• About

Larry Muffin At Home

~ Remembering that life is a comedy and the world is a small town.

Larry Muffin At Home

Tag Archives: halloween

La Toussaint, Dia de los Muertos, All Hallows

01 Sunday Nov 2020

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Costumes, Death, fun, graves, halloween, Keppoch, life, PEI, traditions

Today 1 November, we are approaching the end of the year, only 60 days left and Christmas is only 55 days away. Every first of November in Mexico we use to visit the cemeteries as Mexicans do to honour their dead by making beautiful flower decorations over their graves. Graves became carpets of flowers and small candle lanterns were also placed by the tombstone to shine at night. The display at night was stunning, hundreds of candles flickering in the dark and all those multicoloured carpets of flowers often in a pattern was a sight to behold. The work that went into it was impressive, it required often to clean the grave area and prepare it for the display. Whole families came to work, showing that their dead meant something to them despite being gone to the Spirit world. Of course all these Mexican tradition came with a lot of sweets, sugared skulls, chocolate coffins, on wedding cakes a male and female skeleton replaced the figurines of the bride and groom. It is not Halloween but instead a celebration of Death which will come to all of us.

People decorate graves with flowers and candles but also bring food, fruits and sweets for their dead. This is a tradition we also found in our cultures like Vietnam. These Mexican women also spend time at the graves of relatives, it is a social event.

This tradition also held in Poland but it was more a display of lanterns and a bouquet of fresh flowers. Then on Remembrance Day, the military would invite all the military attaché of the different Embassies in Warsaw to participate in commemoration at the grave of their soldiers. The Polish military would on that day have an honour guard at various military graves. Canada has military graves in Poland, mostly airmen who were shot down by Nazi occupiers. We also have one memorial on a street and in this case a large plaque on a building wall recalls the event. In this case the Ambassador had to climb a ladder since the plaque was about 15 feet up and place a great wreath on a hook below the plaque. I was always afraid His Nibs would fall off in the process. The weather in Warsaw was always bitter cold on that day and sometimes it rained, but nonetheless attendance by Embassy staff was de rigueur, it was all very official.

Now in Charlottetown for Halloween we were invited to Keppoch (pronounced Kepic) for a Costume dinner party last night. This area is across the river from us on the point at the entrance of the Strait, it is a narrow passage taken by all ships in and out of Port Charlottetown. It is a very green rural area with affluent houses and a few lighthouses to guide ships through the water channel.

VIew from Keppoch, the other side is Rocky Point and Fort LaJoy

Everyone had a really great costume and it was loads of fun. A good dinner and good conversation. The film shown after dinner was Rocky Horror Picture Show, made in 1975 that was 45 years ago and looking at it now after many years I suddenly thought how dated it is, almost embarrassingly so. Another world and another time, loads of social and political messages in the camp goings on a reference to that time in history. I had never noticed on the costume of Dr Frank-N-Furter the red triangle, a reference to political prisoners identification badge in Nazi concentration camps.

It was a great evening with good people all around and we had a blue Moon last night.

A crow, a safari huntress and Count Dracula enjoying a drink.

So today being Sunday 1 November, our clocks went back one hour and suddenly it is dark at 04:45 pm. strange really.

Words, words,words.

25 Sunday Oct 2020

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

halloween, words

Another fun video on words and the origin of Halloween by Luke A. Ranieri who has a fascinating resume and speaks several languages. Enjoy!

For Halloween! in Latin

23 Friday Oct 2020

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

halloween, Latin

I found quite by accident this you tube channel by Luke A. Ranieri, Scorpio Martianus

This is a fun take in Latin of the beloved song from Danny Elfman and Tim Burton’s 1993 “The Nightmare Before Christmas” incorporates *both* Ecclesiastical and Classical Pronunciations. The initial narrator (the voice of Santa Claus) uses Classical Pronunciation, as do all people from Christmas Town, while the people of Halloween Town use the Ecclesiastical Pronunciation. The text has been rendered masterfully by Stefano Vittori in true Ancient Roman poetic meter, the very soul of Latin, so well as to surpass the power of even the original lyrics.

Here is the translation of the text if your Latin is a little rusted. The pronounciation is very clear and correct.

World Be it!

Treacherous arcane rise night;
oculî watch; quiet voice.

Surround crossroads;
An old dog, open world.

The world is open! The world is open!
Breaks the silence, the sheds for vegetables!

The world is open quickly for fear of courage,
no cookies to give good gifts to whom you wish.

All the people already fear!
The world is already open!

It was me, the snare laid for his bed,
rutilānsque tooth sparkling eyes.

It was me, the snare laid for a ladder:
snake tool, Lycosa count.

The world is open! The world is open!
Be it! Be it! Be it! Be it!

Now you make us sing
Cucurbitoideae blown!

HYMNUM now not abandon this:
A new number of the rebound stage.

Take heed to thyself from this water in a bucket: life is concealed a murderer;
And now the pressure on to exclaim: "Ah!

me! ". Well implications lūbricet trees.
Formīdāsne? These things will happen.

Shoot twice lie times can "steal four times.
Triceps Hecate take you tonight.

O TIME! O TIME!
It is now time, the world is evident!

As long as myself, I used the face of the rapiō,
Here then, there now? I flee.

Say "Who is here?" and "Here," I am.
I am the whirlwind of the Aura, even a hair of your head.

I am a black mask lunar world;
'Sleep well: nearer to you, a watcher.

The world is open! The world is open!
Be it! Be it! Be it! Be it!

The child may be sweet to you could be wherever you are,
Younger tired of not fussy.

Our technique is - does not make bad;
For devices the world.

HYMNUM now not abandon this:
A new number of the rebound stage.

Titus is Taphius lemur homirapius;
owl as grinding and human life ēvel-

-lit! Well clear! O TIME!
Open is a good way to be led.

Titus, yourself, TAPhA, Colocynthidorīx;
'Well, triumph, Cucurbituāns!

 
The world is open! The world is open!
Be it! Be it! Be it! Be it!

Now you make us sing
Cucurbitoideae blown!

Be it! Be it! Be it! Be it!
Be it! Be it! Be it! Be it!

Decorations for Halloween

30 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

halloween, PEI, pumpkin

Here is my contribution for decorating your home for Halloween.

Simple and tasteful and your neighbours will love you for it. Because you help property values with such items instead of the trashy stuff the other neighbour gets at Walmart.

tumblr_oyghq9mf6M1slddupo1_540.jpg

Happy Halloween!

Halloween

31 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Canada., Candy, Charlottetown, halloween, Ottawa, PEI, PMJT, Trick or treat

Here are some photos I wanted to share from Twitter.

Andrew King of Ottawa, famous historian who always comes up with the most fascinating stories on Ottawa Rewind, could not find candies at the store so he got luncheon meat and Maggi instant noodles instead, this made me laugh hard. Imagine the face of the kids getting this stuff, priceless!

CwH6TMzWYAEx80B.jpg

Our Prime Minister also dressed up to go trick or treating with his kids in the New Edinburg neighbourhood where they live in Ottawa.

CwIpuZYWYAARBPZ.jpg

PM Justin Trudeau is dressed up as the famous writer Saint-Exupery and his son as the Little Prince, from the story of the book, we all read as kids.

CwIphvXXYAAaLW2.jpg

The neighbours also dressed up, cross dressing Queen Elizabeth II, LOL!

CwHStpDVUAAgSp4.jpg

How about this spooky cloud formation with the setting Sun in the Province of Alberta, out West.

the-most-haunted-places-in-canada-pei-edition-8-photos-6.jpg

Ghost Ship of Northumberland Strait near Charlottetown, PEI
The ship is described as a beautiful schooner that has three masts (sometimes four masts, as reports vary) with pure white sails, all of which become completely engulfed in flames as onlookers watch. There never seems to be a predetermined place for where the ship will appear; sightings tend to happen when least expected.
Sightings have occurred throughout the seasons, but seem to be more prevalent from September to November. These visions are also apparent before a northeast wind, and folklore has it that this brilliant ghost ship is a forewarning of a storm.

 

 

La Toussaint, 1 novembre

01 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

All Hallows Eve, Canada., halloween, La Toussaint, Samain

This Christian religious holiday is indeed very old, it goes all the way back to the 6th century when Pope Boniface IV will dedicate the Pantheon of all the gods in Rome to the Virgin Mary and all the Saints, thus celebrating all Saints known and unknown. It is believed that this new Christian Feast replaced the old Celtic Feast of Samain.  Then on 2 November we celebrate all the Faithful who have died, friends, family members, etc I had my own family death this year, my father, and many of my friends also lost a parent. Then in September we buried by mother’s ashes. So this year La Toussaint has a deeper meaning for me.

This gave rise to the practice of cleaning graves and tombstones and placing flowers and candles on them. A very colourful practice in Poland where cemetery are ablaze with lights and flowers on that day and at night. In Mexico, Dia de los Muertos is equally colourful when elaborate flower displays, bread, fruits and candles are set upon graves of family members. Children are given sweets in the shape of skulls, skeletons and coffins to remind them that death comes to us all and you should not be afraid. I remember buying a special bread for that day, similar to a kind of sugary loaf with candied fruits, Pan de los Muertos. As a child I remember my mother telling me that when she was young the family would go to the cemetery to wash and clean the family tombstone, repaint the lettering on the monument and pray, unfortunately a tradition that has died today. The French painting below shows this annual visit to the cemetery.

1280px-Toussaint_1888_800

La Toussaint, Emile Friant 1888

Halloween, All Hallows Eve, the eve of All Saints’ Day which we just celebrated in the present modern form has little to do with this ancient ritual. Samain a popular Irish Feast marking the longer nights with the approach of cold Winter and the association with death and Ghouls with the symbolism of the Jack O’Lantern appears in Canada around 1840 with large Irish and Scottish immigration. In French Canada the popularity of Halloween takes root around 1920. I miss the old more traditional ritual associated with old Celtic and early Christian beliefs.

Here are photos of my pumpkin this year which I placed on our balcony and was visible from the street. I left a big candle inside and it burned all night long.

pumpkin 2015

pumpkin2 2015

Pumpkin by day and by night.

Fearsome Beard you have competition!

30 Friday Oct 2015

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

beards, Canada., halloween

Fearsome Beard posts daily about beards and for Halloween we thought we would give him a run for his money with Bolchevik beards or a la Rasputine. http://fearsomebeard.wordpress.com

will beard

laurent beard

Fans of the Muffin

  • travelwithgma
  • Cuisine AuntDai
  • A Beijinger living in Provincetown
  • theislandheartbeat
  • LES GLOBE-TROTTERS
  • Antonisch
  • ROMA ARCHEOLOGIA e RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA 2020-22
  • ROMA ARCHEOLOGIA e RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA 2010-20.
  • The Body's Heated Speech
  • Unwritten Histories
  • Philippe Lagassé
  • Moving with Mitchell
  • Palliser Pass
  • Roijoyeux
  • Fearsome Beard
  • Verba Volant Monumenta Manent
  • Spo-Reflections
  • KREUZBERGED - BERLIN COMPANION
  • My Secret Journey
  • Buying Seafood
  • Routine Proceedings
  • The Historic England Blog
  • Larry Muffin At Home
  • Sailstrait
  • dennisnarratives
  • Willy Or Won't He
  • Prufrock's Dilemma
  • domanidave.wordpress.com/
  • theINFP
  • The Corporate Slave
  • OTTAWA REWIND

Blog Stats

  • 117,284 hits

Birthplace of Canada

C1A 1A7, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Follow Larry Muffin At Home on WordPress.com

Archives

  • June 2022 (10)
  • May 2022 (11)
  • April 2022 (11)
  • March 2022 (14)
  • February 2022 (9)
  • January 2022 (14)
  • December 2021 (17)
  • November 2021 (12)
  • October 2021 (12)
  • September 2021 (13)
  • August 2021 (10)
  • July 2021 (13)
  • June 2021 (12)
  • May 2021 (12)
  • April 2021 (15)
  • March 2021 (12)
  • February 2021 (11)
  • January 2021 (8)
  • December 2020 (22)
  • November 2020 (16)
  • October 2020 (17)
  • September 2020 (13)
  • August 2020 (17)
  • July 2020 (16)
  • June 2020 (23)
  • May 2020 (24)
  • April 2020 (23)
  • March 2020 (28)
  • February 2020 (20)
  • January 2020 (12)
  • December 2019 (17)
  • November 2019 (15)
  • October 2019 (18)
  • September 2019 (5)
  • August 2019 (9)
  • July 2019 (10)
  • June 2019 (6)
  • May 2019 (5)
  • April 2019 (12)
  • March 2019 (8)
  • February 2019 (7)
  • January 2019 (9)
  • December 2018 (15)
  • November 2018 (6)
  • October 2018 (7)
  • September 2018 (6)
  • August 2018 (7)
  • July 2018 (7)
  • June 2018 (6)
  • May 2018 (10)
  • April 2018 (7)
  • March 2018 (7)
  • February 2018 (5)
  • January 2018 (11)
  • December 2017 (19)
  • November 2017 (13)
  • October 2017 (20)
  • September 2017 (12)
  • August 2017 (11)
  • July 2017 (24)
  • June 2017 (17)
  • May 2017 (24)
  • April 2017 (23)
  • March 2017 (21)
  • February 2017 (22)
  • January 2017 (23)
  • December 2016 (19)
  • November 2016 (21)
  • October 2016 (25)
  • September 2016 (4)
  • August 2016 (15)
  • July 2016 (13)
  • June 2016 (13)
  • May 2016 (8)
  • April 2016 (21)
  • March 2016 (17)
  • February 2016 (30)
  • January 2016 (23)
  • December 2015 (36)
  • November 2015 (23)
  • October 2015 (26)
  • September 2015 (22)
  • August 2015 (15)
  • July 2015 (21)
  • June 2015 (27)
  • May 2015 (17)
  • April 2015 (16)
  • March 2015 (15)
  • February 2015 (12)
  • January 2015 (21)
  • December 2014 (4)

Blog Stats

  • 117,284 hits

Blog at WordPress.com.

travelwithgma

Journeys of all kinds

Cuisine AuntDai

Journey as an owner of a Chinese restaurant in Montreal

A Beijinger living in Provincetown

Life of Yi Zhao, a Beijinger living in Provincetown, USA

theislandheartbeat

LES GLOBE-TROTTERS

VOYAGES, CITY GUIDES, CHATEAUX, PHOTOGRAPHIE.

Antonisch

from ancient to modern and beyond

ROMA ARCHEOLOGIA e RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA 2020-22

ROME - THE IMPERIAL FORA: SCHOLARLY RESEARCH & RELATED STUDIES.

ROMA ARCHEOLOGIA e RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA 2010-20.

ROME – THE IMPERIAL FORA: SCHOLARLY RESEARCH & RELATED STUDIES.

The Body's Heated Speech

Unwritten Histories

The Unwritten Rules of History

Philippe Lagassé

In Defence of Westminster

Moving with Mitchell

Jerry and I get around. In 2011, we moved from the USA to Spain. We now live near Málaga. Jerry y yo nos movemos. En 2011, nos mudamos de EEUU a España. Ahora vivimos cerca de Málaga.

Palliser Pass

Stories, Excerpts, Backroads

Roijoyeux

... Soyons... Joyeux !!!

Fearsome Beard

A place for Beards to contemplate and grow their souls.

Verba Volant Monumenta Manent

Tutto iniziò con Memorie di Adriano, sulle strade dell'Impero Romano tra foto, storia e mito - It all began with Memoirs of Hadrian, on the roads of the Roman Empire among photos, history and myth!

Spo-Reflections

To live is to battle with trolls in the vaults of heart and brain. To write; this is to sit in judgment over one's Self. Henrik Ibsen

KREUZBERGED - BERLIN COMPANION

Everything You Never Knew You Wanted to Know About Berlin

My Secret Journey

The road I have traveled to get to where I am today.

Buying Seafood

Reviews of Fish, Shellfish, and Seafood

Routine Proceedings

The adventures of a Press Gallery journalist

The Historic England Blog

Larry Muffin At Home

Remembering that life is a comedy and the world is a small town.

Sailstrait

Telling the stories of the history of the port of Charlottetown and the marine heritage of Northumberland Strait on Canada's East Coast. Winner of the Heritage Award from the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation and a Heritage Preservation Award from the City of Charlottetown

dennisnarratives

Stories in words and pictures

Willy Or Won't He

So Many Years of Experience But Still Making Mistakes!

Prufrock's Dilemma

Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”/Let us go and make our visit.

domanidave.wordpress.com/

Procrastination is the sincerest form of optimism

theINFP

I aim to bring delight to others by sharing my creative endeavours

The Corporate Slave

A mix of corporate and private life experiences

OTTAWA REWIND

Join me as we wind back the time in Ottawa.

  • Follow Following
    • Larry Muffin At Home
    • Join 495 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Larry Muffin At Home
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...