Daily Cascade

Today is Halloween

Prompt:
Today is Halloween. Write something about Halloween today.

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Halloween morning, now. I check the weather. Here in South Florida, where I am, it will be partly cloudy with 81 degrees Fahrenheit. But don't believe the partly cloudy bit. Possibly a few clouds will pass by in the afternoon with maybe a sprinkle or two as the weather report says humidity is 63%. Right now, it is sunny and bright.

Yet, the weather is different in Twin cities. They are expecting 2 to 4 inches of snow. And on the Plains, severe storm threat shifts eastward on with 90-mph winds.

This makes me think, among other things, US weather is Halloween itself. Talking about such weirdo stuff, I came across this short (fake!) news: "Biden bites babies visiting for White House Halloween trick-or-treat celebration." I think it was by FOX, but I could be wrong. Somewhat of a joke? Hmmmm!

Fake news or not, about Halloween, Wikipedia writes: "Theory holds that many Halloween traditions were influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, which are believed to have pagan roots."

By the way, Samhain means "summer's end"; this much I knew. As the origin of the festival is really unknown, both pagan and Christian practices have evolved into what Halloween is like today. The best description that sounded like fun holds a bit more of the truth as to what the Halloween practices are.

"During the Samhain festival the souls of those who had died were believed to return to visit their homes, and those who had died during the year were believed to journey to the otherworld. People set bonfires on hilltops for relighting their hearth fires for the winter and to frighten away evil spirits, and they sometimes wore masks and other disguises to avoid being recognized by the ghosts thought to be present. It was in those ways that beings such as witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and demons came to be associated with the day. The period was also thought to be favourable for divination on matters such as marriage, health, and death."
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Halloween

As for me, I have my candy in a large plastic bag, ready and waiting for all those cute trick-or-treaters. I guess, I'll perch on the armchair by the front door with a book and my cell, and wait. And if not enough trick-or treaters show up, the rest of the candy is mine. Now, that would be a real treat. Luckily, I don't have diabetes.