Samhain - The Irish New Year by Bridget Haggerty

Following the revels of Hallowe’en, the ancient Irish celebrated the festival of the dead - Samhain, which is pronounced sow-en, and is usually translated as “summer’s end.” In Celtic lore, the year is divided into two halves associated with the dark and the light. The dark half begins at sunset on November 1st with Samhain and the cycle ends when the light half begins at sunset on May 1st, which is the festival of Bealtaine. Both festivals are closely linked, but in general, Samhain is considered to be the most important. In the old days, extensive preparations were made for the sharing of a communal feast that included the dearly departed as guests of honor. To enable them to come and go freely, all doors and windows were left unlatched; a special cake was made exclusively for their consumption, and a certain amount of other food was set aside just for them. This had to be left untouched by any mortal hand for the duration of the ritual period. Eating the food of the dead was considered to be a major sacrilege and it condemned the perpetrator to becoming a hungry spirit after death, forever banned from sharing in the Samhain feast.

Beyond the great feast, the dead would also need to be entertained. Customs vary from one Celtic nation to another, but in general, while the young people played games associated with the rituals of Samhain, the elders reviewed all of the events of the past year for the benefit of those who had passed on. This was believed to encourage the dead to continue to take an interest in the affairs of the living.

As at all turning points in the Celtic year, ancient lore tells us that the Gods draw near to earth at Samhain. In ancient Ireland, people extinguished their hearth fires and then gathered at the ritual center of their tribe to honor the gods with gifts and sacrifices. There, they waited for the Druids to light the new fire of the year. Then, personal prayers in the form of objects symbolizing the wishes of supplicants were cast into the blaze. At the end of the ceremonies, each member of the tribe took back to his or her home hearth a brand ignited from the new fire.
Samhain fires have continued to light up the countryside down the centuries. In some areas, ashes from these bonfires were sprinkled on surrounding fields as a form of protection. The added bonus, of course, was that the ashes improved the soil.

So how did Samhain become All Saints Day? As with many of the old festivals, Christianity stepped in to do whatever it could to eliminate pagan rituals. In this case, it was Pope Boniface who took the festival of the dead and made it the festival of all saints and martyrs. Originally it took place on May 13th, but a century later, Pope Gregory III shifted it to November. In Ireland, All Saints Day was instituted in 998 AD by Abbot Odilo of Cluny and by the 13th century, although many of the old Samhain rituals persisted as folk customs, November 1st had become firmly established as a Christian festival

Mumming is an ancient pagan custom, and the people of Medieval Britain often used it as an excuse to have a party at Christmas. They would dress up in old articles of clothing to disguise themselves, and wearing masks, visit the homes of friends and neighbours during the Christmas season. It was later banned in the UK, because it often became an excuse for begging and committing crimes. Although the early settlers brought it to the new world, where it came to be known as mummering, it was also quickly banned in most places. Newfoundland however, where most communities were small and isolated was the exception. Here it became a Christmas tradition that continues to this day.
When mummers visit everyone in the house start playing a guessing game. The idea is to guess the identity of the mummers, and as each one is identified they uncover their faces, if no one guesses a mummers name he/she does not have to unmask. Sometimes a man will dress as a woman or a women as a man. Often there is accordion music and the mummers will dance with each others or members of the household. Sometimes a small lunch may be served, Christmas cake and with a glass of syrup or maybe whisky or rum. When I was growing up, it was common for children above the age of twelve to go mummering, but with others of their age or a year or two older, never with adults.
Although it is a Christmas custom, it is almost unknown for anyone to go mummering on Christmas night or on a Sunday. Starting on Boxing day, (which we always knew as St Stephen's day when I was a boy) and continuing to Old Christmas day, Jan. 6 th at anytime after darkness, you may expect a knock on your door with the traditional greeting, ”any mummers allowed in”? As Children we would visit nearby houses during the early hours of the night, and although I feel certain that everyone knew who we were, they would make much of trying to guess our identity. We knew nothing of Halloween and today's “trick or treat”, so this was our chance to dress up and have some fun, maybe even get a treat.
For a time, especially in the late 1960's and the 1970's, the old tradition seemed to fade in many parts of the province, but thanks to the locally popular musical duo, Simini, it has been revived. Simini wrote and recorded “The Mummer's Song” in 1982 and once again, at sometime during the Christmas season, it's common, at least in the smaller towns, to see mummers going from door to door. They sing the old Christmas songs and ask the well worn question as only Newfoundlanders can, ”any mummers "lowed in”?
The Mummer"s Song may be viewed on You Tube.

Obama has been elected since I last wrote on this. I feel a bit sorry for him b/c our "friend" Bush has left a mess for him.

It's been interesting to me. I have read "Twilight" and the next two books I have picked up to read are about psychic type stuff, a subject in a books I have studiously avoided. I really can't wait to start the next Twilight Saga book, New Moon. Em, you have turned me. :)

At least I feel better this evening. I have managed to catch my usual sinus infection that turns into chest congestion. Work tomorrow. The week-end crew are fun to work with and truly seem to work together as a team.

The Hurricanes play to-night. I hope it's better than the last two games. Maybe once all the guys like Williams and Kaberle are back things will be better.

Good night all.

I've come to the not so earth shattering conclusion that housework was invented by the devil. I absoulutely dispise it. I think little leprechauns have a hand in messing up my house. I wish they would come back and clean it up.

So, I broke down and bought the book "Twilight" as I promised Em. She assures me I will like it and promses it's not like Anne Rice's book which at times gets a little gory for me although I did read "Interview with a Vampire" and watched the movie all the way through. Courtney would not put "Twilight" down when we doing the Lean team stuff. We would talk to her on purpose so it would distract her. :)

To-day is the American election day and all I have to say to that is thank heavens. My adopted son (:)) Greg on his Facebook said now we have only 36 hours before the politicians start campaigning for the 2012 election. Go Obama!!!

It's already dark out. I am not a fan of winter. But it's only a few months. The only good thing about winter is hockey and Christmas. I woke in a panic this am. I had forgotten to set my bedside clock back and woke to it showing 0750 and I had an 0800 meeting at the hospital that I was leading. Good way to get your heart jumpstarted.

I've posted a video on Facebook and here about Obama being Irish. Enjoy.

Murphy Irish Origin

Irish Spelling variations include: Murphy, Morchoe, O'Murphy, Murfie, Murfree, Morfie, Morfey and many more.

First found in county Wexford where they held a family seat from very early times. Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Alexander, Andrew, Antony, Bernard, Cornelius, Daniel, David, Denis, Edward, Elizabeth, Ellen, Francis, George, Henry, Hugh, James, Jeremiah, John, Joseph, Margaret, Mary, Michael, Patrick, Owen, Peter, Robert, Thomas, Timothy and William Murphy.

Motto Translated: Brave and hospitable.

Suggested Readings for the name Murphy: The Ancestors and Descendants of Simon Jones and Ann M. (Dorr) Murphy by Marjorie Barnes Thompson; Early Murphy's, Murpheys in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Robertson and Carroll Counties, Tennessee by Marion Emerson Murphy;

Some noteworthy people of the name Murphy: Morg murphy (1867-1938) American baseball player; Dervla murphy (contemporary) Irish travel writer; Dale murphy (1956-) American baseball player; Graeme murphy (1951-) Australian dancer; Audie murphy (1924-1971) American actor; Michael murphy (1938-) American actor; Bridey murphy (19th c) Irish previous incarnation of "Virginia Tighe Morrow"; Ben murphy (1942-) American actor; Edward Regan murphy (1961-) American comedian; Turk murphy (1915-1987) jazz musician; Arthur murphy (1727-1805) Irish actor; Graeme murphy (1951-) Australian dancer; William Parry murphy (1892-) American physician