In the weeks leading up to Samhain, I went out shopping several times buying tons of Candy, tons of Fireworks, and Three Pumpkins. All in Three Trips, each Trip buying one Pumpkin.
The Samhain Celebrations actually got started on the 30th of October. I was invited over to a Friend of mines Place to start off with a couple of Hours of Nickle Anti Poker before heading out to the Big Party. I got dressed up in my Wicca Paganistic Robes and headed over to my Friends place.
It seemed that my Friend had heard of a Big Fiesta Honouring the Dead, which is held by the Mexican Community in Grandview Park, which is on Vancouver's Commerical Street. So the plan was to go to check out this Big Mexican Fiesta after playing a few hands of Poker. So from 5:00pm to 7:15pm, we played Poker.
Then we got geared up and went down to Grandview Park. We got there at around 8:00pm.
THERE WAS A HUUUUUUGE CROWD!!!
There was all sorts of different People wearing all sorts of different beautiful Colourfull Costumes. There was also all sorts of people blowing off all sorts of different Fireworks. There were mainly Skreecheroos going off, with Roman Candles, Dancing Devils, and Sparklers.
My Friends and I found a nice Log to sit on in the Park and we each pulled out a Beer each that we had Smuggled into the Park. We slowly enjoyed our Beers as we sat there watching everyone parading around enjoying themselves. I lit and gave away several Sparklers to People who all seemed to like appreciate recieving them. We also would interrupt our sipping on our Beers to blow off a Firework every once in a while. Mainly Skreecheroos or Dancing Devils.
Then after the Beers where gone, we started looking around. The first thing we found was a nice huge Altar a Woman put up as a memorial to her recently dearly departed Cat, who had lived to 19 Years Old (Wow!!!). My Friend told the woman about how his Cat had just recently had a Major Heart Attack and had Passed Away. She was very Sympathetic.
I then went over an noticed another Atlar. It was put up by a group of Pagans who informed me that their Altar was dedicated to the Lost Souls of the Dearly Departed. Their Altar was covered with all sorts of Candles. I took my Eucalyptus Blessing Staff, touched each of their Heads with it, Blessing them all.
That is when the funny thing of the Night happened.
In the Minute or Two I spent looking over the Altar to all the Lost Souls, my Friends had wandered off, as they had not noticed me stopping at the Altar. When I turned around after Blessing the Altar to Lost Souls, I discovered that I could not find my Friends anymore.
Ironic, isn't it? I stop to Bless an Altar to Lost Souls, and I suddenly find myself Lost in the Crowd.
I had a few more sips of Beer left in my Bottle, so I finished them off while looking around the Crowd for my Friends. I still could not see them, so I tried blowing off a couple of my Fireworks in hopes that it would attract their attention. I blew off a Roman Candle and Three Skreecheroos, but my friends did not turn up.
So I went around in the crowd observing everyone having a good time for about a half hour more then decided to head home. I took the Bus to the Commercial Street Skytrain Station. At the Skytrain Station, there is an A&W restaurant outlet, and I do like their Chubby Chicken, so I decided to go in for a bite. At the same time, a Girl went in the Restaurant dressed up in a dress mainly made with Autumnally Colour Maple leaves, with Red Spangley Hair. She looked totally stunning!
I immediately Blessed her and her Costume with my Eucalyptus Blessing Staff. I thuroughly informed her that her Costume was absolutely stunning. She giggled and blushed. We then had a bit of small talk and then we got our orders and we went on both our ways.
I am actually a bit Pissed Off at myself for not getting up the Courage to ask her for her Card or Phone Number, or at least give her my Card. I could have seen myself chasing her around the Maypole a few times.
Anyways, I went home, blew off one more Skreecheroo on my Building Front Walk, then went in and went to bed.
So on the Morning of Samhain came and I got up and got down to business. I lit my Altar Candles and Incense, then took a Ritualistic Clearing and Releasing Bath, and then set to work writing a couple of WitchSchool.com Exams. I wrote the Tarot 101 Course's Fourth Exam and got 96% Score.
I then took the Final Exam for Feline Magick Course, and I have to admit that Exam did not go so well. I got a dismally failling mark of only 64%.
The strange thing then happened. When I checked my WitchSchool.com's Completed Courses Transcripts, I discovered that I was registered as having passed the Feline Magick Course with a 80% Passing Grade. I was amazed that even though getting such a bad score on the Final Exam, I was allowed a passing grade on the Course. IMO: I concider it a bit cheesy failling the Final Exam, but yet getting a Passing Grade anyways, but I will take it.
Then I set to work carving my Jack-O-Lanterns. I had Three nice and big Pumpkins. The first I carved with the classic Triangle Eyes and Nose with a Mouth full of Jagged Teeth. The next was carved with a Cat Face complete with Whiskers. The last Pumpkin was carved with Four Different Symbols: A Wicca Paganistic First Degree Priest Symbol, the Symbol of the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, and finally a Pentagram.
I then cleaned and spiced the Pumpkin Seeds with Cayenne Pepper and Garlic, then Baked them in the Oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, stirring them every 5 minutes or so. They came out very good.
I then got dressed up in my Robes again and went of to my local Pub with my Tarot Deck to have a few Beers and do a couple of Readings. Things went quite well, and my Readings at the Pub is now posted in my Tarot Card Journal in the Divinatory Arts Forums.
I then returned Home and set up an Altar in the Lobby of the Apartment. It was a Square Collaspseable Table with a Incense Burner, and a Huge Green Candle with a small Japanese Byobu Screen backing them up. The corners of the Square Table were orientated to East, South, West and East. In each corner, I lit a small Red Tea Candle, consecrating the Airt Quarter.
On the Lobby Newspaper Stand, I set up the cache of Candy for the Kids, and then set up my Jack-O-Lanterns. The Cat Face and Evil Faced Jack-O-Lanterns were put out on the Front Walk, and the Wicca Paganistic Symbolic Jack-O-Lantern was put in the Front Entrance Windows. I then shut off the Lobby Lights and set to work handing out the Candy, all the while occasionally throwing out the occasional Skreecheroo. About a couple of Dozen Children showed up, and I filled their Sacks very generously. It was just then that one of my Tenants came out to hang around while dressed up as Captain Kirk.
Then at about 9:00pm, I stopped giving out the Candys and started blowing off the Fireworks in earnest!!!
Across nearby 6th Avenue, a house started with some Colourfull Mortar Bombs, to which, I responded with a volley of Roman Candles and Skreecheroos. I then alternated setting off Fireworks out Front & Back of the Apartment Building. The Grand Finale was the Big Mortar Bomb I purchased called "The Samurai Warrior".
After the Fireworks was over, I went up to Captain Kirk's Suite and had a few more Beers while watching tapes of old Simpsons Halloween Specials. After a while, I staggered back Home and slept the rest of the night away.
For the most part, I concidered this Years Samhain as a Good Success. The only thing that I wish I could have done differently is having gotten up the Courage to ask that Girl at the A&W who was dressed up like the Goddess Gaia in Autumn for her Phone Number, but Cie La Vie, eh?
Ki No Ronin
