|
Our "Thirteen Days of Halloween" tradition is
our way of beginning the haunting season and jump starting our Halloween mind-set.
On October 17th Wraith and I decorate the backyard of
the house. Several dozens of candles are arraigned around the backyard
and pumpkin scented
incense is lit to fill the air with the wonderful aromas of the Halloween season. A large
circle is made from plaster skulls (80) with an old stump in the center to act as the
altar. Sitting on the altar is a large Jack o' Lantern. A long picnic table, painted black
and orange awaits with apple cider, freshly baked pumpkin pie and other refreshments.
Orange plates, glasses and plastic-ware are provided.
Our group, made up of thirteen Halloween
enthusiasts assemble at our house at 11:30 pm. All come dressed in black robes and each
has a small pumpkin carved into a Jack o' Lantern for this occasion. Wraith and I stand on
opposite sides of our gate and as each member arrives we great them. "Welcome (NAME),
child of the Halloween spirit." until the last person had arrived.
Just before midnight, everyone lights a
candle and puts it in their jack-o-lantern. Silently, we all move into the circle. At
Midnight we play a CD of Big Ben chiming twelve o'clock.
I welcome in October and the thirteen days of
Halloween then say a few words about what lies in the haunting time ahead. We go around
the circle and each person says something about the upcoming celebration.
Then we form a single line and walk around
one or two city blocks, wearing our black robes and carrying our lit jack-o-lanterns to
the graveyard.
When we return, we reform our circle and
then I say a few more words and put on a CD of Danse Macabre. We all "frolic", i.e.
we dance around the circle, kicking up our heels and singing silly words to Halloween
songs.
We then call the official ceremony to a close
and we put on Halloween music and party with pumpkin pie and a variety of Halloween
treats, all of which are surprisingly easy to find a few weeks before Halloween.
And so begins The
Thirteen Days of Halloween
Spooky |
