The Beltane Society will be having a “Samhuinn” celebration on Calton Hill with music, performers and fire!! Link to their site from image.
If you like spooky stories I have a few here under my haunted tab
From ghosties and ghoulies and long legged beasties
and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord preserve us
*Botefeux- a long stick used to light canons
*scallywag- a type of pirate hat
the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter- dedicated to Nick 
These photos are amazing!
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many thanks dear Amy as are your!!!!
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I enjoyed reading about your Halloween memories Cybele, it sounds like you’d have an eventful month! I’ve been to the Beltane celebration on Calton Hill too, that was an experience!
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oh that is wonderful!! Thanks for coming by and commenting!!!
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Love your artistic photos and story of this ancient celebration of the harvest. Your dad would have been a hit to my own children and when I was a girl, we went to a local park at times, as fireworks were already being deemed an unsafe practice in the city. But I do love watching them from a safe distance. When my children were young we would go a street over to a neighbor’s house who lived on a dead end street and light off a small amount for the children to enjoy but as it is expensive we didn’t buy much. But the children loved doing it. Thanks for the story and photos.
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It was fun Renee! But yes no more!! and yes they were expensive! thanks for visiting!!
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Boo Friday..freaky is the only way to travel…and if all else fails..it doesn’t mean shit to a tree
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ha!!
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Everything ok
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Sorry for the tardy response; it’s been a bit busy here.
Great post and stories. I had read one but the other two were from before I started following you.
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hey, always glad to hear from you Emilio!! Glad you enjoyed!
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Cybele – thanks for sharing your memories and I love when you wrote this part.
meanwhile, tread carefully in the woods as we approach the holiday, for the veil between life and death is very thin at this time of year and spirits may pass freely between two worlds.
gave me the chills – and still 🙂
brava~~~”Storie’s”~
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thank you for reading!!
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Halloween is my favorite time of year. Thank you for such a lovely blog post 🙂
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…so nice stories and fantastic images! Hugs!
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great to hear from you Glauco!! Thank you for visiting!
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Beautiful pictures, and lovely memories! Your fireworks disaster story had me chuckling – we have seen / heard of quite a few similar ones here in India on the occasion of Diwali. Hope your excitement and fun continues to flow into the rest of the year!
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oh I would love to see a Diwali celebration in India! Thank you Anita, glad you enjoyed!
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Fabulous, Cybele! I love the story of your father, the pyromaniac. I have several of them in my family, including my son and grandfather who put on a fireworks show for his town on Long Island. I’m so glad that you’re posting again.
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so good to hear from you Patti! I must join in on one of your challenges soon. Thanks for visiting and so glad you liked the story!!
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Please join us whenever you can. One of us (Tina (Travels and Trifles) , Ann-Christine (Leya), Amy (The World is a Book) and I take turns posting a challenge each week. It’s been a lot of fun and we’re getting great responses. I hope you join us!
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Lovely images and your family story is hilarious. Made my day.
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I’m happy it gave you a smile Sherry!
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Hauntingly lovely photos
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thank you so much Paula!
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I haven’t read you for so long. Now I realize how much much I missed it.
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you are a dear Peter! I always appreciate your visits and comments!
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Love it!
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🙂 thank you!
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i’m feeling the season changing mood.
poetically a thrill 🙂
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So pleased you feel it David!
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We never had Halloween here as kids (Australia) but it is slowly making its mark. We had Guy Fawkes, but sadly that was banned many years ago, but we had bonfires and fireworks then, it was such a community affair.
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yes some places had Guy Fawkes. I think in Ireland and Scotland they celebrated it as the Celtic Samhain.
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Yes, but sadly banned here is Australia
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😦
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why is it banned Julz?
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Sadly too many kids and stupid adults got hurt
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nods!!
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Ah Cybele…may it be the best day for you xxxxxxxxxxx
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thank you Shey!! And yes wish we could raise a glass together!! Not sure if my broom can fly that far!
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The maples are glorious right now – I love the leaves falling on the face!
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they are!! thanks Eliza!!
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What fun memories, and lovely images! Hope you have a wonderful Halloween! xx
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Hope you do too Deb! Thank you for visiting!
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