[Ravensfort] [Mm] It's the Great Punkin Shoot - October 30 2010

[Ken Theriot]

Will Eadric please contact me off-list.

 

Thanks.

 

Kenneth

 

  _____  

From: mm-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org [mailto:mm-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org]
On Behalf Of Eadric Anstapa
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 10:42 AM
To: Shire of Gate's Edge - SCA, Inc.; coastal at lists.ansteorra.org;
ravensfort
Subject: [Mm] It's the Great Punkin Shoot - October 30 2010
Importance: High

 

THE GREAT PUNKIN SHOOT

 

It's the Great Punkin Shoot

Oct. 30, just after dark

Wanderer's Rest

 

 

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..

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

 

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.  

http://www.texasescapes.com/DEPARTMENTS/Guest_Columnists/Times_past/Bailey's
_light.htm
<http://www.texasescapes.com/DEPARTMENTS/Guest_Columnists/Times_past/Bailey%
27s_light.htm> 

 

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.    

 

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.

 

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.


To get here follow these directions to Wanderer's Rest.
http://gatesedge.ansteorra.org/files/gearchery.htm

 

RSVP is not strictly necessary but is appreciated so we know approximately
how many to plan for.
Guests are encouraged to bring a Punkin themed food to share.   Please don't
bring Punkin beer.

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:

11AM  Archery Practice Starts
4PM    Archery practice is over
7PM    Punkin Themed Potluck Dinner
8PM    Punkin Shooting
9PM    Punkin Themed Desserts

  _____  

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