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Contests & Activities: October 12, 2005 Issue [#660]

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Contests & Activities


 This week:
  Edited by: laurencia
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter


Writing.com is a great place to practice your writing, receive reviews and support from fellow members. Being a part of Writing.com's community gives you the validation you need to be the best writer you can be.

I have been an editor for the Contest & Activities Newsletter for almost two years now, and I couldn't be happier. I am lucky to be among a super group of editors who put so much effort and pride into creating informational newsletters with a flair of personal quality.

The Contest & Activities Newsletter will showcase up-to-date contests and will also mention contests that have been around awhile. Contests are not only fun, but a great way to earn gift points, receive constructive reviews and meet fellow writers. If you would like to host a contest or you want to read up on what's going on, you couldn't be in a better place -- all the tips, ideas and encouragement are right here!

There are many activities on Writing.com, such as Campfires, Interactive stories, In & Outs, Madlibs, Survey Forms, User Polls, Word Searches and whatever you, the member, would like to create and share with the community. There is so much fun stuff to talk about, so make sure you stick around!


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor


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BUBBLE, BUBBLE, BOIL UP TROUBLE!
Round and round the caldron they go,
words of poetry the story goes,
day and night the members bestow,
imaginary characters we come to know,
creativity turns and takes shape,
in the caldron boil and bake,
DOUBE, DOUBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE!



Hello members!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays; an occasion that allows us to have fun and be goofy! I thought that it would be interesting to educate all who do not know about the history of Halloween.


HALLOWEEN 101

As history indicates, there is much more to Halloween than candy, costumes and so-called devil worshipers. Many individuals identify Samhain as a Celtic Death God, which is one of the most tenacious errors associated with Halloween. Almost all stories about the origin of Halloween correctly state that Halloween had its origins among the ancient Celts and is based on their "Feast of Samhain." But many conservative Christian authors which are critical of Halloween, Druidism, and/or Wicca have stated that Samhain was named after the famous Celtic "God of the Dead." No such God ever existed. By the late 1990's many secular sources such as newspapers and television programs had picked up the error and propagated it widely. It is now a nearly universal belief, particularly among conservative Christians.


History:

The Celts in Britain had festivals for two major gods - a god of the sun (summer) and a god of the dead (winter), which was called Samhain. Samhain is pronounced "sow-in" (where "ow" rhymes with "cow"). Samhain is Irish Gaelic for the month of November. Samhuin is Scottish Gaelic for All Hallows, NOV-1.

A special festival named after Samhain was held each year on November 1st, the beginning of the Celtic New Year. The festival lasted for three days, marked the end of the season of the sun (summer) and the beginning of the season of darkness and cold (winter). The eve of the festival was a time for settling bills. Workmen were given their wages and rents were expected to be paid.

On October 31st, the eve of Samhain, after the crops had all been harvested and stored for the long winter, the cooking fires in people's homes were extinguished. The Druids (Celtic Priests) met on hilltops, among sacred oak trees, where they lit bonfires and offered sacrifices of crops and animals (yes, Priets, not devil worshipers). The Druids would also parade in costumes made from skins and heads of animals.

The next morning, the Druids handed out embers from their fires so people could start new cooking fires in their houses; these fires were meant not only to keep the homes warm, but also free from evil spirits.

The Romans invaded Britain in the first century, brought with them many of their own festivals and customs. One of these was the festival known as Pomona Day, named after their goddess of fruits and gardens, and celebrated around November 1st.

After hundreds of years of Roman rule, the customs of the Roman Pomona Day and the Celtic Samhain festival became integrated. The rituals of Pomona Day included apples, nuts, and a celebration of the harvest rituals, while some of the festivities during Samhain included magic, evil spirits and death (coming of winter).

As Christianity took hold in Britain, the festival of Samhain was gradually incorporated into Christain ritual. In 835 A.D., the Roman Catholic Church declared November 1st to be a church holiday to honor all the saints. It was called All Saint's Day, also known as Hallowmas, or All Hallows' Day: in Old English, the word "hallow" meant "sanctify". Years later, the Church made November 2nd a holy day. It was called All Souls' Day and was a time to honor the dead. It was celebrated with big bonfires, parades and dressing up as saints, angels and devils.

Over time, October 31st became known as All Hallows' Eve, or Hallowe'en; Halloween is the modern spelling of the word.

The history of "Trick or Treat" came about through incorporation of the Samhain festival (explained in 1st and 2nd paragraphs) It was common practice in Ireland to knock on doors collecting money, bread, cakes, nuts and apples. Another Irish custom was to beg for "soul cake" in exchange for blessings and promises of prosperity or protection against bad luck.

The Irish believed that fairies (little people) were about on the night of Halloween, playing pranks and causing mischief; many people would leave an offering of food or milk on their doorstep. This gesture meant they would be blessed with good luck for the coming year.

Emigrants from Ireland and Scotland took these customs across the Atlantic, and today "Trick or Treating" is more prevalent in the United States than anywhere in the world.


References:

Religious Tolerance.org
http://www.encyclopedia.com
The Book of Halloween, Susie Johns



Until next time...
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Editor's Picks


*Star* Monthly featured contests for your enjoyment: *Star*

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FORUM
The Bard's Hall Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
NOVEMBER: Comedy... Thanksgiving with the Family
#981150 by StephBee Author IconMail Icon


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I will do my best to select good contests to enter for the monthly featured contests. I cannot guarantee that all contests listed are run responsibly or organized properly by the member sponsoring the contest. If you have a problem as a result of entering a particular contest, first contact the Contest Administrator (CA). If you are unsuccessful with reaching the CA, then contact one of the newsletter editors for assistance:

laurencia
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Ask & Answer


Your idea to have a contest in memory and in honor of the victims of Katrina inspired me to challenge flash fiction writers to focus on it. We got some interesting stories for the Sep16 contest "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge".
Meg: Writes Daily in 2006 Author Icon

I am so happy to hear this! *Smile*


Greetings! If you're lost on newsletter topics, why not see when the most contests are held. While there's many contests held throughout the year, it'd be interesting to see when the most contests are held and why. I had chosen late spring to mid-summer to host my mammoth contest in 2004 because it seemed to me summer would be a slow time for contests, but I was surprised this year when I held the second round. There seemed to be more summer contests. Of course, this is just a thought.
Turkey DrumStik Author Icon

Yes, I have noticed that more younger members participate in contests during the summer, which I'm sure is due to summer vacation.

Any time is a good time to host a contest. *Wink*



I AM STILL KIND OF CONFUSED ON HOW YOU SUBMIT A POEM OR ANY WRITING TO A CONTEST. CAN YOU HELP?
offthepages7 Author Icon

Read the following link, you will find instruction on how to post a link in a forum:

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Thanks for stopping by!

See ya November 9th!

laurencia

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