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\n(“It’s the best I could do on short notice.” (“Cinderella’s Halloween”) \ud83d\ude09 )<\/p>\n
\n(“It’s the best I could do on short notice.” (“Cinderella’s Halloween”) \ud83d\ude09 )<\/p>\n
Halloween will be different this year.<\/p>\n
Mostly because we’re still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. I don’t know what it’ll look like here in Sauk Centre.<\/p>\n
On the ‘up’ side, common-sense advice is available. Like this excerpt from a CDC page.<\/p>\n How many folks know where to find the common-sense advice is another topic.<\/p>\n I’m also not sure why some Christians get conniptions about this autumn equinox celebration and its pagan roots.<\/p>\n I wouldn’t expect to convince a tightly-wound zealot that kids wearing costumes and collecting candy doesn’t lead to Satanic cults. I’ll grant that some adult costumes are disturbing. And that’s yet another topic.<\/p>\n October 31 is also the feast day of St. Wolfgang of Regensburg, AKA The Almoner.1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Seems that towards the end of his life, Wolfgang of Regensburg decided to become a hermit. Probably due to a political situation.<\/p>\n He’d picked a quiet area, but apparently didn’t know exactly where to put his hermit’s cell. So he prayed, threw an axe, and built his cell where the axe landed.<\/p>\n Time passed. Wolfgang of Regensburg died on October 31, 994. A church near his hermit’s cell became a pilgrimage site. Pilgrimage traffic probably accounts for a town, St. Wolfgang im Salzkammergut, that’s been there since at least 1183.<\/p>\n There’s an axe on display in the town that’s billed as being St. Wolfgang’s.2<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n That could be a problem. Not because it’s a game. The “divination” part. That’s a bad idea on any day of the year. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2116<\/a>)<\/p>\n On the other hand, I participated in apple bobbing as a child and youth; and didn’t get a whiff of the ‘divination’ angle.<\/p>\n Maybe I wasn’t paying attention. Or maybe the ‘divination’ thing has faded from our heritage. At least where apple bobbing is involved. And that’s yet again another topic. Topics.<\/p>\n Then there’s holly, mistletoe and Zagmuk; and that’s still more topics:<\/p>\n <\/a>1<\/sup> A holiday, celebrations and a Saint:<\/p>\n <\/a>2<\/sup> A town and a Catholic perspective:<\/p>\n <\/a>3<\/sup> An old game:<\/p>\n (“It’s the best I could do on short notice.” (“Cinderella’s Halloween”) \ud83d\ude09 ) Halloween will be different this year. Mostly because we’re still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. I don’t know what it’ll look like here in Sauk Centre. Safer … Continue reading ![](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20200519ff\/20201030-Halloween_costume_parade-658.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\")
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<\/a>All Hallow’s Etymology and Equinoctial Attitudes<\/h4>\n
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<\/a>I’m not sure how many folks know that “Halloween” means “All Hallow’s Eve” or “All Saint’s Eve” \u2014 or care where the word comes from.<\/p>\n<\/a>Wolfgang’s Axe<\/h4>\n
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<\/a>There’s a story about him and an axe, which has nothing to do with Halloween or Carrie Nation.<\/p>\n<\/a>Apple Bobbing: My View<\/h4>\n
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<\/a>I’ve read that apple bobbing, a game associated with Halloween, is a divination game.3<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n
\n(October 28, 2020)<\/li>\n
\n(December 24, 2019)<\/li>\n
\n(October 30, 2017)<\/li>\n
\n(October 31, 2016)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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\nSean Fitzpatrick, Crisis Magazine (November 4, 2013)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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