Lynn L. Clark's Blog: Writing in Retirement, page 4
October 2, 2017
The Origins of Halloween: Part 1
In the lead-up to October 31st, I thought it might be fun to do a series of posts on the origins of Halloween and its evolving traditions. (These are reprinted from my October 2016 Behind the Walls of Nightmare blog posts.)
Halloween’s origins date back two thousand years to the Celts, who lived in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. The Celts celebrated their new year on November 1, which marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter: a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain (pronounced sow-in), when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins.
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After the Roman Empire conquered the majority of Celtic territory, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees.
The later influence of Christianity also affected the Celtic rituals. The Celtic festival of the dead was eventually replaced with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. All Souls' Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. It was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas and the night before it--the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion--began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.
The celebration of Halloween in North America reflected the influence of the different European ethnic groups who settled there. The first celebrations included “play parties,” public events held to celebrate the harvest, where neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other’s fortunes, and dance and sing. Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds.
The American Halloween tradition of “trick-or-treating” probably dates back to the early All Souls’ Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food, and families would give them pastries called “soul cakes” in return for their promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives. The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. This practice, which was referred to as “going a-souling,” was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.
The tradition of dressing in costumes for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, they would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter.
SOURCE: http://www.history.com/topics/hallowe...
Stay tuned for the second installment in next week's post.
Halloween’s origins date back two thousand years to the Celts, who lived in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. The Celts celebrated their new year on November 1, which marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter: a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain (pronounced sow-in), when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins.
.
After the Roman Empire conquered the majority of Celtic territory, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees.
The later influence of Christianity also affected the Celtic rituals. The Celtic festival of the dead was eventually replaced with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. All Souls' Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. It was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas and the night before it--the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion--began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.
The celebration of Halloween in North America reflected the influence of the different European ethnic groups who settled there. The first celebrations included “play parties,” public events held to celebrate the harvest, where neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other’s fortunes, and dance and sing. Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds.
The American Halloween tradition of “trick-or-treating” probably dates back to the early All Souls’ Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food, and families would give them pastries called “soul cakes” in return for their promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives. The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. This practice, which was referred to as “going a-souling,” was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.
The tradition of dressing in costumes for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, they would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter.
SOURCE: http://www.history.com/topics/hallowe...
Stay tuned for the second installment in next week's post.
September 17, 2017
Lyndhurst Turkey Fair
My husband and I had the pleasure yesterday of attending the annual Turkey Fair at Lyndhurst, Ontario, about an hour's drive from our home. The fair is always a large draw for crowds, and this year there were over 1,700 in attendance.
These small-town fairs are a wonderful opportunity for people to wander the main streets, visit the exhibitor booths, listen to music, and share conversations. With the heavy rainfall this summer, there were at least two events we didn't attend so it was wonderful to see the sunshine yesterday.
Lyndhurst had a special event this year to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary. Beautiful paintings now adorn canoe paddles to mark the event. You can view them at https://turkeyfair.com/2017/09/08/vie....
You can learn more about the town and its history at https://turkeyfair.com/about-lyndhurst/.
Thanks to the many organizers and volunteers for all their hard work!
These small-town fairs are a wonderful opportunity for people to wander the main streets, visit the exhibitor booths, listen to music, and share conversations. With the heavy rainfall this summer, there were at least two events we didn't attend so it was wonderful to see the sunshine yesterday.
Lyndhurst had a special event this year to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary. Beautiful paintings now adorn canoe paddles to mark the event. You can view them at https://turkeyfair.com/2017/09/08/vie....
You can learn more about the town and its history at https://turkeyfair.com/about-lyndhurst/.
Thanks to the many organizers and volunteers for all their hard work!
September 10, 2017
Access Copyright
If you're a Canadian writer/artist, you could qualify for royalty payments by applying to affiliate with Access Copyright, the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency. The following excerpt from Access Copyright explains how payments are determined:
Recently Access Copyright won a decision in the Federal Court against York University. The agency outlines the importance of this decision in the excerpt below:
York University is currently appealing the decision, and as noted above, it and others in the educational sector continue to ignore the provisions for fair dealings established by the Supreme Court of Canada.
If you'd like to have your voice heard on the issue of fair compensation, you can join the advocacy team of Access Copyright. Please e-mail the agency at editor@accesscopyright.ca for more details.
As an affiliate, you will be paid royalties whenever we find your works copied under our licences. You will also be eligible to receive our annual Payback payment starting the year following your affiliation. To be eligible this year, your registration date must be by December 31st of last year.
Under Payback, all eligible affiliates are entitled to a base payment. In addition to the base payment, you may receive a supplementary payment that will vary depending on what genre of work you published (books, magazines, scholarly journals and newspapers), how much you published and when you published. In order to receive this supplementary payment, you must submit a Payback claim.
The claim period is open annually from the first business day in April to May 31st with payments distributed at the end of every November. We will contact you every March, once you’re eligible, to remind you to submit your Payback claim. For more details on Payback in the meantime, please visit our website: http://www.accesscopyright.ca/creator....
Recently Access Copyright won a decision in the Federal Court against York University. The agency outlines the importance of this decision in the excerpt below:
The judgement by the Court focused on two questions: do the copying practices and policies implemented by many in the education sector meet the fair dealing requirements under the Copyright Act, and can a user choose not to pay an interim tariff certified by the Copyright Board of Canada?
The Court decisively ruled in favour of creators and publishers on both issues.
It concluded that York’s practices and policies were arbitrary, not based in principle and did not meet the test for fair dealing established by the Supreme Court of Canada. The Court was equally clear by finding that tariffs are mandatory.
The decision is an important victory for Canadian creators and publishers that recognizes the need for you to be compensated when your works are used.
Unfortunately, the reaction from many in the education sector is to continue to rely on the copying practices and policies that were deemed by the Court to lead to illegal behaviour. The majority of educational institutions continue to refuse to pay Access Copyright or individual creators and publishers for the copying of their works. As a result, royalty payments from Access Copyright are not projected to increase in the near future.
York University is currently appealing the decision, and as noted above, it and others in the educational sector continue to ignore the provisions for fair dealings established by the Supreme Court of Canada.
If you'd like to have your voice heard on the issue of fair compensation, you can join the advocacy team of Access Copyright. Please e-mail the agency at editor@accesscopyright.ca for more details.
September 3, 2017
Hide A Book Day: September 18
As part of its tenth anniversary celebrations, Goodreads is teaming up with the Book Fairies in hosting a Hide a Book Day on September 18, 2017.
The Book Fairies are "readers who hide books around the world for people to find, read, and pass on. Anyone can take part. There are currently over 5,000 Book Fairies sharing books in 100 countries...."
What's involved? You select one of your favourite books and hide it in a place that's accessible such as a train or bus station for someone else to find and enjoy reading.
I've been trying to think of other locations for hiding the books. What about a bench in a public library; the table of a coffee shop; a phone booth; the book cart of a local hospital; or a table in the waiting room of a doctor or dentist? I'm sure you can think of many other locations.
You can also order special stickers for the book(s) you share at this event. For more information, please see https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1....
What an interesting way to share your love of books!
The Book Fairies are "readers who hide books around the world for people to find, read, and pass on. Anyone can take part. There are currently over 5,000 Book Fairies sharing books in 100 countries...."
What's involved? You select one of your favourite books and hide it in a place that's accessible such as a train or bus station for someone else to find and enjoy reading.
I've been trying to think of other locations for hiding the books. What about a bench in a public library; the table of a coffee shop; a phone booth; the book cart of a local hospital; or a table in the waiting room of a doctor or dentist? I'm sure you can think of many other locations.
You can also order special stickers for the book(s) you share at this event. For more information, please see https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1....
What an interesting way to share your love of books!
August 27, 2017
Quiet Time
I sneak outside, trying to make as little noise as possible as I open the sliding doors onto my back deck. My neighbour's dog barks incessantly when she's outside, and she usually cues in to the sound of a door opening. But, for once, she is not outside and I can sit peacefully and enjoy the waning days of summer, which seems to be shorter every year.
I look around me and reluctantly see the signs of the encroaching fall. It seems only a short time ago that I welcomed the sound of Canada geese returning in the spring and the first buds on our lilac bush.
But I know that I am privileged, just the same, to enjoy these moments of peace because so many find no quiet time between the waking and sleeping hours.
And so I accept with grace the turning leaves and the birds flocking in the distance.
For those who read this, I wish you a quiet time to yourselves: a time which we don't often appreciate.
I look around me and reluctantly see the signs of the encroaching fall. It seems only a short time ago that I welcomed the sound of Canada geese returning in the spring and the first buds on our lilac bush.
But I know that I am privileged, just the same, to enjoy these moments of peace because so many find no quiet time between the waking and sleeping hours.
And so I accept with grace the turning leaves and the birds flocking in the distance.
For those who read this, I wish you a quiet time to yourselves: a time which we don't often appreciate.
August 6, 2017
Planetary Protection Officer
I discovered that Huffington Post has a weird news section which reports on such things as a calf that's a dead ringer for Gene Simmons. Recently the newspaper featured a unique listing from NASA for a planetary protection officer
There are only two positions like this in the world, the other being with the European Space Agency.
Among the job listing requirements are frequency of travel and proven diplomatic skills in negotiating win-win solutions. For the job listing itself, see https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDe....
For the full text of the article, see http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/na....
(By the way, if you'd also like to see the calf that looks like Gene Simmons, please click here: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/ca....)
. . .who would help thwart the spread of extraterrestrial life ― 'intentionally or unintentionally' ― on Earth and to outside solar systems.
'Planetary protection is concerned with the avoidance of organic-constituent and biological contamination in human and robotic space exploration,' the job listing states. That basically means preventing extraterrestrial life forces ― no matter their size ― from spreading during space travel.
There are only two positions like this in the world, the other being with the European Space Agency.
Among the job listing requirements are frequency of travel and proven diplomatic skills in negotiating win-win solutions. For the job listing itself, see https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDe....
For the full text of the article, see http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/na....
(By the way, if you'd also like to see the calf that looks like Gene Simmons, please click here: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/ca....)
July 24, 2017
"Fighting" Cancer: A Different Perspective
A friend of mine posted a link on Facebook to a very thoughtful opinion piece relating to the diagnosis of cancer for Senator John McCain, a man I deeply respect. It made me stop and think, once again, of the nature of the disease and how we approach it, because I've had two sisters die of cancer.
Here's a telling excerpt from the Washington Examiner opinion piece by Philip Klein:
The author points out the need to understand the nature of the cancer with which John McCain has been diagnosed:
I understand that John McCain has been a fighter all his life--including surviving for years as a prisoner of war--and so it is natural for us to use the analogy of battle in describing his reaction to this latest diagnosis.
However, Klein urges his readers to put this battle in perspective:
For the full text, please click here: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sto...
Thank you, Colin, for bringing this to my attention.
Here's a telling excerpt from the Washington Examiner opinion piece by Philip Klein:
. . .The news that Sen. John McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer has been greeted with a deserved bipartisan outpouring of sympathy. But in their efforts to honor the legacy and fighting spirit of an American hero, many well-wishers are reacting in a way that is counterproductive and unhelpful to those faced with a horrible disease. . . .
Many cancer patients and patient advocates have written against the 'warrior' rhetoric associated with the disease. Employing such rhetoric can make those dealing with cancer feel they are failing and letting people down during especially hard times. It can make terminally ill patients feel that they are weak, or giving up, by deciding to choose palliative care options without undergoing another series of painful treatments that could only marginally prolong their lives. And it also contains the unintended but pernicious implication that those who don't live as long simply didn't fight hard enough. . . .
The author points out the need to understand the nature of the cancer with which John McCain has been diagnosed:
. . . Glioblastoma. . . is sadly among the most aggressive, vicious, and unrelenting forms of cancer. . . .
. . .While there may be benefits to patients [with glioblastoma] trying to stay hopeful and keep their spirits up, personal bravery isn't going to affect outcomes, and it's detrimental to suggest that it can.
I understand that John McCain has been a fighter all his life--including surviving for years as a prisoner of war--and so it is natural for us to use the analogy of battle in describing his reaction to this latest diagnosis.
However, Klein urges his readers to put this battle in perspective:
This isn't to say that people shouldn't honor the legacy of McCain or offer well wishes or prayers for him and his family in the tough period ahead. But they should also try to avoid the suggestion that his demonstrated toughness has any bearing on how this disease will affect his body.
For the full text, please click here: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sto...
Thank you, Colin, for bringing this to my attention.
July 17, 2017
Farewell to Martin Landau
As a fan of the '60s television show Mission Impossible, I was saddened to learn of the death of Martin Landau. He played Rollin Hand, a magician, escape artist, and "man of a million faces." His then-wife, Barbara Bain, also starred in the show. When Landau left the series, he was replaced by Leonard Nimoy, who played the Great Paris, but his performance lacked the charisma of Martin Landau.
Landau was also a film actor, and he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi in Tim Burton's Ed Wood. Landau said of his performance in this film: "I began to respect [Lugosi] and pity him. . . . I saw the humor in him. This, for me, became a love letter to him . . . . I got a chance to make a comeback in my career. And I'm giving him one. I'm giving him the last role he never got."
RIP Martin Landau 1928-2017
Landau was also a film actor, and he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi in Tim Burton's Ed Wood. Landau said of his performance in this film: "I began to respect [Lugosi] and pity him. . . . I saw the humor in him. This, for me, became a love letter to him . . . . I got a chance to make a comeback in my career. And I'm giving him one. I'm giving him the last role he never got."
RIP Martin Landau 1928-2017
June 26, 2017
Library Journal Webcasts
Library Journal is an excellent source of information on modern libraries, recent publications, and present trends in library technology. It also has available a series of webcasts you can register for and view on demand. They are free of charge.
Here are two of its current offerings:
Graphically Different: A Discussion on Diversity in Comics and Graphic Novels -
Comics and graphic novels represent one of the most quickly evolving categories and the increased volume of titles with themes of diversity can present challenges for libraries. How can you best represent your local and global community with your collection? How do you determine their accessibility and predict popularity on a budget? Most importantly, how will this trend continue to evolve and what can we expect from comics creators?
Six Strong Benefits to Supporting Your Local Author Community in Your Library -While they may start in the library, the benefits of programs that serve local writers stretch far beyond the stacks. Join the SELF-e team and a panel of leading librarians who are innovatively answering the American Library Association’s call for programs that support the literary arts.
To see the full list, please visit http://lj.libraryjournal.com/category...
Here are two of its current offerings:
Graphically Different: A Discussion on Diversity in Comics and Graphic Novels -
Comics and graphic novels represent one of the most quickly evolving categories and the increased volume of titles with themes of diversity can present challenges for libraries. How can you best represent your local and global community with your collection? How do you determine their accessibility and predict popularity on a budget? Most importantly, how will this trend continue to evolve and what can we expect from comics creators?
Six Strong Benefits to Supporting Your Local Author Community in Your Library -While they may start in the library, the benefits of programs that serve local writers stretch far beyond the stacks. Join the SELF-e team and a panel of leading librarians who are innovatively answering the American Library Association’s call for programs that support the literary arts.
To see the full list, please visit http://lj.libraryjournal.com/category...
June 18, 2017
Starting to Write Again
It's been well over a year since I published my last novel, THE ACCUSERS, and I must admit that my writing has been--at best--sporadic. In fact, I didn't plan to write any more books, primarily because of the struggles of publishing independently: too many books out there and so few good marketing tools. I have started writing again recently, however, which makes me happy because I enjoy it so much. Thanks to those of you --in particular, my husband--who have encouraged me to keep writing.
Currently I'm working on a book with two novellas: "The Experiment" and "The Portal". Here's a brief summary of each:
"The Experiment" - Jack Booth is an empath who's been made to feel like an outcast by his own mother. But now he's bonded with five other university students who possess extra-sensory powers in an experiment that's supposed to map the potential of the human mind. Under the direction of the transhumanist Dr. Derek Avery, the sky seems to be the limit until Jack and his fellow subjects find themselves trapped in an abandoned asylum with no potential for escape, and the purpose of the experiment no longer seems quite so noble.
"The Portal" - As a young girl, Emily Montfort invents a mythology for herself based on her exotic last name. But as an adult caring for her mother, who is dying of Alzheimer's disease, she knows that flights of fancy are a luxury she can no longer afford. With the help of her very young employee and alter-ego Kaley, she manages an antique store that she inherits after her mother's death while living above the shop in a closely circumscribed world. That is, until one day she discovers that the mirror on an antique dresser reflects more than her pale, sad face and that there may be a world beyond the practical and sensible inviting her to enter its portal.
I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Currently I'm working on a book with two novellas: "The Experiment" and "The Portal". Here's a brief summary of each:
"The Experiment" - Jack Booth is an empath who's been made to feel like an outcast by his own mother. But now he's bonded with five other university students who possess extra-sensory powers in an experiment that's supposed to map the potential of the human mind. Under the direction of the transhumanist Dr. Derek Avery, the sky seems to be the limit until Jack and his fellow subjects find themselves trapped in an abandoned asylum with no potential for escape, and the purpose of the experiment no longer seems quite so noble.
"The Portal" - As a young girl, Emily Montfort invents a mythology for herself based on her exotic last name. But as an adult caring for her mother, who is dying of Alzheimer's disease, she knows that flights of fancy are a luxury she can no longer afford. With the help of her very young employee and alter-ego Kaley, she manages an antique store that she inherits after her mother's death while living above the shop in a closely circumscribed world. That is, until one day she discovers that the mirror on an antique dresser reflects more than her pale, sad face and that there may be a world beyond the practical and sensible inviting her to enter its portal.
I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Writing in Retirement
A blog on reading, writing, and the latest news in horror and supernatural fiction.
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