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<img alt="THE GREAT PUNKIN SHOOT"
src="cid:part1.05060701.08090807@gmail.com" height="142"
width="140"><br>
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<div align="center"><font face="Arial" size="6"><strong>It's the
Great Punkin Shoot</strong></font></div>
<div align="center"><font face="Arial" size="4">Oct. 29, just after
dark</font></div>
<div align="center"><font face="Arial" size="4">Wanderer's Rest</font></div>
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<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 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>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">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 face="Arial" size="2"><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>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">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>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">You are all invited to Wanderer's
Rest on Oct 29 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>
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<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><br>
<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>
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<font face="Arial" size="2"><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>
</font><font face="Arial" size="2"><br>
7PM Punkin Themed Potluck Dinner<br>
8PM Punkin Shooting<br>
9PM Punkin Themed Desserts<br>
</font><br>
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