Pagan Dance Honours Roots of Halloween

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Pagan Dance Honours Roots of Halloween

by juliepenkova ^Pro @ 2009-10-30 – 22:20:00

Hi.... it's the weekend.... and it's Halloween!!

Masks created by artist Lauren Raine... are a big draw at the spiral dance celebration
The Spiral Dance ~ The Real Meaning of Halloween
www.reclaimingspiraldance.org
"When we dance the spiral, young and old together
we remember and honor our own past at that same time we renew our vision
and embrace the future~
Let it begin now!!"

What are your views on this event

What do you understand to be the real meaning behind the roots of Halloween

What ever they may be do share... and have a "magical time"
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- pagan dance halloween

22 Comments to Pagan Dance Honours Roots of Halloween

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- Bushka ^Pro
- Bushka
- 2009-10-31 @ 12:12:01
I have no firm views...or opinions...never given this much thought....x
- - juliepenkova ^Pro
  - http://juliepenkova.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-10-31 @ 17:55:41
  My knowledge regarding Halloween stems from my
  Christian knowledge that it is connected with the
  darkness not the light of the world...
  I still in all honesty feel a strong connection
  to this belief but understand there are other aspects
  which is to do with the change of the season
  and harvest time...
  I Know Halloween originated in Paganisim and related to
  pagan belief.
  Pauline has given a wonderful explanation to its roots!!
  - - Bushka ^Pro
    - Bushka
    - 2009-10-31 @ 18:05:07
    Many, if not most, established practices that we have - cultural, religious, national or whatever...reach back into antiquity....the furher back it reaches the more it will indicate traces of some sort of 'religious/mystical' elements......It does not wurpriseme that Halloween carries such elements...Notice how they are being envested with modern innovations....x
    - - juliepenkova ^Pro
      - http://juliepenkova.blog.co.uk
      - 2009-10-31 @ 20:49:44
      I think the mystical element is very strong Bushka
      and the essense of the spiral dance shown in the picture above
      (with an added link) I feel explains the true essense of Halloween.
      It is to honour the beloved who have died and the dance
      of the spiral is to celebrate rebirth.
      The holiday popularly known as halloween is the time of year known as Samhain.
      It is also a time to mourn the losses and pain suffered
      by the earth, but as one grieves also it is a time
      to remember and honour the sacred cycle of life and death, rebirth and regeneration,celebrating the births
      of our children and our own vital connetions to the earth and each other in which we ground our hope....
      
      I prefer this then the scary bits!!
      I feel the spiral dance to be beautiful!! x
      - Bushka ^Pro
        
        Bushka
        
        2009-10-31 @ 21:06:29
        
        So much 'dross' is added in the passing of the years! xx
        
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        juliepenkova ^Pro
        
        http://juliepenkova.blog.co.uk
        
        2009-10-31 @ 21:25:42
        
        I think you are right Bushka
        It is the occult aspects I stear clear of... for me
        personally... I feel it can only bring you down!!
        I prefer to be uplifted and I feel there are so many
        aspects to life which are so much more positive.
        The spiral dance and it;s significance is really
        repecting nature
        So.... "Happy Halloween" x
        
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- avenscent
- 2009-10-31 @ 13:02:00
Its not some thing i become involved with i always think its an american thing for kids but no doubt many will enjoy it.xx
- - juliepenkova ^Pro
  - http://juliepenkova.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-10-31 @ 18:08:16
  Halloween is actually a pagan belief and has celtic
  roots.
  But it actually has become a big festival in America
  that is true.
  In Ireland people lit candles or lanterns to keep
  spirits away and if they had to go outside, they wore
  costumes and masks to frighten the spirits or to keep
  from being recognised by spirits.
  Which is what they do now really!!
  Apart from the fun element it originally is a form of protection....
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- paulinemom
- 2009-10-31 @ 15:51:28
It is a CELTIC thing....going far back before the AMERICANS picked up on the idea and commercialised it.

The Celtic priests who carried out the rituals in the open air were called Druids, members of pagan orders in Britain, Ireland and Gaul, who generally performed their rituals by offering sacrifices, usually of crops and animals, ensuring that the sun would return after the winter; and frightening away evil spirits.

Astrologers: Observe this time as the sun enters the sign of Libra, which is the constellation of the balance or scales.

Catholicism, Protestant, and Judaism: Have celebrations and feasts during this time.

Chumash: Is a Native American tribe from Southern California that celebrates the “sons of Kakunupmawa” or “children of the sun.” They considered that the thoughts of the tribe would become focused on unity to face the winter months.

Mayan: Around 1050, the Mayan constructed The Pyramid of Kukukan at Chichen Itza in Yucatan, Mexico and the Mayan Calendar. The pyramid has the same number of steps to its architecture as there are days in a year and displays different triangle patterns of light during the passing seasons. The seven triangles become visible on the pyramid staircase after the fall harvest that was observed with ceremonious rituals.

Neopaganism: Wicca is the most popular of this group of religious beliefs, their sabbats (Witches’ Sabbath). Samhain, farmers brought livestock in from summer pastures and people gathered to build shelters for winter. The Witch’s Thanksgiving is the main harvest feast day of the Wicca, celebrating the Bountiful Mother aspects of the fall harvest.

Japan: Celebrates six days for Higan-e. It is based on the observation of giving, the precepts, perseverance, effort, meditation, and wisdom. These are believed to be needed before a person can arrive at a spiritual level of nirvana. Higan means the other shore and includes rituals for repentance and enlightenment in the next life. It is also a time of ceremonious rites in remembering the dead.
- - juliepenkova ^Pro
  - http://juliepenkova.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-10-31 @ 18:26:51
  Thank you so much Pauline for this elaborate explanation!!
  I knew it was a pagan related belief.
  Being brought up a Christian Halloween was a festival
  that was not elaborated upon.
  That did not stop me going to Halloween parties
  in my younger years
  Through my experience working in schools Halloween
  is not really acknowledged.. but the change of the season and harvest time is... activities such as making pumpkin soup... collecting tins of food to give to the elderly as a kind gesture in the form of a hamper and going hunting and exploring within nature.
  Art and craft activities making lanterns and using them
  to explore in the dark... they love that... making
  colourful exploration decorations such as moons and stars and learning about nature.
  I know in Ireland Halloween is an actual national holiday.
  The Pumpkin replaced what was originally a turnip
  for Jack-o-lantern!!
  Cheers Pauline X
  - - paulinemom
    - 2009-10-31 @ 18:40:24
    Halloween is actualy more World Wide and more in tune with other faiths than most realise
    
    P xx
    - - juliepenkova ^Pro
      - http://juliepenkova.blog.co.uk
      - 2009-10-31 @ 21:07:35
      thats why I added the sprial dance
      as this signifies i feel the clear meaning of halloween
      It is on the link above which explains the reasons
      of the dance....
      A time to grieve for those who have died... but also
      a time to reflect on the pain suffered on earth...
      A time to remember and honour the sacred cycle of life,
      death and rebirth.
      I think it is very in tune with nature Pauline!!
      But where magic is concerned I feel one should
      respect it not abuse it.
      To me that is the dark side which I know is also part
      of Halloween...
      - paulinemom
        
        2009-11-01 @ 05:25:13
        
        I have just loaded it and it won't load...think my firewall is blocking it...will try again later.
        
        You have really appreciated the 'spiritual' side of what is now a commercialised party.
        
        P xx
        
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        juliepenkova ^Pro
        
        http://juliepenkova.blog.co.uk
        
        2009-11-01 @ 14:43:03
        
        I do think that the spiritual side is repecting nature.
        What is your view on the occult??
        
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        paulinemom
        
        2009-11-04 @ 14:49:34
        
        The occult I treat with respect....as have many experiences in my life.
        
        .....
        
        Would take to long for this minute today...remind me to post again/
        
        P xx
        
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- sarangijibt
- 2009-11-01 @ 11:45:52
Aside being fun for kids, for me it seems to be big business. It's become almost a second carnival with those costumes. And then you have to buy a mask yourself to scare away the scary kids from your home. They are not content with nuts, they want more... That's all nuts, crazy.

Somehow this year it is especially horrid with those masks, partly because of Mikel Jackson?
- - juliepenkova ^Pro
  - http://juliepenkova.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-11-01 @ 16:44:20
  It is very comercial!!
  but Halloween itself originates from Pagan belief
  it is respecting the life and death cycle and rebirth.
  The changing of the season...
  Pauline gave a very good description of its roots!!
  The costumes and the masks stem back through history
  it was to keep spirits away... but I do ask...
  why keep them away unless they are harmful in the first place...
  it is this aspect I question
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- sarangijibt
- 2009-11-02 @ 10:18:07
The harmful spirits shall be chased away. The souls still in purgatory get a rest from that horror there at 2nd of Noveber and shall be cared for during these 2 days. However, candles shall not be placed on graves of suicides, or else their kids would themselves become suicides. In the house candles are lit and prayers are said for the peace of the dead. No sharp or hot objects shall be placed so that the dead could hurt themselves.

It is good to remember them at that day, the poor ones who can not yet return to their creator before being thoroughly cleansed in hell.
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- tylluanpenry
- 2009-11-03 @ 09:06:39
Halloween honours the dead. That's why the church replaced it with the festivals of All Saints and All Souls. And strangely, the Ancient Egyptians celebrated a very similar festival, the Netcher Yet (well that's how it's pronounced anyway) at this time of the year.

For me it's the time when the Sun God finally dies and the Dark Lord takes his place. Nothing at all to do with evil and everything to do with the way the year balances itself, summer and winter, light and dark, life and death... I love it!
- - juliepenkova ^Pro
  - http://juliepenkova.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-11-03 @ 09:27:01
  Respecting nature and living with the seasons
  I actually really like this time of year...
  Cosy!! x
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- malakeas ^Pro
- http://www.blog.co.uk/user/malakeas
- 2009-11-03 @ 10:39:42
I hope you had a great Halloween and lovely weekend. x
- - juliepenkova ^Pro
  - http://juliepenkova.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-11-03 @ 10:47:55
  The changing of the season is cosy and bright
  and the weekend was busy and fun
  Hope yours was too X
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