My years turn when the ancient Samhain festivities also turn the seasons, traditionally. Like our modern New Year, it ought to be a time of reflection, doubly so for me; but also like the modern New Year, it's often so hectic and busy that I rarely let myself take the time for it.
I love Hallowe'en, and I love Samhain. I love birthdays -- all the trappings of all of these. I love hokey, tacky orange and purple decorations, and would drape the house in lights and set up hay bales if I could afford to buy them. (But like the xmas lights, I'd probably be too lazy/procrastinating to remove them, which would be bad. Maybe the goats could eat the hay?) I also love birthday cakes, and paper plates with cartoon characters on them, and glittery candles. (I also love bonfires and straw dolls and the trappings of the ancient holiday, but those things don't really fall into the realm of guilty pleasures.)
We had a Hallowe'en fair at church last night, and it was wonderful -- pulled together in just a few weeks with a minimum of planning, just shy of a spur-of-the-moment thing, but a triumph nonetheless. (Special kudos to T. for the irresistible black light room and S. for the wonderful Samhain room.) Tomorrow, of course, is trick-or-treat, complete this year with a visit from Granny. Today, which ought to be the big event (my birthday) feels more like the pleasant lull in the swirl of activities. I plan to go to taekwondo (which I love) and the library (love even more), but not much is planned in the way of celebrations.
That's OK with me. For all my big talk about having a Kung Fu Panda party (!), I find that I relish the prospect of a pretty basic family dinner (maybe out, probably in, for budget's sake). I find that I relish the prospect of watching Samurai 7 and The Office while wrapped in my blankie (trying to keep the thermostat a bit lower these days). And I find, in particular, that I look forward to tomorrow, when![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
salvador_dalai and his mom (and some other friends) will go out to see my brother-in-law's awesome Big Band, The Streamliners, and I'll stay home and watch movies with the kids. This is not the function of my extreme (ha!) age (41, if you wondered); even at 25, I'd still just as soon have curled up with a book or a computer game as have gone to a concert or bar. We're having an election party on Tuesday, which will be fun.
But for now, I'm in quiet mode. I'm thinking of my cool birthday present from Hannah: Two interesting small rocks she found on the playground.
So in a way, I'm celebrating Samhain a bit like my ancestors after all. I'm reflecting after a year's harvest, a sometimes-bitter one this year. I'm going to burn up the old year, and let the new one come in with the frost. I'm going to cherish my interesting rocks, and I'm going to cherish the children who collect them, and I'm going to find some oh so elusive quietness here, at the turning of the year.
I love Hallowe'en, and I love Samhain. I love birthdays -- all the trappings of all of these. I love hokey, tacky orange and purple decorations, and would drape the house in lights and set up hay bales if I could afford to buy them. (But like the xmas lights, I'd probably be too lazy/procrastinating to remove them, which would be bad. Maybe the goats could eat the hay?) I also love birthday cakes, and paper plates with cartoon characters on them, and glittery candles. (I also love bonfires and straw dolls and the trappings of the ancient holiday, but those things don't really fall into the realm of guilty pleasures.)
We had a Hallowe'en fair at church last night, and it was wonderful -- pulled together in just a few weeks with a minimum of planning, just shy of a spur-of-the-moment thing, but a triumph nonetheless. (Special kudos to T. for the irresistible black light room and S. for the wonderful Samhain room.) Tomorrow, of course, is trick-or-treat, complete this year with a visit from Granny. Today, which ought to be the big event (my birthday) feels more like the pleasant lull in the swirl of activities. I plan to go to taekwondo (which I love) and the library (love even more), but not much is planned in the way of celebrations.
That's OK with me. For all my big talk about having a Kung Fu Panda party (!), I find that I relish the prospect of a pretty basic family dinner (maybe out, probably in, for budget's sake). I find that I relish the prospect of watching Samurai 7 and The Office while wrapped in my blankie (trying to keep the thermostat a bit lower these days). And I find, in particular, that I look forward to tomorrow, when
salvador_dalai and his mom (and some other friends) will go out to see my brother-in-law's awesome Big Band, The Streamliners, and I'll stay home and watch movies with the kids. This is not the function of my extreme (ha!) age (41, if you wondered); even at 25, I'd still just as soon have curled up with a book or a computer game as have gone to a concert or bar. We're having an election party on Tuesday, which will be fun.But for now, I'm in quiet mode. I'm thinking of my cool birthday present from Hannah: Two interesting small rocks she found on the playground.
So in a way, I'm celebrating Samhain a bit like my ancestors after all. I'm reflecting after a year's harvest, a sometimes-bitter one this year. I'm going to burn up the old year, and let the new one come in with the frost. I'm going to cherish my interesting rocks, and I'm going to cherish the children who collect them, and I'm going to find some oh so elusive quietness here, at the turning of the year.
loved
This was a lovely post. You gots lots a style, kid!