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| Jack-of-Lantern |
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| Bonfire |
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| A Masked Figure |
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| Figures of witches |
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| The Celtic Druid |
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| Kids In Halloween Dress |
1) Grotesque figures and skeletons parade the way
To trick the devil and make us gay :
The kids in witches' robes and coal-black hues
Threaten the elders to claim their dues:
A merry magic spell , this Halloween
Give the Devil his due with a merry grin !
2) When stars stream all over with crystal sheen
When nights become longer with misty screen
When witches whisper and float with mystic spell
To pluck black weeds from darkest dells
Riding on ravens, cats and flying sticks
To test their powers with cunning tricks
3) Bright orange pumpkins grace at every home
With flaming tongues of fire inside the dome
Bon fires and candles hail the heavenly souls
In chilly weather dark the church bell tolls.
This gloomy eve hallowed by their noble tread
A gush of love towards our dearest dead!
4) The Celtic Druids of ancient lore
Moved with torches from door to door
Shouting in darkness to collect their treats
Chanting dark spells with rhythmic beat
When babes were hid by dames afraid
Of tricky goblins of the country side.
5) When skull-shaped turnips with fire inside
Guarded each house from the devils espied
When the veil of mystery betwixt the worlds turned thin
For seers to watch the twists of Destiny's spin
When bawling beggars roamed crying for bread
Praying for the souls of the people dead.
6) To save their harvests, beasts and children
From the spells of hags and witches of glen
The Druids prayed to Saman , Lord of Death
To bless their tribe with power, joy and health
Offering beasts and grain in sacrificial fire
Masked figures dancing around the fire.
7) This pagan festival with masked attire
Fraught with sacrificial blood and fire
Became a holy eve of Christian saints
A time to pray in church to free the taint
And bestow peace on departed dear
By keeping vigil with a conscience clear.
8) This Hallowmas, no more a time to fear and brood
Of Devils, witches and Jack-of-Lantern shrewd
A time to share and sing of Lord again
Mimicking old beliefs in a merry strain
A friendly round of meeting our near and dear
To spread the message of Love --no more to fear.
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A Brief Note on Halloween:
Halloween is celebrated on the evening of October 31st Just when winter sets in. Children masked like spirits and goblins roam from house to house to collect their treats and perform some playful tricks. This festival has had its origin in the pagan tradition of Celts called Samhain's Festival celebrated at the end of the harvest season when nights last longer than daytime. It was the time when the dividing line between the earthly world and the upper world becomes thin and when the spirits of the dead visit their ancestral homes. It was also the period when evil spirits and witches practice mystic rites in dark nights. To appease them and to prevent their evil influence the Celtic priests known as Druids lit bonfires and offered beasts and grain as sacrificial offering. They beat drums and rang bells and moved from door to door to collect fruits and gifts chanting spells and cursing those who shut their doors and refused to give gifts to them.They masked themselves in grotesque attire to scare away the ghosts and to escape from the wrath of vindictive ancestral spirits. In ancient times even human sacrifice was practiced. To welcome the ancestral souls and show the way, candles and bonfires were lit and food was offered to them. Samhain was worshipped for giving protection to their beasts, children and harvests. The Druids used to carry a lamp in the hollow of a turnip cut in the shape of a skull in memory of the dead. This lamp is called "Jack-of-Lantern". Behind this there is a story of a vicious youth called Jack who used to trick the devil and later after his death could not enter the hell. The devil gave him a burning coal to guide him on his way to find his place of rest. In U.S. instead of turnips big orange colored pumpkins are used to keep the lamp inside the hollowed out part as a kind of protection to ward off evil spirits.
During this time witches wandered stealing children and performed black magic adoring evil spirits. Thus Halloween, a shortened form of "All Hallows Eve " or Holy Souls (ancestors) carried sinister and weird implications. In old English the word "Halga" means "a saint". After the advent of Christianity Pope Gregory IV shifted All Saints Day (13th May, 609 A.D.) to Nov.1st in 835 A.D. just to coincide with this Celtic festival. Nov.1st is called Hallowmas or All Saints' Day. Halloween means the evening before Hallowmas. The Christians in medieval times lit candles and offered food to their ancestral souls at home.In churches bells were tolled and prayers were offered for souls in purgatory. The poor people and beggars used to receive bread known as "soul-Bread" in return for offering prayers to the souls of the ancestors.
Nowadays boys dress themselves as ghosts and weird creatures and move from house to house to collect candies,fruits and gift items. Thus Halloween, a pagan festival, observed in memory of the dead and placating the Lord of Death, became a friendly and jovial occasion for spreading the message of love and for elders to express their gratitude and renew their relationship with their ancestors.
( Dedicated to those born on Halloween's Day)
Dated: 17th January, 2014 Somaseshu Gutala
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