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Activities
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On this day people would
gather early in the day since there were so many things going on.
In olden times the affair would last for two or three days. Crafting
included brewing Mead for the days festivities as well as for the winter
season to come. They carved Jack-o-Lanterns to discourage negative
spirits from bothering the people at the gathering. Candles
were blessed for use throughout the winter, as well as blending oils for
magical uses. Simples were brewed to make sure each person had a
good tonic to see them through the hard days of winter.
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Anything that was braided
was thought to be lucky since it was binding things together and by doing
that bringing the community closer together. Quilts were gathered
to be finished and ladies shared their recipes for simples and for dying
cloth. The men of the clan hunted for days before the gathering to
insure food for everyone. Children would be sent on “Nutting”
parties and they would produce that bounty to be shared by everyone.
Games of strength and chance were played by young and old alike.
This was also a great time for story telling and in this way the patterns
of life were passed down from one generation to another year after year.
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At this time of the year
we are reminded of the tribal beginnings that we have all come from and
it is appropriate that we still use the basic instruments of drum and gourd,
cymbal, and horns. We chant together into the night and recreate
the spiral dances. Bringing people together for singing and dancing
is very important even if they are not the best of singers or dancers.
The manner of performance is not important, the pleasure of the joining
is!
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In this day of television
and computers we try to use some of the same activities to impart
knowledge of the ancient ways to our young pagans, and to honor our
ancestors. During our own Samhain Celebration we like to carve pumpkins,
bless our candles for the year and blend our oils. Sometimes we will have
done some of these crafts at earlier sabbats and will just bless them at
this time. We also enjoy story telling and the sharing of our hopes
for the coming year. We don't usually play games of strength
but we will quilt, weave and sew. We also enjoy listening to Native
American music.
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