History of Halloween
October 31, 2009
Sorry this is a bit long, but I thought it was appropriate for the day!
There are many fun and interesting facts about Halloween that few people are aware of. The history of Halloween began in ancient times with the Celts living on the British Isles. The Pagan calendar had October 31st as the last day of the year called Samhain. Celtic priests called Druids honored their god of death, known as Samhain, on the night of the 31st. The Celtic people believed that the spirits of the dead would rise on this night and wore costumes to scare them away, meanwhile the Druid priests would burn large fires. After the Roman empire gained control of the region Samhain also became a harvest festival honoring the goddess Pomona, the goddess of fruits and gardens. Apples were considered sacred at this time, and this was eventually where the tradition of bobbing for apples came from. The colors associated with Halloween came from this festival with orange representing the harvest and black representing death.
With the rise of Christianity the celebration under-went more changes. The first day of November for the Christians was known as All Saints Day. This was originally called All Allows Day. That made October 31st All Allows Eve. That is how Halloween got it’s name. The people of Ireland and Scotland continued pagan practices for a long time after the introduction of Christianity helping to continue the traditions of Halloween. When Irish immigrants came to the United States they brought their Halloween traditions and costumes with them, helping to spread the holiday as we now know it.
These days around eighty-six percent of Americans decorate for Halloween, and ninety-nine percent of America’s pumpkins are used for Jack-o-lanterns. Trick-or-treating is also credited to the Irish people, they would go door to door gathering food contributions for the Halloween feast that was held in the towns. Jack-o-lanterns began as a method to keep away ghosts. Many people believed that light would frighten away spirits and this began the well known tradition. The first official city wide Halloween observance was in Anoka, Minnesota in 1921. This tradition spread quickly across the United States. Halloween is second only to Christmas as the most commercially popular holiday
Elks Concert Band Plays at St. Mathias
October 29, 2009
At St. Mathias Church in Redwood City we had a great time. Sunday, they had an awesome Halloween Bash for the community. Face painting, great food, etc… The kids had a blast. I look forward to next year’s event.
We had a beautiful sun shining day. 
The kids loved the jumping house and the parent’s loved that they had time to enjoy the outdoors.
I loved this families halloween customes, Dad was the “mean wolf” to blow the little pigs down.
Halloween Fun Facts
October 29, 2009
Jack-o-lanterns trace back to an old Irish tale about a man named Stingy Jack. Unable to enter Heaven because of his stingy ways and turned away by the Devil, Stingy Jack wandered the world, searching for a resting place. To light his way, Stingy Jack used a burning coal in a hollowed out turnip — hence the name “jack-o-lantern.”
Go Latinos!!!
October 28, 2009
For the fourth year in a row, the Festival brings three evenings of incredible, award-winning international Latino films and a fabulous gala kick-off event. The Redwood City International Latino Film Festival offers the best features, shorts, and documentaries from Latin America, Spain, and Latinos in the U.S. All films with English subtitles.
Redwood City is fortunate to be collaborating with Sylvia Perel, the founder and long-time director of the International Latino Film Festival. Sylvia is curating the fabulous selection of movies for our Downtown festival, which celebrates the breadth and diversity of Latino culture through the powerful medium of film.
John Wayne Zink
October 28, 2009
Pioneer Saloon
Redwood City
San Carlos Children’s Theatre
October 28, 2009
San Carlos Children’s Theatre does a terrific job with all their talent and is putting on this play at Heather Elementary School. Please come and see our talented actors and actresses.
November 13, 14, 20 & 21 at 7 PM and
November 15 and 22 at 1 PM
THIS EVENT DESERVES SPECIAL ATTENTION…
October 28, 2009
OK, how many times can you get a pumpkin dropped on your head??? Join me with this just awesome fun time with kids. I wish my daughter was still young and not going to turn 21. Where did the time go???
| Halloween Event and Helicopter Pumpkin Drop Friday, October 30th, 5 PM—8 PM Helicopter Arrives at 6:30 PM Saturday, October 31st, 12 PM—3 PM This info is also on my calendar page…. |
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OK, Harley Fans…Halloween Time is Here!
October 27, 2009
Halloween Lyrics to Christmas Tunes
October 27, 2009
Pumpkin Carols
I’m Dreaming of The Great Pumpkin… I’m dreaming of the Great Pumpkin…Just like I do this time each year…. When he brings nice toys…. To good girls and boys….Who wait for him to appear….I’m dreaming of the Great Pumpkin…With every Pumpkin card I write….May your jack-o’-lanterns burn bright…When the Great Pumpkin visits you tonight.
O Pumpkin Cards! O Pumpkin cards! O Pumpkin cards!
Carry greetings to my friends…Let them know the day is here…When Great Pumpkin will appear….O Pumpkin cards! O Pumpkins Cards!…Carry greetings to my friends!…Pumpkin Bells.
Dashing through the streets…
In our costumes bright and gay…To each house we go…Laughing all the way… .Halloween is here,… Making spirits bright….What fun it is to trick-or-treat…And sing Pumpkin carols tonight!
Oh, Pumpkin bells! Pumpkin bells!
Ringing loud and clear,…Oh, what fun Great Pumpkin brings… When Halloween is here!
Up In The Pumpkin Patch
Up in the pumpkin patch…Witches pause…Out jumps the Great One…Hear the applause?!…Down through the rows…With goodies and toys…All for his followers’…Halloween joys!
Haunt! Haunt! Haunt!
Who wouldn’t want……Haunt! Haunt! Haunt!…Who wouldn’t want……To be in the pumpkin patch?…Cheer! Cheer! Cheer!…Waiting for the Great One…And being sincere!
Pumpkin Wonderland..
Screech owls hoot, are you list’nin’?…Beneath the moon, all is glist’nin’-…A real scarey sight, we’re happy tonight,…Waitin’ in a pumpkin wonderland!…In the patch, we’re watching for Great Pumpkin….We’ve been waiting for this night all year,…For we’ve tried to be nice to everybody…And to grow a pumpkin patch that is sincere…Later on, while we’re ea.tin…What we got trick-or-treating,…We’ll share all our sacks…Of Halloween snacks,…Waitin’ in a pumpkin wonderland!
Great Pumpkin Is Comin’ to Town
Oh, you better not shriek,…You better not groan,…You better not howl,…You better not moan,…Great Pumpkin is comin’ to town!…He’s going to find out…From folks that he meets…Who deserves tricks…And who deserves treats,…Great Pumpkin is comin’ to town!…He’ll search in every pumpkin patch,…Haunted houses far and near,…To see if you’ve been spreading gloom…Or bringing lots of cheer….So, you better not shriek,…You better not groan,…You better not howl,…You better not moan,…Great Pumpkin is comin’ to town!
Hiller Aviation with Jet Pack Show
October 23, 2009
The Jet Pack Show at the Hiller Aviation Museum will showcase two days of nothing but personal vertical flying machines including Jet Packs and Rocket Packs, Ducted Fan flying machines and other various flying machines related to personal vertical flight – James Bond style.
The event consists of lectures, simulators, presentations , displays and even a simulator for any person over 18, and between 150-190 lbs., to attempt to fly!
Jet Packs, rocket belts, rocket packs and a range of similar names are devices usually worn on the back that employ steam to propel the user to fly. The concept of these devices evolved from the 1920’s when Buck Rogers — science fiction comic strip hero — used a rocket pack for travel. The 1965 James Bond film Thunderball is one of several more famous appearances of the technology in film and widely captured the public imagination, as it showed an actual functioning jet pack and its potential usage in espionage. In the movie, the JetPack was actually piloted by Bill Suitor, who will be one of the presenters at this event.
Click here for the Jet Pack Schedule and Displays
Bill will be there for signings also. A great time for all families…
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