Mom’s Favorite
READS Volume 1, Issue 1
October 2018
Promoting Literacy, Parenting Tips, Short Stories, Recipes, Activities for the Kids, Exploring New Worlds, Wellness and Well-being, Discovering New Authors and so much more...
MOM’S FAVORITE READS Find us online www.moms-favorite-reads.com facebook.com/momsfavoritereads momsfavoritereads@outlook.com
Founders Ronesa Aveela
Hannah Howe
Denise McCabe
www.ronesaaveela.com
www.hannah-howe.com
www.kidsstoriesblog.com
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In This Issue... Welcome to the Mom’s Favorite Reads Halloween edition! As you would expect, inside the magazine you will discover a number of articles related to Halloween and its traditions. These articles cover the full range of Halloween, from its history to its place in various cultures throughout the world. Our magazine also includes a number of non-Halloween articles along with regular features – Bestsellers and Hot New Releases, and our author spotlight. Established by bestselling authors Ronesa Aveela, Hannah Howe and Denise McCabe, Mom’s Favorite Reads is about more than a magazine. Through our network of writers, readers, teachers, librarians and book lovers, we are a community that fosters reading amongst adults and children. Discover more about us through our video: https://youtu.be/s0CNofMbQdM Never miss an issue by subscribing to our FREE magazines: www.tinyurl.com/momsfavoritereads-subscribe
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The Endless Flow of the Seasons Grant Leishman
I’m no scientist, but I can always relate to Einstein’s concept that time is relative. For me and I’m guessing for most people, time is relative to age. You know we’ve all heard that saying; “the older you get, the faster time seems to pass”. For me, it has never been truer, time passes at such speed that the seasons seem to blend one into another, as the years speed by, marking my short sojourn on this planet. As we, in the Northern Hemisphere mark the passing of Summer and the start of Fall, or Autumn, as we call it where I grew up, way down south in New Zealand, I used to begin to slow down from the frenetic pace of Summer “fun”, relax and enjoy the calmness, the crispness and most of all the beauty of the russet colours that define the season for us. Fall, it seems to me, is that time where we take an enormous deep breath, suck in the slightly cooler and more refreshing air, before we gird our loins for the adventures still to come for us in the final part of the year.
It is a time of stillness, of mist hanging low over the lake, of slightly frosty, breathy air - a time to recharge our batteries for the momentous events of October, November and December (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas - or its nonChristian equivalents). As an expatriate New Zealander, now living in a place where there are only two seasons each year (Wet and Dry), I do sometimes nostalgically look back (through rose-tinted glasses, no doubt) at the time when I lived somewhere where there were four very distinct seasons and I do miss them. I often joke with people who ask about the climate here in The Philippines, that there are three seasons here: hot, bloody hot, and unbearably hot. Often is the time I’ve sat out the front of our modest little abode here in Manila, the sweat dripping unheeded down my forehead and wistfully longed for one of those Antarctic southerlies that would sweep up the length of New Zealand and deluge us with icy wind, freezing rain and the early promise of snow. My old hometown of Dunedin was one of those rare places, in the world, where you could experience all four seasons in a single day or where the temperature could go from a balmy thirty-two degrees Celsius on a beautiful summer’s day to three degrees, with a wind-chill factor of minus five, in less than an hour. The thought of curling up inside with a rug, a warm fire, and a hot cup of cocoa, still
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tugs longingly at my subconscious. Yet, I can vividly remember sitting in the depths of one particularly bitter southern winter and turning to my shivering son, saying; “why on God’s green earth, would anyone ever choose to live in such a Godforsaken, freezing place such as this?” (I may have used slightly stronger language than that - but you get the point, right?)
The answer my friend, is simple - it was home.
My uptake from all this reminiscing is fairly straightforward - wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, you are exactly where you are supposed to be at the exact time you are supposed to be there - so make the very best of what you have today. It’s okay to reminisce, but not for too long - live in the moment and enjoy everything your current world has to offer.
Grant Leishman is a fifty-nine-year-old full-time author and editor, domiciled in the beautiful islands of The Philippines. After careers in finance and journalism, Grant finally found his true bliss in life – writing. He his happily married to Thess and they have two daughters, Rose and Angeline.
You can discover more about Grant here: www.amazon.com/Grant-Leishman/e/B012ATB9N0 -5-
From Tourists to Refugees: The Story of Lesvos Rachael Wright
Before the island of Lesvos, Greece became synonymous with the Syrian war and refugee crisis; it had its own colorful history not least, 81 BC when the capital city of Mitilini was besieged by Roman forces; including Julius Caesar. Mitilini stood accused of revolt against Rome and aiding and abetting pirates of the region. In 2015 and 2016, Lesvos was besieged again, but this time by tens of thousands of people, fleeing war, violence, and economic instability in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. After crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey, they arrived in Lesvos, often after harrowing evening crossings. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees 489 people went missing on the Mediterranean in the first four months of 2018. During 2015 Lesvos, and its population of 85,000, played host to more than five hundred thousand migrants and asylum seekers; nearly half of all the migrants who transited through Greece on their way to destinations in northern Europe. Assuming that their boat didn’t run out of fuel, the motor didn’t fail (a rarity in winter), and they weren’t intercepted by the Turkish Coast Guard, asylum seekers and refugees would be met on the beaches by local volunteers. Aid organizations flocked to Lesvos, including the International Rescue
Committee, but it was the islanders themselves who led rescue and relief efforts. Eric and Philippa Kempson, longtime British expatriates, and Melinda McRostie, a Greek-Australian restaurant owner, initially led the volunteer response. Though Lesvos was quick to aid those reaching Lesvos’ shores, the influx of thousands of people a day placed immense strain on the island’s economy, which is primarily agricultural, as well as on Greece, which after the EU bailout was under strict austerity measures. The island’s tourism fell to naught and thousands of Greeks suddenly found themselves out of work.
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The influx of refugees drastically decreased after the EU and Turkey signed an agreement in 2016 to close the so-called Balkan route. Though the beaches aren’t covered in discarded florescent-orange life jackets, as of March 2018 there were still 5,300 refugees stranded at the Moria refugee camp on Lesvos (built to house 2,000).
The situation on Lesvos remains largely forgotten by the international media, even though several cast members of Game of Thrones visited the Moria Refugee Camp in June 2016. Though other natural disasters and wars have taken the front pages of the world’s papers, stories of hope filter out: Maria Makrogianni, who fed refugees, over 300,000, out of her taverna for free.
Rachael Wright is a Colorado native with degrees in History and Political Science from Colorado Mesa University and is a columnist for Colorado Politics. She is a devoted tea drinker, Manchester United fan, wife, and mother. Rachael lives outside of Denver with her husband, daughter, and crammed bookshelves. Much of her writing is drawn from her experiences as a police wife, a life in politics, and the challenges of parenting. Although her first two novels were glibly classified as women’s fiction, she believes that death and loss and relationships are not issues that only women deal with or that women want to read. We are all of us drawn to stories that help us understand our own lives. You can discover more about Rachel here: www.authorrachaelwright.com
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The Romance of Horror Estela Vazquez Perez
Webster defines horror as “painful and intense fear, dread, or dismay.” The allure of horror to the human psyche is more romantic than Webster’s dreadful definition. Horror is a familiar emotion that seems to have a key into the darkest corners of our minds, the base level of our souls, and our most dormant and secret beliefs. We are addicted to the adrenaline rush that horror pumps through our veins. Horror is a lover with the power to make our heart race or stop. Horror forces us to question our existence and explore the unknown with eyes pried your senses with a suspenseful trepidation opened by fear. of mounting fear that can either snuff Horror reminds us that our imagination or revive you. Horror manifest in many is more awake than we are. Horror lives forms, but the perception of horror is in the shadows of our psyche, thriving off universal. Horror’s masterpiece is to seize our fears and passions. Horror is a double a group of people while still invoking agent that can either alter or entertain individual fears. Horror lives because our lives. Horror, like love, makes us feel of mankind. Or is that mankind lives alive. Horror has the power to invoke because of horror? your emotions while inspiring new fears in you. Horror’s dark serenade seduces all Estela Vazquez Perez is an independent novelist who was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her talent is developing stories that span different genres and are infused with multiple sub-plots. She is an aspiring filmmaker, art lover, avid reader, traveller, and a lover of knowledge. She lives in San Francisco with her two beautiful children.
You can discover more about Estela here: www.amazon.com/Estela-Vazquez-Perez/e/B00B5FO05A -8-
Halloween: Then and Now Cate Mckoy
“Freeze! Police! Don’t move!” The words barely penetrated. It was the flashing blue, red and white lights, one big spotlight and the gun that kept me frozen in the middle of my long driveway. In hindsight, I can see how playing a trick on my sister who was home alone, on Halloween, may not have been the brightest idea in my ten years of life. Although, looking down the barrel of a gun, I didn’t think I was going to get any older. That is my most memorable Halloween to date. I am now fifty-two. As the ghoul and goblin season approaches, I get nostalgic. Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday (despite the aforementioned one) and one of my favorite movies, by the way. However,
I digress. I was telling you about my nostalgia for the holiday. The ghost stories told, the trick or treating, the eating of too much candy and of course the pranking that seems to go hand and hand with the holiday. There must always be Halloween pranks amongst the kids and teenagers of those who participate. But, how did this all start? Now, the original Halloween, or shall we say, the Festival of Samhain, dates back to the ancient Celtics (my people, one set of them anyway, I’m a mutt) over twothousand years ago in the region that today is Ireland. Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Northern France all celebrate the New Year on November first. The day marked the end of summer, the harvest, the start of the earlier darkness and the cold. Many associated this time of year with death. The Celts believed that on New Year eve (October 31st) the line between the living and the dead weaken and allowed the dead to come back. The Celts believed the ghostly spirits caused trouble and damage their crops. It was at this time the Druids were able to make their predictions. To commemorate this time, the Druids built a bonfire in which the people brought crops and animals to the fire to burn as sacrifices to their Celtic Gods. During the partying, the Celts wore costumes, usually consisting of animal heads and skins and tried to tell each other’s fortunes. The scarier the better.
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the harvest. The play parties included, dressing up in costumes, dancing, singing and storytelling of the dead (original ghost story around the fire). These parties also included mischief making (pranks, tricks). By the middle of the 19th Century, the autumn festivities were common but not yet celebrated everywhere in America.
From this origin, Halloween travel through time, ever changing. From the Celts to the Romans with their Martyr’s Day and All Saints Day (aka All Hallows).
The second half of the 19th Century saw America inundated with immigrants, especially the Irish escaping the Irish Potato Famine. These immigrants caused the Halloween celebration to spread nationally. Combining Irish and English traditions, Americans started to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking their neighbors for food or money. Hence, trick or treat is born. Young women believe if they performed a trick with yarn, apple parings and mirrors they could know their future husbands. This introduced the ‘witchcraft’ part of Halloween.
By the 9th century, Christianity had spread to the Celts. The celebrations of All Saints Day and Samhain were very similar. For the Celts All Saints Day and the night before, the traditional Samhain began to be known as All Hallows Even and then eventually Halloween. In America Halloween was at first only celebrated in Maryland and the Southern colonies due to the strict Protestant beliefs of the New England colonies. As America became a large melting pot, each culture bringing their own beliefs and celebrations, blending with the American Indian’s culture resulted in the first celebration to include public events (known as play parties) to mark - 10 -
In the late 1800s America sought to take the scary part of Halloween out of the celebration, making a bid for it to be more about community and neighbors (the first Halloween party at home). Parents were encouraged to leave the scary parts out of the celebration, make it more a party for children. In the following decades, Halloween became a festive, happy celebration.
little fright in the mix. Hence, my own run in with a policemen’s gun at the age of ten. Trust me folks, if one of your sisters asks you to scare another sister on a windy Halloween when that sister is home alone, remember, these are modern times and there are things like phones to call the police when you think your home is being invaded by multiple intruders. Stick with eating lots of chocolate.
However, there are those who still like to prank and do tricks. That’s why today Halloween is a happy celebration with a Cate Mckoy is a life-time resident of a small upstate town about sixty minutes north of Manhattan. The only thing she loves more than being a writer is being a mother and grandmother. She has been a Jane of all trades and was formerly trained as a technology analyst and computer tech. Cate supports a number of charities and wishes everyone “Happy Reading.” You can discover more about Cate here: www.amazon.com/Cate-Mckoy/e/B00JCOJVNC
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Vampires – They’re Rooted in Love, not Evil Eileen Sheehan
Although the very famous Brahm Stoker novel, Dracula, made the world look at the vampire as an evil monster, the vampire got its start from a Greek mythological love story long before Dracula came into the picture. The story tells of a young Italian, named Ambrogio, and a beautiful woman, named Selena who fell in love.
of the hunt, Artemiss, silver bow. As a result, Artemis cursed Ambrogio so that silver would burn his skin. Compassion eventually oozed in and she later gave him super strength, immortality, and fangs to kill beasts so that he could write love poems to Selena with the blood. When Selena finally managed to escape Apollos grasp and unite with Ambrogio, Artemis told him that he could make Selena immortal like he was by drinking her blood. It would kill her body her spirit would live on. After that, their combined blood could then turn anyone who drank it into a vampire.
It was love at first sight while conferring with the Oracle in the temple of Apollo when Ambrogio first set his eyes on Selena. Sadly, when he asked her to marry him, he quickly learned that the sun god, Apollo, also had designs on her. Furious over the young mortals love for each other, Apollo cursed Ambrogio by causing his skin to burn whenever it was Thus was the romantic tale of the exposed to sunlight. immortal, blood sucking vampire until Dracula was born of a novel by Brahm Desperate to free Selena from Apollos Stoker in 1897. Although filled with sexy grasp, Ambrogio sought help from the pheromones that his vampire emitted to god of the underworld, Hades. He made captivate its prey, Stokers vampire was a deal with Hades to steal the goddess anything, but romantic.
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signs of vampirism. In some cases, a stake was thrust through the corpse’s heart to make sure they stayed dead. Other accounts describe the decapitation and burning of the corpses of suspected vampires well into the nineteenth century when Stoker wrote his novel.
Although it is mere speculation on my part, I’m guessing that Stoker was influenced when he fashioned his horror vampire by the superstitions of the middle ages; especially as the plague decimated entire towns. More often than not, the disease left behind bleeding mouth lesions on its victims. For the uneducated, this was a sure sign of vampirism. There also existed a blood disorder, called porphyria, that caused severe blisters on the skin when it was exposed to sunlight. Since some of the symptoms could be temporarily relieved by ingesting blood, it made sense that the ignorant would attach it to the vampire myth.
Today, depending upon the author, the mythical vampire can be found in both love and horror genre. Fans of both vampires and romance have no trouble finding plenty of strong, sexy, romantic, and slightly vulnerable vampires to fall in love with in stories written by their favorite authors while fans of horror and vampires can be entertained by the evilness of the creature. As an author of fiction, I have written thrillers with the evilest of vampires in them (see Tugurlan Chronicles Trilogy), but, admittedly, I tend to lean toward the Greek mythological version of the vampire and create stories with a sexy vampire that you are sure to love and sympathize with.
Which version of vampire do you prefer?
When a suspected vampire died, their bodies were often disinterred to search for Eileen Sheehan writes hot, steamy romances with a sexy male and strong female. The majority of her novels are paranormal, but some are straightforward love stories. Her screenplay, ‘When East Meets West’, was a finalist in the 2001 Independent International Film and Video Festival. You can discover more about Eileen here: www.amazon.com/Eileen-Sheehan/e/B016YANRJ0 - 13 -
Halloween Amanda Steel
For a lot of parents in the UK, Halloween is about dressing up your children in cute pumpkin (or other) outfits, which when they look back on the photos, they’ll cringe and wonder why you did that to them. It’s also about keeping them entertained with sweets, or sometimes trying to offer them healthier versions and hoping that they don’t notice. Perhaps you’ll chaperone your children and their friends as they go trick-or-treating. Although, I’ve noticed less of this in recent years.
If you’re looking for a rewarding party game to get your children warmed up for your planned Halloween festivities, the Irish partake in a card game where children pick a card. Each one has a small treat underneath (usually money or a small sweet) which the child gets to keep. If you’re wanting something a little more adventurous, Ireland also hosts the Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival. It is described as being the biggest Halloween celebration in Europe. Amongst the attractions and events are; a spooky tour, a haunted house and lots of family friendly entertainment. Further afield, in Mexico, they celebrate the Day of the Dead, leaving out offerings for the souls of loved ones who have passed on, believing that they return for
Other countries have different ways of celebrating Halloween. Some are fun, while others reduce the cost of Halloween costumes. Sometimes they can help both adults and children come to terms with the unavoidable subject of death in the family. - 14 -
twenty-four hours. On the surface, this isn’t really aimed at children/families. However, for those unfortunate enough to be mourning the loss of someone close to them, perhaps it is a good way to deal with death and loss.
In the Netherlands, children also go door to door, but tend to sing for their treats, which overall, is a much nicer way of getting treats than what can be seen by some as threatening to trick someone if they don’t give you a treat.
On a more cheerful note, Portugal has a similar tradition to trick-or-treat. They knock on doors, but not in costume. When someone answers, instead of trickor-treat they say “Pão-por-Deus”, hoping to receive bread, sweets or other gifts. This certainly eliminates the expense of buying costumes.
China shares a similar tradition to Mexico, in which they put food and water in front of pictures of lost family members. Depending on how individual children deal with the loss, this could also be a good tradition to adopt to help them cope.
Amanda Steel is a multi-genre author. You can discover more about Amanda here: www.amandasteelwriter.com
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Bestsellers and Hot New Releases A Different Kind of Angel - Paulette Mahurin Written by an award-winning and bestselling novelist, a fabulous story based on true events. www.amazon.com/Different-Kind-Angel-Novel-ebook/dp/ B07GZYXNR4
The Westwood Witches - Sarah Northwood Aero trembled as she held the box sealed inside black paper. The dilemma was a difficult one – her mum had told her the box contained secrets she might not be ready for. Once she opened it, there would be no going back‌ https://getbook.at/TheWestwoodWitches
A Study of Household Spirits of Eastern Europe Ronesa Aveela From a #1 ranked author, a must read for lovers of customs, traditions, folklore and mythology. https://getbook.at/household-spirits
Retribution - Heather Ramsay A gripping romantic thriller. Book two in the emotionallycharged Alpha Squad series. www.amazon.com/Retribution-Alpha-Squad-Book-2-ebook/ dp/B07FSWRRZM
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Bestsellers and Hot New Releases The Gift of Love - Brenda Mohammed Written by a multi-genre bestselling author, The Gift of Love is set on a Caribbean island, and chronicles a suspenseful tale of love, betrayal, deception, kidnapping and conspiracy. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H9NJJV9
Illusion Within an Illusion - Estela Vazquez Perez Book three in the Montenegro series by a leading author in the horror genre. www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00B5FO05A
The Shadows of Love - Penny Luker A beautiful collection of poems about the many aspects of love. www.amazon.com/Shadows-Love-Penny-Luker-ebook/dp/ B07H3HX2F8
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Magic and Spells Sarah Northwood
Magic and spells walk hand in hand, you can’t have one without the other. In the fictional world of Harry Potter, the magical language of spells is given to us by the famous J.K. Rowling. She gave her characters wonderful and exotic sounding words in which to cast their spells. But many of the famous phrases such as Expelliarmus (used to disarm another wizard) and Expecto Patronum used to cast the Patronus Charm, a manifestation of the characters most positive feelings, have roots in Latin. When Hermonie Granger teaches us the correct pronunciation of Wingardium Leviosa (a spell to make things levitate) we’re reminded again of the power of words, and how correct pronunciation expresses their meaning. As a writer researching spells for my own magical book, I found myself drawn to the importance of how speech and spells might bring about physical changes in the world around us. How the science of it might work. I started by trying to define magic and speech and discovered that even the Scholarly community had difficulty defining magic, in a similar way to defining religion. One thing I can say with some certainty is that language is the foundation, and some of the earliest spells date back to Egyptian times.
many, rather like the heroes of the Marvel world. Hence, when I wrote the spells in The Westwood Witches, I thought of it as a form of higher speech, where this knowledge gave access to the Shadow Realm, and granted the witch abilities beyond those available in the normal spectrum. It is up to the witch to use these spells correctly and wisely. As once quoted in a Spiderman movie, with great power comes great responsibility.
As a former scientist, I also liked the idea that knowledge of higher speech may be a representation of knowledge and access to abilities that is outside the realm of the - 18 -
Sarah Northwood is a weaver of fiction stories for children and adults. She is an Amazon and Goodreads Author and you can follow her on Facebook to get all the latest updates: www.facebook.com/ SarahNorthwoodAuthor You can also discover more about Sarah here: www.sarahnorthwood-author.com
History of Halloween Denise McCabe
Halloween is one of the oldest festivals that is still celebrated in different parts of the world. It is a fun time for kids and adults with many activities. After Christmas, it is one of the most popular holidays. There are millions of people around the world who celebrate Halloween every year without knowing the origin and history of this festival. The history, myths and facts about Halloween make it an even more fascinating holiday. Most people think of Halloween as a time to have fun, put on some costumes, go for trick-or-treating and enjoy in the theme parties. However, there are still some people who think that it is the time to meet ghosts, evil spirits, goblins and reveal all the superstitions. This is the reason that they would avoid everything bad at all costs. Regardless of the Christian’s debate on the holiday, there are many people who think that celebrating Halloween has nothing to do with participating in any kind of evil holiday. Halloween today is celebrated without any connections to its traditional rituals and occult. Here we have a little insight of the history of Halloween that you should know about.
History of Halloween Halloween is celebrated on 31st of October every year, which is known as the last day of the Celtic calendar. It is originally known as the pagan holiday, in which the living has to honor the dead. It is famous as the All Hallows Eve and the event has been celebrated in the past 2000 years ago. The All Hallows Eve is known as the evening before the All Saints Day. It was the event that was created by Christians and it is celebrated in 1st of November. On this designated day the saints of the Catholic church are honored. Origins of Halloween Halloween is a very old celebration this is the reason if you will look into the history you will find different types of origins of the event that are related to the old customs. There are some customs that have remained consistent over the course of time and others have changed. Halloween is celebrated in a different way in different cultures but the traditional Halloween practice is still the same. The original culture of Halloween can be traced back to the Druids, which is a Celtic culture in Ireland. The roots of the event are linked to the Samhain (pronounced Sow-in) feast that was celebrated on the 31st of October in order to honour the dead. Samhain is the sign of the beginning of winter, end of summer or November.
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Originally Samhain was a harvesting festival that was celebrated with a huge sacred bonfire.Bonfires were to warn off the bad spirits. Kindling was offered and the bones of animals that had been culled were burnt. Bones of fire became Bonfire. This time was marked as the end of the Celtic year and the beginning of a new year. Most of the practices at the event were based on superstitions. This is the reason there is no authentic information about the Halloween.
purpose and a candle was kept inside them to assure that the bad spirits will stay away from the houses. However, with the passage of time people came to knew that pumpkins were a lot easier to carve, so they started using the pumpkins and also known as Jack O’ Lantern. Every year before Halloween people starts carving their pumpkins by removing everything from the inside of the pumpkin and only keeping the skin. After that, they will make some scary faces and keep a light or candle inside it, so it will keep even It was the belief of the Celts that souls of scarier at night. dead roam on the streets of the villages at night. They knew that all spirits were not Jack O’Lantern good, so to keep the bad spirits away from This originated from an Irish myth about their farms and assure that their crop will a trickster called who Jack who was be plentiful the year, they left treats and known as ‘Stingy Jack’ One night Jack gifts on the streets as a distraction for the and the devil were having a drink together spirits. This tradition was changed into but Jack true to his name ‘Stingy’ didn’t trick or treating. want to pay for it, so he tricked the devil into turning himself into a coin, but Jack How Halloween reached America? decided to keep the coin for himself and During the 2nd half of the 19th century, put it into his pocket where he also had a when thousands of Irish immigrants came silver cross that prevented the devil from to America because of the Great Famine changing back to his form. Jack kept him from 1845 to 1852, the popularity of there for some years and eventually let Halloween grew and spread in the USA. him go, but on one condition, that when By the 20th century, most of the spiritual Jack dies the devil will not take his soul. and religious meaning of the celebration The devil oddly agreed. was not. After it reached America the festival was more about the community services and less about scary spirits. In the USA Halloween is known as the 2nd largest commercial holiday after Christmas. Nearly $6 billion is spent every year on Halloween in America. Carving Pumpkins One of the most famous traditions of Halloween is carving the pumpkins. In the beginning, turnips were used for the - 20 -
Some years later they met up again and this time Jack convinced the Devil to go up a tree to pick some apples for him. The Devil obviously not learning his lesson from the first time, agreed and so he went up and picked the apples. Jack however carved a cross into the tree which prevented the Devil from coming back down. They eventually came to an agreement that the Devil would not come near Jack for at least another ten years so Love was also seen in the air as young Jack freed the Devil. women used yarn in the hope that the name of their future husband or his When Jack eventually died, he was not appearance would appear. They used allowed into heaven so Jack went down to mirrors, tarn and apple parings to make hell and met with the Devil once again. their trick successful. Some cooks also put The Devil kept his promise though and rings into mashed potato and the lucky wouldn’t take Jack’s soul and therefore man who got it was destined for marriage. he was not allowed into Hell. He did When Halloween arrived in America this however give him a piece of burning coal became known as ‘Trick or Treat’ today to light the way as he roamed. Jack put which is a fun tradition for kids to collect this into a carved out turnip to use as a candy from households. lamp and forever roamed the earth alone. However, in late 1800, Halloween was Trick-or-Treat converted into an event that was more It is basically the tradition that was about community and not something borrowed from English and Irish related to pranks, ghosts or witchcraft. traditions. In the early years, this was That is why people started to organise known as ‘Souling’ where the poor would different types of parties and assure go around to households and offer songs, that they could have some fun while poems and sometimes a trick in exchange remembering the actual spirit of for food. Halloween. Denise McCabe is a children’s book author and blogger. She resides in Dublin with her two children. Her favourite pastime is writing, and reading with a cup of tea at hand. You can discover more about Denise here: www.amazon.co.uk/Denise-McCabe/e/B00OQTQ85W
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Halloween – It’s Not For Everyone Grant Leishman
Halloween! As a kid growing up in 1960’s New Zealand we couldn’t have been further away from the hype and hoopla that was Halloween, as portrayed by the movies and the odd television show we would see from America (we got our first black and white TV in 1965). So, for me Halloween was never a big thing. Oh sure, when my kids reached a certain age, and exposed to American TV culture as they were, of course they wanted to go “trick or treating”, but the reality was it simply wasn’t the thing to do, there in suburban Mosgiel. I did take my son once, but after the tenth house where no one opened the door to his knock, he rapidly lost interest in the whole idea. For us, of British extraction November 5th (Guy Fawkes Night) was always a much bigger celebration than October 31st, the traditional date for Halloween. Guy Fawkes Night celebrates the attempt by one Guy Fawkes and his Catholic friends to assassinate the Protestant King James and replace him with his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, third in line for
the throne, by blowing up the Houses of Parliament, along with the King, on November 5th 1605. The plot was discovered, however, and Guy Fawkes was tortured, tried, executed, by hanging, his body then quartered and distributed to the “four corners” of the kingdom, on January 31st 1606. In England and in its Commonwealth countries, such as New Zealand, November 5th is a night of bonfires, fireworks and fun. Since moving to The Philippines, eight years ago, I’ve had the opportunity to view Halloween from the perspective of a country steeped in American tradition (The Philippines was a colony of the US from 1898 until 1946). It’s a lot of fun and I do love giving out the candy to the hordes of young boys and girls who turn up on our doorstep, “trick or treating”. Here, though, in this deeply Catholic country these dates are more important for two special holidays. “All Saints Day” (November 1st) and “All Souls Day” (November 2nd). All Saints Day is a celebration of the Catholic Saints
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and their importance in the lives of the 2nd, to sit in the blazing heat and faithful. reminisce, tell stories, and even share jokes about their departed family members has What I found even more fascinating always filled me with awe. For Filipinos, it was All Souls Day, where Christians are is about family, togetherness and sharing commanded to pray for and remember a joint experience, often through harsh their dead brothers and sisters in Christ. and difficult time. I find that incredibly Here in The Philippines, All Souls Day refreshing, in this increasingly “me has become a family occasion in which centric” world. families gather at the gravesides of their dearly departed family members, pray However, you celebrate the period: Be it for them and thank them for the part Halloween, Guy Fawkes, All Saints or All they played in their family’s lives. The Souls Day; may you take pleasure from commitment, the dedication and the the simple joy of being together, breaking honesty of the millions of Filipinos who bread with each other, and enjoying each flock to the cemeteries every November other’s company. You can discover more about Grant here: www.amazon.com/Grant-Leishman/e/B012ATB9N0 - 23 -
The Gunpowder Plot Mansel Jones
In May 1604, Robert Catesby rented rooms adjacent to the House of Lords and, along with over a dozen conspirators, instigated a plot to kill James I and replace him on the throne with Elizabeth, James’ nine-year-old daughter. One of the conspirators was Guido Fawkes, an explosives expert. The conspirators learned that the lease on a cellar under the House of Lords was up and they duly acquired it. By March 1605, gunpowder stored in barrels had been placed in the cellar and the conspirators dispersed, arranging to meet up again when parliament reopened in November.
Unfortunately for the conspirators one of their number, Sir Francis Tresham, wrote to his brother-in-law warning him not to attend the opening of parliament. That letter was passed on to Robert Cecil, Secretary of State, and at midnight on Tuesday the 5th November 1605, a party of armed men found Guido Fawkes guarding twenty barrels of gunpowder. Robert Catesby was shot while evading capture. The other conspirators were arrested and, on the 30 and 31 January 1606, were hanged, drawn and quartered. However, Guido Fawkes escaped being drawn and quartered alive because he jumped from the gallows, breaking his neck.
Mansel Jones has been researching and writing about medieval history for the past forty years. He is an acknowledged expert in his field and academics and universities seek his views. He is the author of A History of Kenfig, Pendragon and Tangwstyl. You can discover more about Mansel here: www.amazon.co.uk/Mansel-Jones/e/B0044RKLZO - 24 -
Bulgarian Magical Healers: Don’t Call Me a Witch! Ronesa Aveela
Is healing outside of modern medicine No day is more important for healers than miraculous or perhaps even magical? Midsummer, or Eniovden, a celebration of the summer solstice. Beginning at Do you know where Bulgaria is? It’s dusk on the previous evening, women nestled along the western side of the Black and healers collect herbs because they’re Sea, just north of Greece. The country is most potent on this day. Although it perhaps best known to the Western world may sound strange, they collect seventyfor the city of Varna, the place where seven and a half herbs. It’s said this is the Dracula set sail on the Demeter. But the number of illnesses that exist, with country has so much more to its acclaim the half herb designated for unknown — Thracian tombs, rose oil, yogurt, ailments. (No, I don’t know how they honey, and herbs. Not to mention all the determine a half herb. Perhaps they break creatures who call it home — vampires, one in half. Like so many other rituals, it’s witches, dragons, and nymphs. You’ve secretive.) most likely heard of Veelas from Harry Potter stories. In Bulgaria these nymphs, or fairies, who can charm men are called Samodivi and inhabit forests. Their sisters the Rusalki thrive in water bodies. You’d probably call them mermaids. Bulgarians are steeped in superstitions, with numerous ways to ward off illness and curses caused by the “evil eye,” but they are also believers in the divine. Orthodox and pagan practices combine into unique perspectives on every aspect of life from birth to death. Folk medicine is widespread — in cities as well as in tiny, remote villages. Herbs play an important role in these cures. A popular saying is that an herb exists for every ache. Even during the time of the Roman Empire, Thrace (modern Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey) was known for its vast richness of medicinal plants.
Girls stepping through an Eniovden wreath, by Nelinda, used with permission of the artist
Women who gather the herbs use some to create a giant wreath that young girls pass through. This protects them from being captured by a zmey, a male dragon who easily falls in love with a maiden and desires to have her for a bride. (Lest you
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think this might be quite the adventure, believe me it’s not. Those marriages always end in disaster for the poor girl who gives in to the zmey’s pleas and promises of wealth.)
a clairvoyant. The most famous was Baba Vanga (1911–1996). As a child she was reportedly caught up in a tornado and dumped into a field. From that point on, her eyesight failed, but her psychic and herbal healing abilities developed, which Mostly, however, healers use herbs to she claimed came from invisible creatures. cure illnesses, especially those caused by spirits or through curses. In ancient Samodivi are said to be daughters of the times in Bulgaria, during the time of Great Goddess Bendis, and are therefore the Thracians, the summer solstice was protectors of nature. In this capacity, they associated with spirits crossing from have the power to heal creatures and the one realm to the next. And so, it was a land itself. Bulgarians believe the nymphs day when people, livestock, and fields initiate chosen women into the sisterhood, required protection. Only those versed in and pass on to them the secrets of healing magical rites could perform these sacred with herbs. The ceremony takes place rituals. They used herbs that had the in the woods right before sunrise on a power to contact invisible beings in order Sunday on a night when the moon is full. to help them cure the afflicted person. A more common initiation, however, is Who are these healers, and how did they one passed down from one generation obtain this power? Both men and women to the next, or from grandmother to can be healers, although most often the granddaughter. The females involved role falls to an elderly woman called a are expected to be “ritually pure,” that znahar. But, please, don’t call her a witch. is pre-menstrual or post-menopausal. To this nation of people who believe in a These points in a female’s life bring them single, omnipotent God as much as they closest to the states of birth and death, do in beautiful, enchanting Samodivi, a respectively, allowing them to transition “witch” is a veshtitsa, a spiteful person between the earthly and otherworldly who practices the dark arts and wishes realms so they can communicate with to cause death, sickness, discord, and the spirits. theft of fertility from the land, rather than healing and well-being. A community The initiation can take place in various fears a veshtitsa, while they respect a sacred places — by a river (symbolic of znahar. birth) or next to a hearth (representing the home or temple of the gods). In the In rare instances, the znahar receives her first, the initiate climbs a willow tree by healing arts by a supernatural means — the river. With its branches in the air, and from a saint, angel, or Samodiva through its roots in the earth, getting nourishment a dream, or even in a near-death situation, from the water, the tree unifies all three when the boundaries between this life elements. The initiate recites the words to and the next merge. The znahar in this the sacred ritual three times, then moves case not only becomes a healer, but also to another branch and repeats the words - 26 -
three more times. Once more, the initiate moves and repeats the words three more times, ensuring the power will “take root” in the individual.
Next, the elderly woman stands behind the initiate and recites the incantation, which the initiate repeats. They repeat the words three times. The elderly woman removes a metal or clay ceremonial object from a wicker basket placed to the right of the initiate. The initiate makes the sign of the cross three times, then touches the object to her forehead, then to her heart, and finally to her knees. She makes the sign of the cross again, and places the sacred object on her left side.
The elderly woman stirs a bunch of basil in a bowl of water and recites a blessing. After the blessing, the elderly woman sprinkles the initiate with the water using the basil to endow her with divine power. The initiate drinks the water from three Baba Vanga, a Bulgarian prophetess. By originally bg:User:Пакко (bg:Image:Vanga.jpg) places. This provides her with guidance for her mouth, hands, and heart: to speak, [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ do, and feel those things that bring health by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons and life to others. When performed at the hearth, the elder woman places bread in a covered clay dish called a podnitza and sticks it into the fire. Using iron tools, which have purifying power to chase away evil, she buries the dish with ashes, then places the tools on both sides of the hearth. Facing the fire, the initiate kneels on a broom, which symbolizes purification, the sweeping away of all unclean things.
A mediator is needed to transfer the healing power to the initiate. This is done with the bread, called dobra dusha, kind soul. The elderly woman breaks three pieces from it. She eats one, the initiate another, and the third the elderly woman places on the inside of the chimney. The two women now share the power. The initiate will gain her full power only after her mentor dies.
The elder woman places three grains of wheat on the initiate’s right knee and three on the left, then tosses three grains into the fire. In ancient rituals, wheat consecrated the sacrifice offered to the gods. Placing it on the initiate, therefore, purifies her so she can become a vessel divine power can flow through.
In the final rite of the ceremony, the elderly woman ties a red thread to the initiate’s right hand and pins a geranium onto her clothing. These both are symbolic of protection. A znahar is said to be able to diagnose the origin of an ailment. If it’s caused by black
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magic, she not only uses herbs, but also recites an incantation to remove the spell. However, the spell must never be spoken without the use of the herbs, or both will lose their potency. And the spells must be uttered only when she fully understands the magic of each herb. Reciting spells over herbs before this point will harm both the woman and the person she attempts to heal.
Magical herbs grow in valleys or high in the mountains. Using them is reported to enable the znahar to contact spirits to help with the magic. A few of these herbs follow:
The healing ceremony begins with a prayer to beings in the spiritual realm so they’ll bless the sick person. In one ritual, the healer leads the patient to the front door. There, he bows, touching his forehead against the threshold. He rises and proceeds to the hearth, where he again bows. The healer places embers in a bowl of water. Using the designated herb, she sprinkles the ill person’s head with the water. She holds bread and wine over his head and asks the illness to depart.
• One mysterious herb is bile, used to expel demons causing illnesses. • Angelica protects against spells and demonic attacks. • Pink iris root provides happiness, success, strength, and energy for those who are depressed. • Basil is used for cleansing and healing. • Vervain enhances magical powers and prevents attacks against the mind. • Lilac brings peace and tranquility. • Nettle breaks spells and exorcises demons. • Wormwood keeps dragons away.
References: Konstantinova, Daniela Prayer (trans.). “Prayer blessing, vow: the secret lore of the Bulgarian healers and sorceresses.” Sept. 27, 2012. http://bnr.bg/en/post/100170254/prayer-blessing-vow-the-secretlore-of-the-bulgarian-healers-and-sorceresses. Mag, Selena. “Secrets of magic herbs” (translated from Bulgarian). Mar. 13, 2009. http://www.selenabg. com/index.php/2008-07-29-07-51-40/1616-2009-03-13-06-32-15.html. Mishev, Georgi. Thracian Magic past and present. Sept. 2013. (BM Avalonia: London).
Ronesa Aveela grew up in Bulgaria and moved to the US where she completed her Master’s degree in Boston. She is the author of the novel Mystical Emona, a non-fiction book called Light Love Rituals: Bulgarian Myths, Legends, and Folklore, as well as a short stories series, Baba Treasure Chest, inspired by the magic of Bulgarian, Thracian and Slavic Mythology. You can discover more about Ronesa here: www.amazon.com/Ronesa-Aveela/e/B00N02ZS20 - 28 -
Halloween: A Psychic’s Perspective Anne Francis Scott
October is my favorite time of year, the beginning of autumn in my corner of the world, when the summer heat gives way to cooler temperatures and the countdown to Halloween begins. It is a season for parties and scaring each other silly, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can book a tour at one of the many purported haunted locations. Of course, the tours are mostly for fun, but if you happen to be a sensitive like myself, you might tune in to some of the unseen ethereal things that are rumored to go bump in the night. Most of you are probably aware of the origin of Halloween, the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, or “Festival of the Dead,” which signaled the end of harvest season and the beginning of the darker, colder half of the year. The Celts believed that on this eve of a new year, the veil between our world and the next became whisper thin, allowing the souls of the dead to return to Earth. Superstition and lore, right? Maybe not. I remember trolling the neighborhood streets on Halloween nights with a horde of other costume-clad kids. The
excitement in the air was always palpable, but for me there was usually another kind of “goose bump moment.” At the time I was too young to analyze the situation. I only knew the atmosphere felt different, a good enough explanation for a kid. I’ve since learned to pay more attention to those eerie moments. To this day I still often experience the subtle feeling of awareness on the eve of Halloween, what I perceive to be a shift in energy. This shift is something akin to the sensation of the odd, subtle stillness which occurs when the barometric pressure drops just before a thunderstorm. Some of you might be thinking just the hype of All Hallows’ Eve is bound to spark the idea of otherworldly activity where there is none. I’ll admit the possibility. But remember, in every bit of legend and lore, there is always the one infinitesimal grain of truth that started the tale. The story behind the story. So, for Halloween this year, why not test the possibility of something outside the realm of what we accept as logic? Clear your mind, keep your senses open. You might be surprised at what you find.
If you’re curious about Anne’s encounters with the paranormal side of life, visit her website at www.annefrancisscott.com, where she talks about some of those experiences with Real Paranormal Activity – The Podcast. - 29 -
Mini Mystery: Piltdown Man Hannah Howe
In September 1912 Charles Dawson, a respected country lawyer, made a shocking discovery. He found a prehistoric humanoid skull in a gravel pit near Piltdown Common, Sussex. The skull proved Charles Darwin’s 1859 Theory of Evolution. Or did it?
fossilized bone fragments, flint tools and fossilized teeth. Experts were called in and they confirmed that Piltdown Man was half a million years old and the missing link between ape and man, a fact they announced to the British public on 18th December 1912. However, in November 1953 a group of palaeontologists tested the skull and pronounced it a fake. The skull was indeed human, but the teeth and jawbone came from an orang-utan.
Who perpetrated the hoax? The prime suspect is Charles Dawson, a man ambitious to prove his credentials as a geologist. But what of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (pictured above), a man interested in science, a neighbour of Dawson’s and the creator of Sherlock Holmes? Did Dr Arthur Smith Woodward of the British Conan Doyle perpetrate the hoax and Museum joined Charles Dawson on his thus create a real-life mystery? archaeological dig. Together, they found Hannah Howe is the author of the Sam Smith Mystery Series, the Ann’s War Mystery Series and the #1 international bestseller Saving Grace. Hannah’s books are published by Goylake Publishing and distributed through Gardners Books to over 300 outlets worldwide. Her books are available in print, as eBooks and audio books, and are being translated into ten languages.
You can discover more about Hannah here: www.amazon.co.uk/Hannah-Howe/e/B00OK7E24E - 30 -
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT Heather Ramsay
Heather Ramsay is the author of the gripping romantic thrillers Snakebite and Retribution.
What are your favourite qualities in a man? Definitely humour. They need to be able to laugh at themselves. Kindness is another big one, and positivity. I’m a glass half-full kind of person and need to surround myself with the same type of people.
Who are your favourite painters and musicians? I can’t say I have a favourite painter, but I do love photography, especially black and white photos. I find something very magical about capturing moments in time. I don’t have a favourite musician either, but I grew up listening to music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. What are your favourite qualities in a Old school rock ‘n’ roll reminds me woman? Same as a man, but with wine! of childhood. Today I listen to a bit of everything, depending on my mood. What do you appreciate the most in your friends? Thoughtfulness and Who are your favourite heroes in kindness. fiction? Jamie, from Outlander. He’s courageous, kind, selfless. He always puts What is your favourite pastime? the ones he loves first, even at the sacrifice Reading, writing and travelling. of his own happiness. What is your idea of happiness? Who are your favourite heroines in A cottage, a great view, my family and a fiction? Pretty much every strong female, good book! whether that be physical, emotional or What is your favourite colour and mental strength. I admire their ability to face adversity and overcome it. flower? Blue and sunflower. You can discover more about Heather here: Website: www.heatherramsayauthor.com Amazon: www.smarturl.it/qsjmwz Barnes and Noble: www.bit.ly/2PfSxuD Kobo: www.bit.ly/2PdSKhQ iBooks: www.smarturl.it/qlz3ed Smashwords: www.bit.ly/2MA4izf - 31 -
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