What are your plans/traditions for Samhain/Hallowmas...?

I am trying to think of some good alternative activities for Saturday
For both me & the kids...any links to good stories or pagan type activities ?

Do you have any special rituals that you do for yourself ...?

I would like to perhaps perform something solo in the evening or even during the day to honor the holy-day..

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This is also a nice "Halloween Check-In" thread for many of us who participate in the event & season with a diferent perspective.







:D

When I was still in the coven, there was usually a class to initiate. And we used to draw down the moon if there was a full one, make mulled wine or cider, share harvest-type foods like apple pie (my specialty) and a ridiculous number of sweets, play on the witch board, etc.

But I really haven't done anything specific on Samhain since I left. Then again, there really isn't much time with a little one jonesing to head out for trick-or-treating, and an absolutely insane number of kids coming to the door (I bought 18 bags of candy this year and I'm worried we're going to run out). Just like me to move to a neighborhood where Halloween is legend!
:rofl:

and most likely hubby will have them over the course of the year.

LOL...

We didn't even get our nextdoor neighbors as trick-or-treaters. So this was QUITE a change. Kids get bused into our neighborhood, and they come so steadily that you can't even leave the front door--we tend to sit on the front steps because opening the screen door nonstop becomes tedious.

The first year we lived here, we ran out of candy (something a friend of mine who's lived here for years warned me NOT to EVER do), but being "out of candy" does. not. compute. It was like being in a zombie movie--no matter what we did, the kids kept coming. Closed the door and turned of the porch light...knock knock knock. Turned out the lights in the living room and foyer...knock knock knock. Put up a sign on the door that said "Out of candy--sorry"...knock knock knock and "Mommy, what does this sign say?"
:rofl:

Needless to say, I have learned my lesson and then some. In the event of some freak event that would prevent the hundreds of kids coming...like...oh, I don't know...a nuclear holocaust...I tend to buy candy that we like to eat, so we can nosh on the leftovers. But we don't dare indulge during prime trick-or-treating hours; that Snickers we snuck might mean the difference between survival and being overwhelmed by the zombie hordes denied candy!

the year of 9.11, safest place in town. So I bought twenty bags and managed to run out. Yep, I get it.

Enjoy...

Me, got one packet just in case the condo kids go treat o treating.

As I said, Tom will have them over the course of the year...

We live in a large condo complex but have surprisingly few kids come trick or treating. I am always disappointed, for my husband mostly, because he loves to see the kids come and give them candy, really gets into the Halloween spirit and I love seeing him like that.

So we will have some candy, a few kiddies stopping by, then settle in and watch the Kentucky vs Mississippi St. football game on TV, and if I go outside I can hear the football game noise drifting over from the stadium, LOL; I kind of love stepping outside and hearing the sound of a stadium full of people a few miles away!

Maybe if I can remember when I am shopping on Saturday I can get some cool autumn foods and spice up our football watching!! It's supposed to get a bit cool again on Saturday and the leaves are falling everywhere now. Autumn indeed!!!

Enjoy

:hi: I've been freezing all week up here in the North County...brrr...

:-)

We should have a SDC DU Reunion, I swear. We are spread to the four winds of the county

When my sister and I first moved here 13years ago, we use to laugh at some San Diegans wearing winter coats in 65-degree winter weather. I'll never forget one lady wearing fur boots! Oh, how weak they are, we snickered. Within two years, we were the coldest of the bunch down in PB.

Hey, DUers spread throughout this county certainly helped turned it blue! I couldn't believe we'd moved to a place with sooooo many republicans. Didn't think of the politics when we moved - especially coming from a Dem state - would have gone straight to L.A. :rofl: It was scary during the Bush years, being shushed all the time - protective friends - for speaking out against him. Glad those days are over. But then we move to Fallbrook, charming but good God, I'm surrounded by them again. Must be a lesson for me in there somewhere.

it was at a mickey D s there that I snickered at a Blackwater merc for ahem being a merc, and shamed him (and family, I felt sorry for kids) out of the place. To my surprise others in the place called him on his ahem... being a blood money soldier.

I used to play BatteTech... and I thought to myself, I never thought I'd see in real life what was described in fiction.

:rofl: I was so happy for that town. They just weren't having it.

Poway is nice :) Husband used to work there. Didn't realize how really old it is until I caught it on KPBS's Wonderland one night.

on edit: spelling

housing in Germany in the 1960s. What a load of fun! We came home with large paper grocery sacks full of loot.

on Saturdays. But at least I'll get to help my 15year old stepdaughter get ready for a party. She's going as some kind of sexy zombie slayer and we've had no luck finding black fishnet stockings that she wants to rip bigger patches of holes in anyway :crazy: :rofl:

You should be able to get them at a theater/costume supply or even the seasonal costume shops that pop up like mushrooms at this time of year. Or do you have a :blush: Frederick's of Hollywood store near you? We used to have one in our mall years ago--or hey, perhaps a Spencer's? (The place with the black light posters and stuff.)

Must be popular item for Halloween. Didn't even think about Fredericks. Never heard of Spencer's but searched and lo, there's one close by!
Thank you, Dear Girl :hug:

on edit: spelling

Hope they have some! :hi:

after the Day of the Dead. (Which is my Birthday!!!!!!!!!) The most creative time for me really. I am a recluse. Basically.

but don't have time for anymore--I used to carve really elaborate pumpkins as a meditation and homage to the sabbat. But instead of scary faces, I'd do witchy-themed ones, like a cat silhouetted in front of a full moon, a woman in a gown with sparks coming out of her wand, etc. Whatever I was inspired to create. I wish I could share some with you (Mr. MG took photos of all my pumpkins), but all the photos are hard copies, and we don't have a scanner. :(