Holidays are approaching

For me, the beginning of October is the beginning of the holidays seasons. A fun exciting time to celebrate the memory of those gone, the blessing of the year and celebration of life and the future. A wonderful and exciting time of the year.

First holiday is the Halloween. The oldest origins was a celebration of the harvest brought in, the end of summer and Celtic New Year in what was known as Samhain pronounced “sah-win”. Although Halloween has changed through the centuries, shaped by different beliefs and customs, the part of warding off evil spirits and dressing up are traced to these original beginnings. The Roman Catholic church celebrate All Hallows Eve on October 31, All Saints’ Day on November 1 and All Souls’ Day on November 2. The remembrance of those who have died before us.

I celebrate the harvest and remembering. I carve a few pumpkins, but the majority are left whole, so they will continue to be used through Thanksgiving. It is time to clean up the spring and summer plants, getting ready for the fall garden and winter months. Letting some of the ground rest in preparations of spring planting next year. Halloween, my husband and I celebrate alone with binge watching of Harry Potter movies. Popcorn, cheese and crackers to keep us going, with the occasional glass of wine. Since we live in a rural area, we do not get trick-o-treaters, but I always have some candy just in case. Maybe year 13 will be the year we have visitors for candy.

Then we have Thanksgiving in November. A celebration with family and friends for the many blessings we have received during the year. While most of the family has summer vacations and each seems to go their separate ways. Thanksgiving is where we come together, catch up on the year’s activities and enjoy each others company. This year, my husband’s daughter and her children will be celebrating with us. Supposedly her boyfriend will join them and we will have the opportunity to get to know him as well. I hope he likes lamb and goat for Thanksgiving, and is not upset I did not fix the traditional turkey.

After Thanksgiving, I start removing the fall decorations and replacing them with Christmas decorations. I am not a big fan of “Black Friday” shopping, as I try to have my Christmas done before Thanksgiving. I will have every room decorated with the joys of Christmas and celebration of the birth of Jesus. This year, we will be celebrating Christmas alone. There will be a visit to deliver gifts and share a meal with my daughter, her family and the triplets. But the triplets will be babies, and a lot of work for a two hour trip to Granny’s house.

After these holidays, we face a new year and our anniversary. New Year for new hope and beginnings.

amtolle