Halloween Definition:

Halloween

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Halloween
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To explore the history of Halloween merchandise, compare the classics to  contemporary offerings, or shop for costumes, decorations, movies, candy and  more, visit our  Halloween Shopping Guide.

Monsters and goblins and ghosts. Oh, my!

Are you wondering why pint-sized ghouls and goblins are wandering the streets  and ringing strangers’ doorbells; why your significant other is pestering you to  dress up as Sonny to her Cher at a masquerade ball; why  goosebumps and shivers are in the air; and why chocolates seem to come only in  miniature sizes this time of year?  Well, when digging for the roots of the  modern Halloween, there are three words to keep in mind:

Samhain. The Celts of modern-day Ireland and the UK  two and a half  millennia ago braced themselves for winter with this festival, which is  pronounced “sowen,” literally means “summer’s end” and falls on November 1. It  heralds the beginning of the dark, cold half of the year. (Its counterpart was Beltane, which kicked off the warm,  light half of the year on May 1.) The harvest was gathered in to protect against  the wintry blast of the faeries’ breath, and Samhain was an occasion for  thanksgiving, sacrifices, divination and prayers. In each home the hearth-fire  was extinguished the night before and relit on Samhain from the central bonfires  of the priestly Druids.

Pomona. She is the Roman goddess  of fruit trees and the symbol of abundance. There was a festival dedicated to  her worship at the end of autumn, around the time of the big harvest. When the  Romans arrived in Britain, in the first century, they melded their customs with  those of the Celts whom they conquered.

Feralia. This is the ancient Roman festival of the dead, which was  held on February  21 with prayers and sacrifices on behalf of the deceased. The  customs of this day were also blended by the Romans with those of Samhain.  Feralia was superseded in the Christian Church by All Saints Day, also known as All  Hallow’s Day or Hallowmas, observed on May 13. In the eighth century, Pope  Gregory III changed the date to November 1 (though it is still  marked in  springtime, on the Sunday after Pentecost, by the Eastern Orthodox  Church). All Saint’s Day was followed by All Soul’s Day, established by Saint Odilo of Cluny on November  2 to remember the souls awaiting release from Purgatory. Halloween is a contraction  for “Hallow’s even” — the evening of All Hallow’s Day, i.e., October 31.

The customs that are the modern face of Halloween are deeply rooted in the  mists of history as well:

Jack-o’-lantern. Originally  a turnip, this carved vegetable with a candle inside was used by a poor Irish  soul named Jack to light his way as he wandered for eternity, denied entrance to  both Heaven and Hell — Heaven because of his habitual stinginess and Hell  because he had, while still alive, forced the devil into a pact that would spare  Jack from ever going to Hell. Boy, did he live (or rather die) to regret it! The  Irish brought this custom to the US in the 1840s but found it more convenient to  use pumpkins than their traditional turnip, rutabaga or gourd.

Bobbing for apples. Bobbing for apples on Halloween (the time of the  apple harvest) may have been inspired by the Celtic fables about heroes who  journeyed across water seeking the magical apple tree on the mythical isle of Avalon. There is a more accepted  theory: that the Celts (taking a leaf from the Romans who worshipped Pomona, the  goddess of fruit and abundance) played a parlor game on Samhain in which  unmarried people would try to bite into an apple in water or on a string; the  first to succeed was thought to be the first to marry.

Trick or treating. This  resembles the All Soul’s Day practice called “going a-souling” in which poor  people would beg door-to-door. In exchange for a gift of soulcakes, the soulers  would promise to say a prayer for the dead. It’s possible, though, that the  practice developed independently in the US in the 20th century, especially the  part where children threaten a trick if they don’t get a treat. (This may have  been around the time manufacturers came up with fun-sized candy bars.)

Costumes. The Celts wore disguises, usually made of animal skins,  during their Samhain celebrations, possibly to conceal themselves from the  spirits who were afoot at the time. So those Catwoman and Spider-man outfits may  be most true to the ancient roots of the practice.

Ghost stories. The Celts  believed that during Samhain, the boundaries between this world and the  otherworld became blurred and the spirits of those who had departed walked the  earth. Those beliefs survive to this day in the form of ghost stories and  divinations: asking for helpful hints or guides to the future from those who  have second sight.

There are two other holidays that share thematic elements with Halloween or  have common ancestors:

Guy Fawkes Day. This day,  held in Britain on November 5, commemorates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 (an attempt by Guy Fawkes and some fellow Catholics  to blow up King James I and Parliament). However,  its focus on bonfires, as well as its calendar date, are reminiscent of Samhain.  The custom of children begging for “a penny for the guy” is similar to  trick-or-treating, as well.

The Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos). Contrary to what one  might think, this 3,000-year-old Aztec holiday is actually a joyous  celebration. It is held on November 1 and 2, primarily in Mexico and other parts  of Central America, and features visits to graveyards to leave flowers and  lighted candles in honor of the dead. The souls of children are believed to  visit earth on November 1, with adults’s souls following the next day.

Facts and Figures
(courtesy of the  US Census Department press release for  Halloween; all data is for the US)

• The first city to officially celebrate Halloween was Anoka, Minnesota, in 1921.
• Illinois led the country in pumpkin production last year with 497 million  pounds. It was followed by California, Ohio and Pennsylvania, which each  produced over 100 million pounds. A total of 1.1 billion pounds was produced in  2005 for a value of over $106 million.
• There are 36.1 million potential trick-or-treaters: children aged 5-13.  There are 108 million households for them to visit.
• California is the prime location for chocolate and cocoa manufacturing  establishments, with 136 as of 2004. Pennsylvania is next with 122. The  countrywide total is 1,241, and they employ 43,322 people and ship $12.5 billion  worth of goods.
• California is also tops in non-chocolate confectionary manufacturing  establishments (76), out of a total of 515 such establishments, which have  22,234 employees who ship $7.2 billion worth of goods.
• Per capita consumption of candy was 26 pounds in 2005, much of it during  Halloween time. That must make it more challenging for Americans to fit into the  outfits provided by the 2,497 formal wear and costume rental establishents that  operated in 2004.

Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/halloween#ixzz1ZujSP1nrinition:

For, somehow, Father seems to be
The man who pays the bills,
While Mother binds up little hurts
And nurses all our ills…

And Father struggles daily
To live up to “HIS IMAGE”
As protector and provider
And “hero or the scrimmage”…

And perhaps that is the reason
We sometimes get the notion,
That Fathers are not subject
To the thing we call emotion,

But if you look inside Dad’s heart,
Where no one else can see
You’ll find he’s sentimental
And as “soft” as he can be…

But he’s so busy every day
In the grueling race of life,
He leaves the sentimental stuff
To his partner and his wife…

But Fathers are just WONDERFUL
In a million different ways,
And they merit loving compliments
And accolade of praise,

For the only reason Dad aspires
To fortune and success
Is to make the family proud of him
And to bring them happiness…

And like OUR HEAVENLY FATHER,
He’s a guardian and a guide,
Someone that we can count on
To be ALWAYS ON OUR SIDE.
Helen Steiner Rice

It is time to celebrate our fathers!  I will be happy to offer you a gift account to create and send out a real Father’s Day card for free.  Please contact me for your gift account.  deb77@tampabay.rr.com

Reason, Season, or Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
— Unknown

Everyone you meet has something special to contribute to your life.  Take the time to learn what that “something special” is and your life will be richer!  Let that person know how much you appreciate them by sending them your heartfelt sentiments.  Everyone needs to hear that they make a difference, that they add meaning to others’ lives.  Reach out and tell someone you care about them!!

Accept my free gift account so that you can indeed reach and send someone your gratitude and love.

Debbie

deb77@tampabay.rr.com

Some of the cards are of beautiful winter scenes, or of Santa, or perhaps of the baby Jesus. I cherish them all—especially the ones of friends and relatives that have passed on.

You may have a collection of Christmas cards as well; or do you toss them and wait for a new supply to come in next Christmas? Keep them! They can become part of your Christmas décor.

Frame a Doorway

One of my favorite ways is to frame a doorway. I can see every card and enjoy it all over again. The look is very personal and very warm.

Look your cards over and decide which cards look good together. They will be different sizes. Some will open from the bottom and some will open from the side. Some won’t open at all. They will be face cards, perhaps with children’s pictures.

When I hang the cards, I don’t want them to fall open. I only want to see the pretty pictures on the front. Use double stick tape or fold over single stick tape making a loop with the sticky on the outside. Now that you have tape with two sticky sides, place the tape on the inside of the cards in one place only, near the edge. You don’t want them permanently closed, because you may want to peek inside occasionally and do a little reminiscing. If you don’t want to tape them closed, that’s okay too. Just skip this step.

Once again, using double stick tape, start placing the cards at the top of the doorframe and move across. Select the cards you think look good together. Even after you’ve placed them, you can always change your mind and rearrange them.

I like to take them all the way to the floor so the entire door is framed. If you prefer, you may take them half way or three quarters of the way down. Then as new cards arrive you can tape them to the doorframe and add to the collection.

If you want the display to look a little dressier, place a greenery swag or large bow at each corner of the doorframe. Start placing your cards after these decorations are in place.

Decorate the Door

Another way to display your cards is on the door instead of the doorframe. Attach ribbons of varying lengths to the back of the cards. If you like, you can attach more than one card to a single ribbon, but avoid the cluttered look.

At the top edge of the door, (not the face of the door) attach the ribbons with thumbtacks. When pushed all the way in, the tack will not affect the closing of the door. This can be done on several doors throughout the entertaining area. Use ribbons that will complement your decorating scheme.

Create a unique Holiday Card for free!

Contact me:

deb77@tampabay.rr.com

Debbie Smesko

How about walking into a store, you are either accosted by a pushy sales person or completely ignored.  I will be searching for something in the stores and no one will be around to help me.  If I do happen to find someone, they usually act like I am asking them to climb Mt. Olympus.

Or have you ever decided to buy a service or product and then try to get help after the sale?  You are told, call this 800 number and after multipe menus and many minutes, you still cant find the answer.

It is frustrating!  I have experienced all of these situations, but I have also encountered some wonderful doctors, dentists, stores, and sales people.  What makes these people stand out in my eyes?  They genuinely care about me, my needs and my happiness.  They go out of their way to help me and follow up with me afterwards.  If I had oral surgery, they not only call to check on me,  but also send a get well card too.  The car salesman not only delivers my car to my driveway, she sends cookies and a card thanking me for my business.  My dentist sends a card and movie passes for sending him new patients.  The vet sends me a card reminding me of my pet’s health needs and appointments.  In addition, they send the pet birthday cards and sorry for the loss of your pet cards.  The realtor who sold us our home sent a card and home depot gift card to congratulate us on our new home. 

When someone cares enough to go out of their way to choose a card, express their sentiments, put a stamp on it and mail it, I know they have gone above and beyond service.  They have show they care about me as a customer, client and patient.  They have shown they want my continued business and care.

SendOutCards is a system that will aid any business or individual  in their efforts to create these personal relationships.  If you are interested in learning about the features and benefits of the system, Please contact me and I will set up a FREE gift account for you to test drive the system.

Debbie

deb77@tampabay.rr.com

I went to the grocery store the other day and ran into an old client who was navigating the aisles in her electric wheel chair.  We stopped for a few minutes to talk and I found out that she had been very ill and depressed.  Upon arriving home, I immediately sat down to create a card to let her know that I care and would be there to help her in any way.  A few days later, she called to tell me that she received the card and realized that she was not alone and had a friend that cared.  It meant the world to her!

I have another friend who emailed me and told me that she felt so down, problems at work and at home.  The emails went back and forth all day.  (she could not talk on the phone as she was at work).  Towards the end of the day, I created an “Angel” card for her, letting her know that I had been assigned to be her guardian angel as long as she needed support and love.  (Angels have special meaning to her).  Needless to say, she called me in tears upon receiving the card, and thanked me for caring so much!

I could continue with examples of times that a simple card and heartfelt message could generate such  loving, supportative and caring feelings!  I am sure all of us encounter times when we wish we could find some way to reach out to those that need our understanding and support.  Running to Hallmark or American Greetings stores take time, effort and money.  Sendoutcards has been a blessing to me personally.  I have been able to send out my thoughts and feelings to many people without leaving my home. 

In addition, I am a personal trainer/rehab specialist.  I constantly work with clients/patients who not only have medical problems (and fitness needs), but also have real life situations where a “positive attitude” card can go a long way in lifting their spirits.When you can help someone feel better emotionally, their outlook in life becomes more positive!

So, reach out and make someone’s day as Clint Eastwood would say.  Send love, comfort, friendship, blessings, prayers, good-luck, courage, smiles, and any sentiment that you want to express.

Contact me for a free gift account to test drive the sendoutcards greeting card/marketing system.

Debbie Smesko

deb77@tampabay.rr.com

The more you reach out to develop greater personal relationships, the more positive reinforcement you will receive.  Continue to give without any expectations of receiving anything back.  Make someone feel special with a kind word or deed.  Remember always to thank someone for referrals, business, help with projects and problems and so on.  More importantly, when you think about someone, let them know that through a phone call or better yet, a card that expresses your feelings.  I have kept every written card or letter that my husband and children have ever given me.  I have also kept all the cards and their messages that my clients have given me over the years.  I pull them out when I am having a bad day.  Reading them lifts my spirits and reminds me how much I have helped others.  All of us need to be reminded once in a while that what we do, makes a difference in others lives!!!

Its September and before you know it, the holidays will be here.  Get a head start on holiday cards.  I can show you a system that will allow you to create and edit holiday cards now, personally address hundreds of cards for you and send them out on your choice date in the future.  All of this for pennies a card.  Include pictures, presents, gift cards with them.  Ask me for a free gift account now.  Start now to make a difference in someone’s life.

Debbie Smesko
deb77@tampabay.rr.com
http://twitter.com/Debbietrainer
http://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiefrancesmesko
(813) 335-5491

The same type of thinking should apply to all businesses.  If we let our clients, customers, and patients know that we do care about them and their needs, we will develop greater personal relationships with them.  Personal relationships translates to  more profit on the bottom line, but more importantly, it makes us feel good because we care about our clients and the products and services that benefit them.

I have a business called sendoutcards that provides that tool you need to create those personal relationships.  I use it for both business and personal purposes.  I would love to share it with you.  Ask me for a free gift account.

I am here to learn and also to share any knowledge that I have concerning fitness, networking, and the development of business relationships.

Debbie

813 335-5491

deb77@tampabay.rr.com

If you are down and out, please feel free to contact me!  I would love to lend support and a comforting shoulder!

Debbie

813 335-5491

deb77@tampabay.rr.com