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<div align="center"><img alt="THE GREAT PUNKIN SHOOT"
src="cid:part1.03050405.08070109@scabrewer.com" height="142"
width="140"><br>
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<br>
<div align="center"><font size="6" face="Arial"><strong>It's the
Great Punkin Shoot</strong></font></div>
<div align="center"><font size="4" face="Arial">Oct. 30, just after
dark</font></div>
<div align="center"><font size="4" face="Arial">Wanderer's Rest</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">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 are not something we should welcome but are instead
something
we should be prepared to defend ourselves against..<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> </div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">Here in 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.
Being a
local boy, 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 size="2" face="Arial"><a
href="http://www.texasescapes.com/DEPARTMENTS/Guest_Columnists/Times_past/Bailey%27s_light.htm">http://www.texasescapes.com/DEPARTMENTS/Guest_Columnists/Times_past/Bailey's_light.htm</a></font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">For the past number of 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> </div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">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> </div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">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><br>
<font size="2" face="Arial">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> </div>
<font size="2" face="Arial"><font color="#cc0000"><b>RSVP</b></font>
is not strictly necessary but
is appreciated so we know approximately how many to plan for.<br>
Guests are encouraged to<b> <font color="#cc0000">bring a Punkin
themed food to share</font></b>. Please don't bring Punkin
beer.<br>
<br>
NOTE: The Gates Edge Archery practice is earlier in the day
starting
at 11AM. Archery practice ends mid-afternoon and the great Punkin
shoot that follows in the evening is a Private Party. The
schedule
usually looks something like:<br>
<br>
</font><font size="2" face="Arial">11AM Archery Practice Starts<br>
4PM Archery practice is over<br>
7PM Punkin Themed Potluck Dinner<br>
8PM Punkin Shooting<br>
9PM Punkin Themed Desserts<br>
</font><br>
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