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<DIV align=center><FONT face=Arial size=2><IMG alt=Punkin hspace=0
src="cid:003601c4bba6$4fa9a660$2a0a6510@americas.cpqcorp.net" align=middle
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<DIV align=center><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=6><STRONG>It's the Great Punkin Shoot</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face=Arial size=4>Oct. 30, just after dark</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face=Arial size=4>Wanderer's Rest</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>When Linus and Charlie Brown sat in the pumpkin
patch all night waiting for the "Great Pumpkin" to come bearing gifts they had
it all wrong. The grimacing, ugly-faced Jack o' Lanterns should be
feared.<BR><BR>The tradition of carving Jack o' Lanterns goes back to ancient
times when people believed evil spirits roamed the Earth and returned to their
homes in winter. Irish legend tells of a rude, abrasive man named Jack who, upon
his death, was not welcomed in Heaven or Hell. "Stingy Jack" had played tricks
on the devil himself. Not even welcome in Purgatory, Jack was destined to haunt
the Earthly world. He carried a lantern and came to represent souls trying to
escape the forthcoming winter.<BR><BR>Pagans in northern Europe held an annual
festival to celebrate the harvest and prepare for winter long before
Christianity spread to Scotland and Ireland. On the eve of the new year, Celts
tried to prevent wayward dead souls from returning to their homes by carving
faces on potatoes, rutabagas and turnips, and displaying them around their doors
and windows.<BR><BR>All-hallow, or All Holy Saints' Day, has been celebrated in
much of Europe for twelve centuries. November 1st was designated to honor Saints
and innocent youth, and welcome them back from their graves for visits with
family. Offerings were made to their memories and to appease all souls that
returned to visit. If not appeased, evil souls were thought to play tricks or
wreak havoc. Because cake and sweets were plentiful in prosperous times,
children went from house to house asking for treats and threatening the stingy
with tricks. From old beliefs, the practices of Pagans and Christians in old
Europe formed modern Halloween.<BR><BR>Irish immigrants in the New World carried
on the tradition displaying carved Jack o' Lanterns on All Hallows' Eve. But,
they carved faces on the gourds native to the land. Pumpkins were an important
source of food and materials to the Native Americans and had helped the early
colonists survive in the New World. Placing candles inside the gourds symbolized
the fires that kept evil spirits away in old Europe.<BR><BR>At the end of Fall,
the Halloween celebration represents the time when things die before life
returns to the Earth to bloom in Spring. The Jack o' Lantern is associated with
the dead who have returned to haunt the Earth through winter carrying lanterns.
Local folklore often tells of dark figures holding lanterns along highways and
railroads. In the legends, the source of the eerie light can never be
found. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here is southern Ansteorra where I grew up we have
our Ghostly Lantern in the form of Brit Bailey. Cynthia and I had our
wedding celebration at the Bar-X Ranch in Bailey's Prairie a mere arrow
shot from Brit Bailey's grave. Brit Bailey and I are old friends and if he
shows up I will be happy to share my jug with him. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.bchm.org/Sites/Bailey.html">http://www.bchm.org/Sites/Bailey.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.texasescapes.com/DEPARTMENTS/Guest_Columnists/Times_past/Bailey's_light.htm">http://www.texasescapes.com/DEPARTMENTS/Guest_Columnists/Times_past/Bailey's_light.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>For the past several years I nave not seen old Brit
but Stingy Jack has shown up at my house with his lanterns. I am
convinced he is trying to steal my jug before I can share it with Brit or my
friends. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>You are all invited to Wanderer's Rest on Oct 30 to
help me defend against Stingy Jack. I am sure that with a few well placed
arrow shots we can snuff out Jack's Lanterns and keep him at bay for another
year.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Strictly mundane, bring your archery gear and we
will start shooting as soon as it is dark. We will enjoy a variety of
Pumpkin themed foods as well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To get here follow these directions to Wanderer's
Rest. <A
href="http://gatesedge.ansteorra.org/files/gearchery.htm">http://gatesedge.ansteorra.org/files/gearchery.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>RSVP is not strictly necessary but is appreciated
so we know approximately how many to plan for.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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