Needlepoint News - October 2003 - Samantha Taylor |
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NEWS FROM SPAIN AUTUMN
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Madrid Short and Sweet - a *Trick or a Treat?* We are pleased to keep this October newsletter a short one !!
This has been one very busy month - (and very wet) - too much turmoil - and we just made the October deadline by a hair !!
What to Wear Yes - we have spent months -thinking about different costumes for Halloween. First - Luna wanted to be Bombé - and Bombé wanted to be a bird. Then Luna wanted to be a mouse - and Bombé a puppy ... then they decided to be a pair of hummingbirds ... or ... and ... this goes on and on ... so - In the end - we all conformed to waiting until next year - when they are a bit older - and wise enough to travel out into the hall to trick and treat the neighbors. They are happy with the treats (for this year) though.
FIESTAS OF SPAINNo nation on earth is quite as good at enjoying itself as Spain. There are so many fiestas that even if you could attend more than one a day you would not be able to visit them all in a single lifetime. All Saints Day and Halloween As you know - the holiday we call Halloween has a history of influences from many cultures throughout centuries - and is one of the oldest holidays - as its´s origins date from thousands of years ago > beginning with the Celtic Samhain festival - mixed with the Roman´s Pomona Day - then to the Christian holidays of All Saints Day.
The Celts - (from the area that is now called Great Britain and Northern France) - worshipped nature and had many gods - the sun god being the favorite - as HE ruled their work and rest times - made the earth beautiful and the crops grow.
Read More about The Celts These Celts celebrated their New Year on November 1st - every year with a festival marking the end of the season of the sun and the beginning of the season of darkness and cold. They believed that during the winter - Samhain - Lord of the Dead and Prince of Darkness - took the sun god prisoner. On the eve before their new year (October 31) - it was believed that Samhain called together all the dead people. The dead would take different forms - with the bad spirits taking the form of animals - the most evil taking the form of cats. As they danced around the fires - the season of the sun passed and the season of darkness would begin.
Druids (Celtic Priests) When the morning arrived the Druids (Priests) gave an ember from their fires to each family - who would then take them home to start new cooking fires. These fires would keep the homes warm and free from evil spirits. This November 1st festival would become the first Halloween.
During the first century - the Romans invaded Britain - bringing with them many of their festivals and customs. One of these was the festival know as Pomona Day - named for their goddess of fruits and gardens and was also celebrated around the 1st of November. After hundreds of years of Roman rule the customs of the Celtic's Samhain festival and the Roman Pomona Day intermingled - becoming the major fall holiday.
The Christian - All Saint´s Day The next influence came with the spread of the new Christian religion throughout Europe and Britain. In the year 835 AD the Roman Catholic Church would make November 1st a church holiday to honor all the saints. This day was called All Saint's Day - or Hallowmas - or All Hallows.
Years later the Church would make November 2nd a holy day. It was called All Souls Day and was to honor the dead. It was celebrated with big bonfires - parades and people dressing up as saints - angels and devils. But the spread of Christianity did not make people forget their early customs. On the eve of All Hallows - Oct. 31 - people continued to celebrate the festivals of Samhain and Pomona Day.
Halloween Over the years the customs from all
these holidays mixed. October 31st became known as All Hallow Even
- eventually evolving into All Hallow's Eve - Hallowe'en and then
- Halloween.
Perfect - Go Out and Trick - and Treat -- ?¿
Use Your Imagination !! Plan this properly -- this is a perfect weekend to perform tricks and treats - for example - - - - Prepare a super Halloween reception for those that come to your door - take care to smile for those wee first timers - they are our future. After tonight - follow the tradition of remembering those loved ones who are no longer with us - even take them flowers (as we do here in Spain). This may produce some sadness - yet - they live in our memories - you will feel warmth. Take treats to someone you know - who is in need. Now - the best treat - fill your rooms with flowers and fragrances - pamper yourself !! Guaranteed that you will feel better !! -- Now Just Do Not Be Down.
We Love to Hear from Our Friends
Please write to us - If you like we will publish your correspondence in our next newsletter and web site. Tell us about yourself - your needlepoint *addiction* - what you would like us to add or remove from our newsletters ... or any of your favorite anecdotes! If you prefer to remain anonymous be sure to include this at the end of your note. Just select below and write - it is that simple. Make some time (look who is talking). samantha_taylor@jvoichdesigns.com
*We would like to send our very best wishes - to our friends and family - in Southern California suffering the tremendous threats from fires - as well as those of you who suffered the terrible flooding and damages caused by Hurricane Isabel this last month of September.* - From Us - Madrid
Again - we have been too short on time - but - thank YOU for such fun letters.
Favorite SayingsLike nearly all languages - Castellano - Spanish arrived at its current state over hundreds of years. It had its origins in Indo-European and then in Latin before it became a distinct language of its own. Here you will learn more about the history of a language that is spoken by more than 300 million people. The Spanish language is rich with refranes > sayings or proverbs that often become a shorthand way of conveying a thought or expressing a judgment - a unique form - yet a loving vehicle of communication. Here you will find a collection of a sayings - one for each day of the month. Of the literally hundreds of sayings that are a part of the language - this section includes some of the most common as well as a few others that were chosen simply - because they are so charming.
¿ Si la leche es gratis - para que comprar la vaca ? If the milk is free - why buy the cow ? (No need for an explanation)
... and yet - one more ...
NO ES POBRE EL QUE TIENE POCO - SINO EL QUE CODICIA MUCHO. (He who has little is not poor - if not the person who is greedy for too much) A person who has very little is not the poor one - it is the person who can not have enough who is truly poor - or - Some people can just not have enough. (Thanks Liv - send more !!)
This is all for now. ˇHasta Pronto!... and Thank You - again - for taking the time to read this and - Happy Halloween
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