Guest guest Posted December 5, 2001 Report Share Posted December 5, 2001 Part 3. Valerie Ann Worwood in her timeless Fragrant Pharmacy suggests that they (K's note- referring to jackolanterns from last post) can be suppllemented with a show of drama and magic. Get a piece of charcoal, place it in a heat-resistant dish, light it, and when it has begun to burn put two or three drops of essential oil onto it. Billows of aromatic smoke will issue forth, impressing even the most blase` of little witches or warlocks. Use a heavy oil like patchouli or benzoin or one of the woods, such as cedarwood. Whatever you do,k she urges not to use rue or myrtle- after all, you do want that knock at the door to be a PRETEND witch, don't you?! In fact I am not sure she is entirely correct because, in the Middle Ages and later, rue (Ruta graveolens L.) was considered a powerful defence against witches, and was used in many spells. It was also thought to bestow second sight. Fragrant witches' brooms can be made by tying twigs into bundles. Soak the twigs firstin a strong wood fragrance such as pine or cypress, or a rooty one like vetiver, diluted in water. These make good souvenir presents for the guests - good and bad alike. Ive started bundling twigs together for next year! Thanks Valerie Ann, always a sours if inspiration. In celtic mythology significant events frequently occur at festival times consistent with the themes of transformation, renewal, death and rebirth. In the 'Book of Invasions' (an Irish text compiled in the twelfth centruy CE, but with its origins in earlier attempts to manastic scholars of the sixth and seventh centuries to construct a history of Ireland. In effect it is an Irish creation myth which follows a succession of legendary invasions of the country from the Flood to the coming of the Gaels, or Celts), the great Battle of Mag Tuiread, between the Tuatha De' Dannann, who are said to have retreated underground when the Gaels conquiered Ireland, and the demonic Fomorians, happened at Samain. Also at Samain Cuchulainn (pronounced Koo Hoolin), the superhuman warrior who champions the Ulster cause, met his death and Gawain left Arthur's court to seek the Green Knight. Oh! The origin of Trick or treat? I almost fogot! It probably comes from All Souls Eve, when young children would go from house to house begging for small spiced buns known as 'soul cakes'. The END! Hope you enjoyed it! Cheers! Kathleen Petrides SmeLLeNNiuM: 101 Aromatic Stories http://www.101aromas.com - " Kathleen Petrides " <petrides5 Tuesday, December 04, 2001 5:51 PM From Charles@essentiallyoils/pt 2 > To continue... > > Trick or treat? > > Why this ancient tradition should be so popular around here I don't know > but, having recently endured an evening of young ghouls, goblins and witches > dripping blood upon my doorstep and relieving me of countless mini-bars of > chocolate and all loose change, I determined to discover the origins of this > custom. > > Shamain marked the beginning of the winter season of cold and austerity in > countries with Celtic traditions. It marked the endo of one pastoral year > and the beginning of the next. This 'new year' festival was also associated > with death - decaying plants and flowers, and dwindling daylight. It was the > one period when spirits for the Otherworld became visible to men. With the > coming of Christianity this celebration became harvest Festival. > > Samain Eve became known as Hallowe'en - these days a night of ghoulish > pranks, grinning pumkin lanterns and grotesque party food. Not so long ago > it was believed to be a genuinely eerie 'in between worlds' night when > fairies, witches, and goblins mixed with the living. The jack-o-langern > pumpkins and turninps would warn away ghouls and witches. Ritual games, such > as bobbing or ducking for apples and love-divination by nut-cracking, still > provide hilarious entertainment at our local village hall. > > Part 3 with actual Essential oil references will continue later! > Cheers! > Kathleen Petrides > SmeLLeNNiuM: 101 Aromatic Stories > http://www.101aromas.com > > > > > My Pictures of Aromatic Plants and Exotic Places In Turkey > http://members.home.net/chrisziggy1/triptoturkey.html > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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