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Samhain Saturday
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Kittykatt
- Member
- Posts: 4806
- Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2025 5:10 pm
Re: Samhain Saturday
Samhain was one of the four main festivals of the Gaelic calendar, marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. Samhain customs are mentioned in several medieval texts. In Serglige Con Culainn ('Cúchulainn's Sickbed'), it is said that the festival of the Ulaid at Samhain lasted a week: Samhain itself, and the three days before and after. It involved great gatherings where they held meetings, feasted, drank alcohol, and held contests. The Togail Bruidne Dá Derga notes that bonfires were lit on hilltops at Samhain and stones cast into the fires, alo g with other rituals
By the early.modern.period, these bonfires were most common in parts of the Scottish Highlands, on the Isle of Man, in north and mid-Wales, and in parts of Ulster. F. Marian McNeill says that they were formerly need-fires, but that this custom died out. Likewise, only certain kinds of wood were traditionally used, but later records show that many kinds of flammable material were burnt. It is suggested that the fires were a kind of imitative or sympathetic magic; mimicking the Sun, helping the "powers of growth" and holding back the decay and darkness of winter. They may also have served to symbolically "burn up and destroy all harmful influences". Accounts from the 18th and 19th centuries suggest that the fires, smoke, and ashes were deemed to have protective and cleansing powers.
In 19th-century Moray, boys asked for bonfire fuel from each house in the village. When the fire was lit, "one after another of the youths laid himself down on the ground as near to the fire as possible so as not to be burned and in such a position as to let the smoke roll over him. The others ran through the smoke and jumped over him". When the bonfire burnt, they scattered the ashes, vying for who should scatter them most. In some areas, two bonfires would be built side by side, and the people—sometimes with their livestock—would walk between them as a cleansing ritual.
People also took the flames from the bonfire back to their homes. During the 19th century, in parts of Scotland, torches of burning fir or turf were carried sunwise around homes and fields to protect them. In some places, people doused their hearth fires on Samhain night. Each family then solemnly re-lit its hearth from the communal bonfire, thus bonding the community.
The 17th-century writer Geoffrey Keating claimed that this was an ancient tradition instituted by the druids. Dousing the old fire and bringing in the new may have been a way of banishing evil, which was part of New Year festivals in many countries.
By the early.modern.period, these bonfires were most common in parts of the Scottish Highlands, on the Isle of Man, in north and mid-Wales, and in parts of Ulster. F. Marian McNeill says that they were formerly need-fires, but that this custom died out. Likewise, only certain kinds of wood were traditionally used, but later records show that many kinds of flammable material were burnt. It is suggested that the fires were a kind of imitative or sympathetic magic; mimicking the Sun, helping the "powers of growth" and holding back the decay and darkness of winter. They may also have served to symbolically "burn up and destroy all harmful influences". Accounts from the 18th and 19th centuries suggest that the fires, smoke, and ashes were deemed to have protective and cleansing powers.
In 19th-century Moray, boys asked for bonfire fuel from each house in the village. When the fire was lit, "one after another of the youths laid himself down on the ground as near to the fire as possible so as not to be burned and in such a position as to let the smoke roll over him. The others ran through the smoke and jumped over him". When the bonfire burnt, they scattered the ashes, vying for who should scatter them most. In some areas, two bonfires would be built side by side, and the people—sometimes with their livestock—would walk between them as a cleansing ritual.
People also took the flames from the bonfire back to their homes. During the 19th century, in parts of Scotland, torches of burning fir or turf were carried sunwise around homes and fields to protect them. In some places, people doused their hearth fires on Samhain night. Each family then solemnly re-lit its hearth from the communal bonfire, thus bonding the community.
The 17th-century writer Geoffrey Keating claimed that this was an ancient tradition instituted by the druids. Dousing the old fire and bringing in the new may have been a way of banishing evil, which was part of New Year festivals in many countries.
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Kittykatt
- Member
- Posts: 4806
- Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2025 5:10 pm
Re: Samhain Saturday
Good morning, everyone, and happy Saturday!
Today DH is meeting up with his DBro. We're akso forecast a wet,.mild day, so it would be a good opportunity for me to make progress with Christmas. I need to glaze the Christmas cake and do some.more Christmas baking ( Mince pies? Gingerbread men?).
I also really need to start wrapping presents. DH's birthday is on 21st December, so I would like to get that wrapped up today and write his card. (He wants to go out for lunch on his birthday, and booked the table some weeks ago. I think he has invited one of his DF A as well - has he invited A:s GF too?) I really ought to do something about that shoebox as well, as that's due back at church by 14th December.
As DH will be out for the whole day, I could bring all the wrapping paraphernalia downstairs and work at the dining table - better for my back than sitting on the bed, and more space than sitting at my dressing table!
Today DH is meeting up with his DBro. We're akso forecast a wet,.mild day, so it would be a good opportunity for me to make progress with Christmas. I need to glaze the Christmas cake and do some.more Christmas baking ( Mince pies? Gingerbread men?).
I also really need to start wrapping presents. DH's birthday is on 21st December, so I would like to get that wrapped up today and write his card. (He wants to go out for lunch on his birthday, and booked the table some weeks ago. I think he has invited one of his DF A as well - has he invited A:s GF too?) I really ought to do something about that shoebox as well, as that's due back at church by 14th December.
As DH will be out for the whole day, I could bring all the wrapping paraphernalia downstairs and work at the dining table - better for my back than sitting on the bed, and more space than sitting at my dressing table!
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Kittykatt
- Member
- Posts: 4806
- Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2025 5:10 pm
Re: Samhain Saturday
To do:
Cuddles and treats with Matilda,
Freddie and Jude
QT
Update latest Waitrose order
Cup of tea
Get up!
Shower/wash hair/moisturiser and sunblock/ clean and floss teeth
S/S bathroom
Physio exercises
Get dressed in casual clothes
Make bed
DH launched for a day out with his DBro
Scoop cat trays and give everyone fresh water
Cat breakfast and meds /supplements
Breakfast and meds /vitamins for me
Quick kitchen clean up
Load DW
Quick PUPA downstairs
Quick dust and Hoover downstairs
Wind clock
Quick PUPA upstairs
Quick dust bedrooms
15 minutes in tiny front garden
15 minutes in back garden
Go for my walk
Walk Freddie
Lap time with Freddie, Jude
and Matilda
Head rubs with Freddie, Jude and Matilda
Play with Freddie, Jude and Matilda
Run DW when full
Unload DW
Lunch
Cats' supper
Our supper
Sort out lunch for tomorrow
Bake something?
Text DF E re coffee tomorrow
First load of towels in machine
Towels hung up to dry
2nd load of towels in machine to wash overnight
Clothes laid out for tomorrow
Extras:
Wrap DH's birthday presents
Write card
Shoebox - can I at least make a start?
Write cards for church friends? ( They don't need a copy of the newsletter that DH is supposed to be writing!)
Write cards for neighbours
Sort out chocolates for vet practice, hairdresser etc, write card for vet
Bag above, so they are ready to take.
Ask DH to get wicker tray that holds my Christmas storage tins down from the loft (probably tomorrow?)t
Maybe do a little with the photos?
Have a look at those kitchen curtains?
Not Christmas related, but can I wash the filters on all the hoovers?
Garden extras:
Feed pot in front garden that I forgot yesterday!
Cuddles and treats with Matilda,
Freddie and Jude QT
Update latest Waitrose order
Cup of tea
Get up!
Shower/wash hair/moisturiser and sunblock/ clean and floss teeth
S/S bathroom
Physio exercises
Get dressed in casual clothes
Make bed
DH launched for a day out with his DBro
Scoop cat trays and give everyone fresh water
Cat breakfast and meds /supplements
Breakfast and meds /vitamins for me
Quick kitchen clean up
Load DW
Quick PUPA downstairs
Quick dust and Hoover downstairs
Wind clock
Quick PUPA upstairs
Quick dust bedrooms
15 minutes in tiny front garden
15 minutes in back garden
Go for my walk
Walk Freddie
Lap time with Freddie, Jude
and Matilda
Head rubs with Freddie, Jude and Matilda
Play with Freddie, Jude and Matilda
Run DW when full
Unload DW
Lunch
Cats' supper
Our supper
Sort out lunch for tomorrow
Bake something?
Text DF E re coffee tomorrow
First load of towels in machine
Towels hung up to dry
2nd load of towels in machine to wash overnight
Clothes laid out for tomorrow
Extras:
Wrap DH's birthday presents
Write card
Shoebox - can I at least make a start?
Write cards for church friends? ( They don't need a copy of the newsletter that DH is supposed to be writing!)
Write cards for neighbours
Sort out chocolates for vet practice, hairdresser etc, write card for vet
Bag above, so they are ready to take.
Ask DH to get wicker tray that holds my Christmas storage tins down from the loft (probably tomorrow?)t
Maybe do a little with the photos?
Have a look at those kitchen curtains?
Not Christmas related, but can I wash the filters on all the hoovers?
Garden extras:
Feed pot in front garden that I forgot yesterday!
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FrenchFlybebe
- Member
- Posts: 669
- Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2025 7:11 am
Re: Samhain Saturday
◕‿◕ * * * Good Morning! * * * ◕‿◕
Kittykatt thanks for the start and for widening my knowledge about Samhain.
At DS7's handball class. Rainy Saturday. Long list of todos, many of them season-related.
Hope to bbl.
Kittykatt thanks for the start and for widening my knowledge about Samhain.
At DS7's handball class. Rainy Saturday. Long list of todos, many of them season-related.
Hope to bbl.
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Kittykatt
- Member
- Posts: 4806
- Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2025 5:10 pm
Re: Samhain Saturday
Good morning, FFB! We're weather twins today, although I think our rain *may* clear up later, so I'll try and have a walk round the estate to get some fresh air.
DH has left for his day out with DBIL, so I need to stop planning and start doing!
DH has left for his day out with DBIL, so I need to stop planning and start doing!
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trissie
- Member
- Posts: 1794
- Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2025 6:03 am
Re: Samhain Saturday
kittykatt, I vote for the gingerbread men! 
Frenchie, is there any baking-ahead that you could do with the boys? I know that the baking madness is pretty unique to Czechs and Slovaks and most nations make do with maybe some frosted cookies, gingerbread and a dessert for the Christmas table.
It's the photoshoot day. I spent a long time in the bathroom pampering myself to get a healthy glow, but the rest will be up to Mr. Factor, Ms. Astor and all the other wonderful people in that line of business
Tomorrow, I want to start Operation Bakerfield, so need to make the doughs tonight, but with the help of my trusted food processor it won't take too much time. For now, I am going to get going on cleaning and laundry, as that's a neverending story!
TaDas
- pampered to shoes
- breakfast and coffee
- internet time
ToDos
- morning routine
- 30 on laundry
- 3x5 on most offending tables - DBD, craft table in master bedroom, office
Braindump
routines
- midday routine
- afternoon routine
- evening routine
food
- lunch
- dinner
- bake something sweet
- freezer cooking
- make doughs for cookies
organization
- photo shoot
- trip to mall on the way home - do we feel brave enough? but one of the twins needs a new winter jacket and nobody's ski pants probably fit
- email to school
- call seller re: do they have power of attorney yet?
- house insurance status?
- rework contract with DS14's therapist
- review meds and order
- book order
- homework and backpacks
- DBD's speech therapy
- 15 on filing
cleaning
- strip and remake all beds
- spiff up twins' room
- spiff up DBD's room
- spiff up DS13's room
- spiff up master bedroom
- spiff up master bathroom
- spiff up kitchen
- spiff up living room
- spiff up office
- spiff up downstairs bathroom and hallways
laundry
- load of cleaning rags
- load of lights
- load of colors
- ironing
- folding
- mending
- laundry put away
me time
- 15 of exercise
- Bible study
- reading
House&Holidays - I kinda really should do something about it
- week 1 deep cleaning - office
- week 3 deep cleaning - DBD's room
- week 5 deep cleaning - DS14's room
- week 6 deep cleaning - twins' room
- week 7 deep cleaning - master bathroom
- week 9 deep cleaning - living bathroom
- week 10 deep cleaning - kitchen
- week 11 deep cleaning - pantry
- week 13 deep cleaning - storage spaces
- week 2 Christmas tasks
- week 3 Christmas tasks
- week 4 Christmas tasks
- week 5 Christmas tasks
- week 6 Christmas tasks
- week 7 Christmas tasks
- week 8 Christmas tasks
- week 9 Christmas tasks
- week 10 Christmas tasks
- week 11 Christmas tasks
- week 12 Christmas tasks
- week 13 Christmas tasks
Frenchie, is there any baking-ahead that you could do with the boys? I know that the baking madness is pretty unique to Czechs and Slovaks and most nations make do with maybe some frosted cookies, gingerbread and a dessert for the Christmas table.
It's the photoshoot day. I spent a long time in the bathroom pampering myself to get a healthy glow, but the rest will be up to Mr. Factor, Ms. Astor and all the other wonderful people in that line of business
Tomorrow, I want to start Operation Bakerfield, so need to make the doughs tonight, but with the help of my trusted food processor it won't take too much time. For now, I am going to get going on cleaning and laundry, as that's a neverending story!
TaDas
- pampered to shoes
- breakfast and coffee
- internet time
ToDos
- morning routine
- 30 on laundry
- 3x5 on most offending tables - DBD, craft table in master bedroom, office
Braindump
routines
- midday routine
- afternoon routine
- evening routine
food
- lunch
- dinner
- bake something sweet
- freezer cooking
- make doughs for cookies
organization
- photo shoot
- trip to mall on the way home - do we feel brave enough? but one of the twins needs a new winter jacket and nobody's ski pants probably fit
- email to school
- call seller re: do they have power of attorney yet?
- house insurance status?
- rework contract with DS14's therapist
- review meds and order
- book order
- homework and backpacks
- DBD's speech therapy
- 15 on filing
cleaning
- strip and remake all beds
- spiff up twins' room
- spiff up DBD's room
- spiff up DS13's room
- spiff up master bedroom
- spiff up master bathroom
- spiff up kitchen
- spiff up living room
- spiff up office
- spiff up downstairs bathroom and hallways
laundry
- load of cleaning rags
- load of lights
- load of colors
- ironing
- folding
- mending
- laundry put away
me time
- 15 of exercise
- Bible study
- reading
House&Holidays - I kinda really should do something about it
- week 1 deep cleaning - office
- week 3 deep cleaning - DBD's room
- week 5 deep cleaning - DS14's room
- week 6 deep cleaning - twins' room
- week 7 deep cleaning - master bathroom
- week 9 deep cleaning - living bathroom
- week 10 deep cleaning - kitchen
- week 11 deep cleaning - pantry
- week 13 deep cleaning - storage spaces
- week 2 Christmas tasks
- week 3 Christmas tasks
- week 4 Christmas tasks
- week 5 Christmas tasks
- week 6 Christmas tasks
- week 7 Christmas tasks
- week 8 Christmas tasks
- week 9 Christmas tasks
- week 10 Christmas tasks
- week 11 Christmas tasks
- week 12 Christmas tasks
- week 13 Christmas tasks
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Kittykatt
- Member
- Posts: 4806
- Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2025 5:10 pm
Re: Samhain Saturday
Good morning, Trissie! I'm sure your family will pull.oit the stops (guided by you, or course!) and look both beautiful and angelic for the photoshoot. I'm so glad you took time to pamper you first!
The rain has stopped and we even have a watery sun. So, I think I also need to prioritise me and get outside for a walk. (Only round the estate, as the valley park will be far too soggy, but it's still fresh air, daylight and exercise. )
The rain has stopped and we even have a watery sun. So, I think I also need to prioritise me and get outside for a walk. (Only round the estate, as the valley park will be far too soggy, but it's still fresh air, daylight and exercise.
)-
trissie
- Member
- Posts: 1794
- Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2025 6:03 am
Re: Samhain Saturday
Exercise is exercise, wherever it happens, kittykatt!
TaDas
- morning routine
- 30 on laundry
- 3x5 on most offending tables - DBD, craft table in master bedroom, office
- lunch started
ToDos
- midday routine
- laundry delivery
- gather all fall/Halloween decoration and take it to attic and bring back box(es) of Christmas decors
Braindump
routines
- midday routine
- afternoon routine
- evening routine
food
- lunch
- dinner
- bake something sweet
- freezer cooking
- make doughs for cookies
organization
- photo shoot
- trip to mall on the way home - do we feel brave enough? but one of the twins needs a new winter jacket and nobody's ski pants probably fit
- email to school
- call seller re: do they have power of attorney yet?
- house insurance status?
- rework contract with DS14's therapist
- review meds and order
- book order
- homework and backpacks
- DBD's speech therapy
- 15 on filing
cleaning
- strip and remake all beds
- spiff up twins' room
- spiff up DBD's room
- spiff up DS13's room
- spiff up master bedroom
- spiff up master bathroom
- spiff up kitchen
- spiff up living room
- spiff up office
- spiff up downstairs bathroom and hallways
laundry
- load of cleaning rags
- load of darks
- load of linens
- load of towels
- ironing
- folding
- mending
- laundry put away
me time
- 15 of exercise
- Bible study
- reading
House&Holidays - I kinda really should do something about it
- week 1 deep cleaning - office
- week 3 deep cleaning - DBD's room
- week 5 deep cleaning - DS14's room
- week 6 deep cleaning - twins' room
- week 7 deep cleaning - master bathroom
- week 9 deep cleaning - living bathroom
- week 10 deep cleaning - kitchen
- week 11 deep cleaning - pantry
- week 13 deep cleaning - storage spaces
- week 2 Christmas tasks
- week 3 Christmas tasks
- week 4 Christmas tasks
- week 5 Christmas tasks
- week 6 Christmas tasks
- week 7 Christmas tasks
- week 8 Christmas tasks
- week 9 Christmas tasks
- week 10 Christmas tasks
- week 11 Christmas tasks
- week 12 Christmas tasks
- week 13 Christmas tasks
TaDas
- morning routine
- 30 on laundry
- 3x5 on most offending tables - DBD, craft table in master bedroom, office
- lunch started
ToDos
- midday routine
- laundry delivery
- gather all fall/Halloween decoration and take it to attic and bring back box(es) of Christmas decors
Braindump
routines
- midday routine
- afternoon routine
- evening routine
food
- lunch
- dinner
- bake something sweet
- freezer cooking
- make doughs for cookies
organization
- photo shoot
- trip to mall on the way home - do we feel brave enough? but one of the twins needs a new winter jacket and nobody's ski pants probably fit
- email to school
- call seller re: do they have power of attorney yet?
- house insurance status?
- rework contract with DS14's therapist
- review meds and order
- book order
- homework and backpacks
- DBD's speech therapy
- 15 on filing
cleaning
- strip and remake all beds
- spiff up twins' room
- spiff up DBD's room
- spiff up DS13's room
- spiff up master bedroom
- spiff up master bathroom
- spiff up kitchen
- spiff up living room
- spiff up office
- spiff up downstairs bathroom and hallways
laundry
- load of cleaning rags
- load of darks
- load of linens
- load of towels
- ironing
- folding
- mending
- laundry put away
me time
- 15 of exercise
- Bible study
- reading
House&Holidays - I kinda really should do something about it
- week 1 deep cleaning - office
- week 3 deep cleaning - DBD's room
- week 5 deep cleaning - DS14's room
- week 6 deep cleaning - twins' room
- week 7 deep cleaning - master bathroom
- week 9 deep cleaning - living bathroom
- week 10 deep cleaning - kitchen
- week 11 deep cleaning - pantry
- week 13 deep cleaning - storage spaces
- week 2 Christmas tasks
- week 3 Christmas tasks
- week 4 Christmas tasks
- week 5 Christmas tasks
- week 6 Christmas tasks
- week 7 Christmas tasks
- week 8 Christmas tasks
- week 9 Christmas tasks
- week 10 Christmas tasks
- week 11 Christmas tasks
- week 12 Christmas tasks
- week 13 Christmas tasks
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FrenchFlybebe
- Member
- Posts: 669
- Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2025 7:11 am
Re: Samhain Saturday
kittykatt, sorry for the soggy neighbourhood. It's soggy here too, the rain will stop this afternoon and there may be sun tomorrow, but not enough to dry things out. Enjoy the quiet house !
trissie who are the Factor and Astor ? As for baking, this is last on my to-do list
. I sometimes do bake, because I enjoy it, but it's not a French tradition. We won't see many people around Christmas, so that means we would have to eat what we bake : I'd rather not have sugarified kids inside (by ugly weather) and I don't want to eat too sugary, for my weight and also for my acne-prone skin. And also, how could we keep all the baked goodies safe during four weeks ?? I wonder how you manage. Or maybe you eat baked things during Advent weeks as well ?
Enjoy the photo shooting!
Back from sports. DS9 had his athletics training under the rain. All he kids came back at the stadium, from the woods, soaking wet, their coach is a running-addict and he thinks it's good for them. Now his sport shoes are dripping in the LR and there's mist in the bathroom from his very long shower.
MrNG decided to batch cook a lot of veggies for our packed lunches of the week - he's spent quite a while in the kitchen, it smells rather good, he is checking things on the internet before adding ingredients to the steaming pot... but when I asked he said "oh, well, after we eat some of it for lunch, I think we can make two lunchboxes with that". I think the concept of batch-cooking is lost on him.
TADAs
morning rush, kids to sports at S---, kids back
managed a trip to our favorite baker's while there
MrNG got the weekly grocery order home, and cooked lunch, and some extra
DS7's dripping clothes and shoes sorted, some of them drying
TODO
start a lol
help MrNG finish getting the meal ready ?
eat, cleanup, prepare lunchboxes
later
consider some more cooking ahead
review lists with the kids
relax, clean some, maybe order a few items online?
update the holiday spreadsheet
family movie night : decide on a movie, prepare a nice dessert, put store-bought pizzas in the oven
review to-do list and planner
enjoy family movie night
trissie who are the Factor and Astor ? As for baking, this is last on my to-do list
. I sometimes do bake, because I enjoy it, but it's not a French tradition. We won't see many people around Christmas, so that means we would have to eat what we bake : I'd rather not have sugarified kids inside (by ugly weather) and I don't want to eat too sugary, for my weight and also for my acne-prone skin. And also, how could we keep all the baked goodies safe during four weeks ?? I wonder how you manage. Or maybe you eat baked things during Advent weeks as well ?Enjoy the photo shooting!
Back from sports. DS9 had his athletics training under the rain. All he kids came back at the stadium, from the woods, soaking wet, their coach is a running-addict and he thinks it's good for them. Now his sport shoes are dripping in the LR and there's mist in the bathroom from his very long shower.
MrNG decided to batch cook a lot of veggies for our packed lunches of the week - he's spent quite a while in the kitchen, it smells rather good, he is checking things on the internet before adding ingredients to the steaming pot... but when I asked he said "oh, well, after we eat some of it for lunch, I think we can make two lunchboxes with that". I think the concept of batch-cooking is lost on him.
TADAs
morning rush, kids to sports at S---, kids back
managed a trip to our favorite baker's while there
MrNG got the weekly grocery order home, and cooked lunch, and some extra
DS7's dripping clothes and shoes sorted, some of them drying
TODO
start a lol
help MrNG finish getting the meal ready ?
eat, cleanup, prepare lunchboxes
later
consider some more cooking ahead
review lists with the kids
relax, clean some, maybe order a few items online?
update the holiday spreadsheet
family movie night : decide on a movie, prepare a nice dessert, put store-bought pizzas in the oven
review to-do list and planner
enjoy family movie night