Comments on: The Irish New Year

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:42:19 +0000

Nora, I had been meaning to reply to this and now I have waited too long. I just want you to know that I was very moved by your comment and I did indeed make offerings of food & candy that were then given to kids. My condolences on Jack’s passing. He was, and always will be, a source of inspiration to me, and I made offerings on his behalf today as soon as I got the news.

By: Uncomfortable Questions and a Very Small House « Rogue Priest

Uncomfortable Questions and a Very Small House « Rogue Priest — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:04:55 +0000

[...] now I’m freshly arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana where I am spending Hallowe’en and Samhain. More on that Monday… today I have three things for [...]

By: Nora

Nora — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:20:39 +0000

Hello Mr. Jacob,

This is Jack’s wife Nora. I just wanted to let you know that your lovely gesture has made my husband’s day probably for the rest of the year at least! He’s often too macho to admit it but hearing about kids getting free food always makes him cry. Thank you again, so much!

Nora

By: Matthew Johnston

Matthew Johnston — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:06:27 +0000

Remember sharing many Samhains with you at the Temple and the smell of the burning turnips! May the ancestors and the gods bless you, this sacred season, Drew!

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:17:24 +0000

Jack, based on what you just wrote on the Impossible League, I can see why. I have an even deeper admiration for your ancestors now and I hereby promise to make an offering of food on their behalf. And in the spirit of what they did, I will give it to a child after it is offered :)

Happy holidays my friend!

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:16:10 +0000

I’m spending 10/31 with my Vodouisant friends… not sure how Celtic it will end up being but I’ll gladly report back :)

By: Jack

Jack — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:26:43 +0000

Great post! Very informative. My wife is Catholic so we’re gearing up for All Saint’s and All Souls Days.

Any holiday that remembers the ancestors is a great holiday in my book :)

Jack

By: Tana

Tana — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:25:34 +0000

Thanks. :)

By: Laura M. LaVoie

Laura M. LaVoie — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:04:29 +0000

I love this season. Even when I was little, Halloween was my favorite holiday, I just didn’t fully understand why I was drawn to it so much. Sure, it was a bit about dressing up and getting candy but it felt deeper than that. When I got to college and began exploring Wicca, I found a new way to honor the season. Since that time, I no longer identify as Wiccan but I can’t let go of Samhain. Since I am devoted to Persephone I feel like it is an appropriate time to honor her even though it isn’t traditionally Hellenic. I rearranged my Persephone shrine to reflect this. I have a relief of Persephone and Hades, a pomegranate scented candle, a dried pomegranate, and a photograph of my Great Aunt and Grandmother at my Great Aunt’s wedding in 1921. I also have two small glasses – one in front of the gods and one in front of the ancestors. On Samhain night, I plan to share some of my latest homebrew with both the gods and ancestors – as well as enjoy some myself. It is a pomegranate wheat beer and I think they’ll both enjoy it.

Drew – I am eager to hear how your Samhain celebration is this year. I have a feeling the experience will be powerful *because* of the change in your life over the last year.

By: Drew Jacob

Drew Jacob — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:50:51 +0000

As always Val, thank you :) Your cheerfulness & support is a welcome bright light when the nights get dark.