Waiting for Superstorm Samhain

For the second year in a row, Tricks or Treats may be impeded by inclement weather.  See last year’s post.  This year it may actually storm at the time of the festivities.  We’re not the only ones feeling this.  An entire swath across the US will get hit.  So I don’t just sing woe is me.  Nonetheless, it’s disappointing to be sure.  We could trace the attempts at outdoor celebrations this last year by pinpointing sudden, and often singular, inclement weather conditions.

So we’ll see.  There may be no grand posts as in years past.  The older boys haven’t bothered with costumes.  Even if they don’t go out, they’ve dressed up, but this year there may not be a reason.  Still we might alter our plans and come up with other goodies.  We’ve considered a night of spooky movies, perhaps a game (Mansions of Madness, based on Lovecraft, seems highly appropriate).  Our eight grader has his confirmation retreat tomorrow, so bedtime will be a little early. 

In the meantime, Mark Shea reminds me of why I used to love his blog, as he gives a fun little resource about the famous pagan origins of Halloween, even if he does so somewhat half-heartedly.  Truth be told, I don’t worry about it.  Everyone knows it either is or isn’t pagan in origins.  What you emphasize is likely based on what you believe in the first place.  An interesting read nonetheless.  Another good place is on Fish Eaters.  It’s the main website I visited on our way into the Church.  It’s traditionalist (ironic linking to that alongside Mark’s site).  It definitely displays that disappointment with the post-Vatican II that does seem to define that view (or they wouldn’t be traditionalist).  It has a lot of ‘nuts and bolts’ about Catholicism, its practices, its prayers, old customs and why Catholics cross themselves level materials.  I’ve always enjoyed its post on Halloween.  Any website that links to Poe, Riley and Longfellow on one page gets my thumbs up.

Bonus, it links to Washington Irving’s classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  If you’ve not read it, do so.  You can in one sitting.  See if Disney or Burton was closer to the source material (as if you need to guess).