Cover of Boo! (Halloween Glow Books)

Why should this be any different than other years? Well, for starters, our role in what we do for Halloween may change. For instance someone could decide that they no longer wanna be the Grim Reaper for Halloween and instead choose Batman, or a Transformers character. We may have transcended from the stage of hoarding candy to being stuck at home, playing video games and handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters. Or, we may just be starting the whole bussiness of running from house to house collecting an assortment of chips, candy, chocolate and everything else sold from the drugstore/local supermarket.

But I have to say, this time around, my Halloween went a bit differently than I thought it would go. Firstly, I had a friend celebrating his Birthday on this ghoulish day, not only leaving me with cake, chocolate, pop and spring rolls, but also that stomach ache that tells me I ate too much. Other than that, I was buffeted with the usual ‘Trick-Or-Treat’ sayings, giving others a laugh by saying things like ‘Merry Christmasn’ instead of ‘Happy Halloween’. A sore arm from carrying my bag of candy, a hot and sweaty face from keeping my mask on too long, and a feeling of dizziness told me that this trip would be over soon.

Getting back home, eating some candy, and more stomach aches later, I knew that the suffering was well worth the reward. It had been a Halloween that I could actually spend with friends instead of just going it alone, and my first real Birthday party since my ex-friends dumped me a while back. Moral of the story? No matter what happens, make sure to have fun, make other people laugh, and stay safe no matter where you go. A glow stick and an aluminum bag should suffice. Oh, and one more thing: it doesn’t matter if you eat the red ones last, they all taste the same anyways.

In 1917 the Cottingley fairies were shown in nearly every British newspaper, and most around the world. Alas! the photographs were fake and the young sisters Elsie and Francis were found out. The “fairies” were only magazine cut outs placed strategically around their cottage garden. But nevertheless the hoax revived interest in fairies once again.

Fairy Folk

So what are fairies really?

Collectivelly, they are known as Fairy-Folk, and are the last survivors of a race of tiny beings who inhabited the islands of Great Britain many years ago. They have been within the islands for centuries and much is known about them.

Ancient Brit’s were aware of a presence within their communities; a magical presence who occupied the Other world. Normally they were invisible, but often they would make themselves visible to humans, and not necessarily for the good.

Today, most imagine Fairy-Folk to be small graceful creatures equipped with beautiful gossamer butterfly wings, flitting around waving magic wands, and doing nothing but good deeds for people.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Portunes

They are not a homogenous race; far from it. Their stature and features are very different to humans. The Portunes for example are about two centimetres (about a half inch) in height, and some are even smaller. Other Fairy-Folk are much taller, even reaching to the height of a human.

Fairy Types

There are nice ones, bad ones, beautiful and plain ones. Some have stupid looks, whilst others are downright ugly and repulsive looking. They all make up the fairy race living in the Other world or Underworld. Eventually after much classification and labelling by the ancients, depending on shape size or form; they were called elves, pixies, changelings, gnomes, goblins etc. The list goes on.

Many more exist throughout the British Isles. Ireland have their own little mischievous leprechauns, and the county of Cornwall is home to the lovely little piskies who bring luck to the thousands of “grockles” (holiday makers) every summer, and over the centuries Fairy-Folk have managed to populate countries around the world, by travelling on plants, and herbs. A good many Fairy-Folk found in the United States of America can be traced back to their origins in the United Kingdom.

Evil Demons

The Other world has always been ruled by kings and queens. One such immortal Welsh fairy king was called Gwyn ap Nudd who was overlord of Annwfn the demon world. It is said God appointed Gwyn to keep the evil demons under control lest they destroy the world.

Gwyn ruled Annwfn from Glastonbury Tor, England one of the entrances to the Underworld. His throne was golden, surrounded by courtiers, musicians and beautiful dancing maidens. But it was rumoured Gwyn was in collusion with the demons and up to no good. Collen, a Welsh saint climbed the Tor and confronted Gwyn in his hell hole, and getting no satisfaction, sprinkled holy water around the room. Immediately the scene disappeared and Collen stood alone on top of Glastonbury Tor.

Fairy Language

If you look around you may find hollow hills, which are really entrances to the Other world where Fairy-Folk live in a different space and time to humans. If one does appear to you they will speak in a kind of ancient Trojan language which many say formed the basis for all British dialects spoken today.

Changelings

But beware! They often lure humans inside of these hollows and you may find it difficult to escape.

A Scottish bard, Thomas the Rhymer once thought he had lived with Fairy-Folk for years after entering a hollow hill, but when he emerged he had been gone only days. Such is the way their space and time disorientates you.

Iron is their greatest fear. It is also your best defence; probably your only one too. An iron charm is a potent weapon to use against any really nasty Fairy-Folk, especially those who steal children away for breeding purposes, and replacing them with changelings. Placing an iron charm on your children’s bedroom door will keep any fairy demons at bay. Or better still, have your child wear something made of iron.

The wearing of green clothing is unwise when Fairy-Folk are known to be around. Green is their special colour and to wear it is an open invitation for them to lure you into their world and offer you food. To eat with them is to become their prisoner forever. Refuse any food offered.

Good Fairies

There are many good fairies, some are exceptionally good, kind and benevolent. Many of these live unseen in old fireplaces and kitchen cupboards, often giving a helping hand when one is tired. They will stay there quite happily for years if their area is kept clean, but beware if it isn’t. Even benevolent Fairy-Folk can cast nasty spells when upset.

***

Yes! Sir J. M. Barrie had it right when he buried the dark fearful legends of the Fairy-Folk and their Other world in the enchanting “make-believe” story of Peter Pan and Wendy. He created a world of wonder for every child.

Even the two young sisters, Elsie and Francis from Cottingley, England unknowingly had it right too. They gave everyone the “fairyland” they wanted.

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It’s that time of year again when it’s time for the witches, goblins and scary monsters to take to the streets.

The little eyes sparkling as the costumes are put on, the trips around the neighbourhood to smiling neighbours’ homes, decorated with shining Halloween lanterns.

This year, why not raise the game and throw a few classic quotes into the mix.

By memorising and using the following examples, I’m sure your family and neighbours will remember it for years to come.

Okay let’s begin. Start by practising on your partner.

Its Halloween morning and you’ve’ just got up. Your other half announces that they have received a letter. Here’s your chance, start with a simple film quote:

“You got a letter? I got run over; Helen gets her hair chopped off. Julie gets a dead body in her trunk, and you got a letter?? Oh, that’s balanced.”

Whatever the reaction you get, ignore it and stay determined, and as you take your shower try not to let your mind dwell on the film “Psycho.”

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Now it’s that time when the little angels are putting on their costumes, full of excitement for the evening to come.

You want them to make a good a good impression and to return home with arms full of goodies.

Get them to memorise the following line which you insist they must use when the welcoming door is opened to them:

“I have come here to chew bubblegum or kick ass, and I’m all out of bubble gum.”

 That should work.

What about you? How should you answer the door for maximum effect, to the little faces full of anticipation, waiting outside your door?

 Suddenly throw open the door, and with sheer terror in your voice bellow:

 “Angels and ministers of grace defend us!
Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn’d,
Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell
Be thy intents wicked or charitable?”

Oh joy. Look how they join in the fun, by screaming and running away.

The children have come home and its time for the party to begin.

What better way to open the proceedings by announcing to the assembly

“’Tis now the very witching time of night
When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood,
And do such bitter business as the day
Would quake to look on.”

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It’s a pity so many friends and neighbours had to leave early. But they all gave very sound reasons so that’s okay.

Now it time for your final quote .

You take the biggest  sharpest carving knife you can find and raising it high above the Halloween cake; you cry:

“Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,
To cry ‘Hold, hold!’ “

Oh. Everyone appears to have gone to bed. Oh well seems a shame to waste a good cake.

As you lie in bed with a comfortably full stomach, you smile to yourself, your mind running over what a great day you’ve had.

Your partner’s obviously enjoyed it because they have had such a good time they are too tired to talk to you and have their back to you. And okay the kids came home with tears on their cheeks because the neighbours slammed the door in their faces. But you made that right by giving them all the treats that you hadn’t had to give out.

Okay your family did behave a little oddly during the day, peering nervously around doors at you, but that’s just Halloween.

So the kids are now snug and safely tucked up in their beds.

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(What you don’t know  is that they have the covers pulled well up over their heads,

“Like one, that on a lonesome road
Doth walk in fear and dread,
And having once turned round walks on,
And turns no more his head ;
Because he knows, a frightful fiend
Doth close behind him tread.”)

And as you start to drift off into a self-satisfied sleep, try not to think of that line from “A Nightmare on Elm Street” – “Whatever you do don’t fall asleep”.

The author does not take any responsibility for what happens to anyone who follows this advice!

Quotations used:

“You got a letter?…..” Film: I Know What You Did Last Summer

“I have come here to chew bubblegum…” Film: They Live

  “By the pricking of my thumbs”,  “Angels and ministers…” and “’Tis now the very witching time of night”

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

“Come, thick night,….. Macbeth by William Shakespeare
“Like one, that on a lonesome road…” The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Now that I have kids of my own, we decorate our house with spider webs, skeletons, jack-o-lanterns, spiders,  etc.  We have a redwood bear on the porch and every year I put a ghoulish costume on it and it looks like a little ghoul standing by the door.  On halloween night, my husband takes the kids trick-or-treating and I dress up and stay home to pass out candy.   The favorite of kids so far is when I dressed up as a witch. I put a dark fabric over a table on the porch, placed three green glow sticks in a triangle on top of the table and placed my large plastic cauldron on top of that.  I used a black ladle to hand out the candy to kids.  The cauldron looked like it was flaoting when seen from the street! 

Another Halloween tradition that I have participated in involves all your neighbors and friends.  Not everyone likes it but it can be kind of fun.  It is called Booing someone.  Here’s how it works.  You make a sign that says “I’ve Been Booed” with a picture of a ghost on it.  Then you make a note that says something like, ” You’ve been booed!  Keep the fun going and boo three more people.  Make three copies of the sign and this letter and place them in a Halloween gift bag.  Buy an inexpensive decoration or treat for each bag.  After dark, sneak up to your “victim’s” house place the bag on the porch and knock or ring the doorbell, then run and hide.  Be sure to put the sign on your front door so you don’t get booed again!  Happy Halloween!”

I have actually gotten some really cute decorations this way!  

How do you spend Halloween Night?  I encourage you to use the comments section to share with me and everyone else, your favorite memory or how you decorate, if at all.  Have fun with it and watch out for those little ghosts and goblins on Halloween!

Graveyards, haunted houses, ancient archaeological sites, your house! Ghosts, goblins, spirits, angels, ghouls, phantoms. No matter the name, they have been with us since the beginning of time. The list is endless of where these pesky spirits will appear, when you least expect it. Some of you may not admit to it, but you’ve listened to the late night radio show on the AM dial, Coast to Coast. This is the time of year when the host will have several shows on the paranormal. Hundreds of listeners call in with their personal experiences with ghosts.

Are all of these witnesses nut cases? One sandwich short of a picnic? If you listen to them tell of their experiences, they sound sincere, some still scared, even years later. Everyone knows the feeling of the hair on your arms standing straight up. The shiver that goes right up your spine. There is an old expression regarding that feeling, “Someone is walking over your grave”. Have you experienced the feeling that someone was looking at you only to turn around and no one is there. That creeps me out.

I have been fortunate to live in what we call the mystery house. Our spirit visitors love to play pranks. Lately it’s been moving the dog and cat food into the middle of the kitchen floor. Not an easy feat even for the living, the bowels are wedged into a space, not easily moved, not to mention moving them about 5 feet without spilling a drop. I’ve been sitting at my desk and watched items fly off the desk and land on the floor behind me. How about walking into a room and find that your drapes have been re-hung, inside out?

Scared? No. Occasionally annoyed? Yes. During a particularly active period of ghost activity, it can start to get unnerving but it never gets dull. We have had people in our lives who were pranksters who have now passed on, so we chose to believe that it’s one of our loved ones, letting us know that we are not alone.

Our pets see the ghosts frequently. One of them will start barking at the corner of the room and then sit and stare at it. We can’t see a thing, but the animals know someone is there. I can actually say that I have seen a ghost, spirit, nonliving person, whatever you are comfortable calling them. I looked out my bedroom door into the next room and saw a woman standing there in a long antique beige dress. It had a high collar with lace on the bodice and it draped on the floor. She had her hair piled on top of her head. As I stood there, staring with my mouth open, she started to fade and finally left as quietly as she had appeared.

Am I crazy? No more so than you. We can learn from those around us. The living and the “not quite” living. After all, aren’t we all just spirits? Some still in these aging bodies and some who have been liberated.

As Halloween approaches, let the little Trick or Treaters, ghosts, goblins and scary monsters have their goodies and enjoy their childhood while they can. The real show is all around you, if you keep an open mind and heart. Boo!