Welcome to Brothers and Sisters, the weekly meetup for prayer* and community at Daily Kos. We put an asterisk on pray* to acknowledge that not everyone uses conventional religious language, but may want to share joys and concerns, or simply take solace in a meditative atmosphere. Anyone who comes in the spirit of mutual respect, warmth and healing is welcome.
Good evening all and happy early Samhain. For those that do not know Samhain is an ancient Gaelic holiday that celebrates the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The holiday has traditionally lasted from sunset of October 31st to sunset of Novemeber 1st. While other Gaelic holidays were about the living (especially Beltane) Samhain has long been a holiday for the dead. The exact historical customs of Samhain are hard to figure out as Gaelic culture was mostly oral and Christianity did a rather through job, as such when the Gaelic traditions started to be revived there's been a lot of guess work about the holiday.
For myself when I initially celebrated Samhain simply as a day of remembrance, a day to remember those no longer with us. As time has progressed though my celebration of the day has evolved. I still have my remembrance of the dead but I also celebrate the time for it's significance in being halfway between Autumn equinox and Winter Solstice (which is to me the start of the new year). But my definition of remembrance has also expanded a bit. For me this is the time of the year I spend in reflection, upon what I have done, could have done and should have done. It's when I reflect upon what I have gained and what I have lost. To me this is both my most favorite day of the year except for the start of Spring and one of my least favorite.
And so tonight perhaps we all could spend a moment in reflection? I honestly hesitate to ask as it feels like a demand and I don't like demands but then again this holiday more then any brings out the more serious side of me. And if not I hope all who go trick or treating have lots of fun