~ * Witch, Crow and Pumpkin * ~ by luciferino
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Description
Halloween is one of the oldest holidays with origins going back thousands of years. The holiday we know as Halloween has had many influences from many cultures over the centuries. From the Roman's Pomona Day, to the Celtic festival of Samhain, to the Christian holidays of All Saints and All Souls Days.
Hundreds of years ago in what is now Great Britain and Northern France, lived the Celts. The Celts worshipped nature and had many gods, with the sun god as their favorite. It was "he" who commanded their work and their rest times, and who made the earth beautiful and the crops grow. The Celts celebrated their New Year on November 1st. It was celebrated every year with a festival and marked the end of the "season of the sun" and the beginning of "the season of darkness and cold." On October 31st after the crops were all harvested and stored for the long winter the cooking fires in the homes would be extinguished. The Druids, the Celtic priests, would meet in the hilltop in the dark oak forest (oak trees were considered sacred). The Druids would light new fires and offer sacrifices of crops and animals. As they danced around the the fires, the season of the sun passed and the season of darkness would begin. When the morning arrived the Druids would give an ember from their fires to each family who would then take them home to start new cooking fires. These fires would keep the homes warm and free from evil spirits. The November 1st festival was called Samhain (pronounced "sow-en"). The festival would last for 3 days. Many people would parade in costumes made from the skins and heads of their animals. This festival would become the first Halloween.During the first century the Romans invaded Britain. They brought with them many of their festivals and customs. One of these was the festival know as Pomona Day, named for their goddess of fruits and gardens. It was also celebrated around the 1st of November. After hundreds of years of Roman rule the customs of the Celtic's Samhain festival and the Roman Pomona Day mixed becoming 1 major fall holiday. The next influence came with the spread of the new Christian religion throughout Europe and Britain. In the year 835 AD the Roman Catholic Church would make November 1st a church holiday to honor all the saints. This day was called All Saint's Day, or Hallowmas, or All Hallows. Years later the Church would make November 2nd a holy day. It was called All Souls Day and was to honor the dead. It was celebrated with big bonfires, parades, and people dressing up as saints, angels and devils.But the spread of Christianity did not make people forget their early customs. On the eve of All Hallows, Oct. 31, people continued to celebrate the festivals of Samhain and Pomona Day. Over the years the customs from all these holidays mixed. October 31st became known as All Hallow Even, eventually All Hallow's Eve, Hallowe'en, and then - Halloween.
The Halloween we celebrate today includes all of these influences, Pomona Day's apples, nuts, and harvest, the Festival of Samhain's black cats, magic, evil spirits and death, and the ghosts, skeletons and skulls from All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day.
Happy Halloween at all you
Big kisses your Orietta
Comments (76)
kathymoon
Wonderful composition,gorgeous witch,and wonderful story!Hugs!
B_PEACOCK
Very cool image Ori .As always just superb .Awesome story to :) Love and Blessings and a great Big HUg {{{{{{{{{{{
RNKarenER
Beautiful image Ori!!!!!!! :)))
prog
Oh Ori-this is the sexiest witch I've ever seen!!! I just love this character-she looks fantastic!! You are the best!!!! Excellent work!! VOTE!
msebonyluv
Gorgeous image!!! Excellent work!!
DM
Wonderful Halloween image, sweetie ... fantastic composition and postwork, love the brushes :) .. Superb!! :) TVB
Vampir3Princess
Wow!! This is awesome Ori!! I love the whole composition you've created!! Wonderful mood :-)
vampie
superbe atmosphe pour ce rendu d'halloween..bravo.
Zrincx
OUTSTANDING! (big hugs) -a happy halloween to you too my friend.
squeeka
Beautiful Halloween image Ori!! Love the mood in this one! Excellent! hugz~jen :)
Feliciti
Fantastic Halloween Scene and Story !!!! :)
Artzy
Happy Halloween!
Turtle
Happy Halloween to you too. Wonderful Picture. hugs.
Halcion
Great scene and story :-) Excellent!!1
dido6
Very cool!! Happy Halloween, and I love the history that you give with this! Great moody darks! Awesome!
1010
Horrific image, excellent as always. ~V~
RodolfoCiminelli
Splendida scena di Halloween Orietta!!! Molto bella iluminazione!!! Vote
Stormi
Orietta you've outdone yourself with this masterpiece. Congratulations on one awesome image. =)
paintgirl
Wowo what a totally cool image. I love all the details. It is sooo Halloween. Excellent work!
TANZA
Beautiful image orietta. Excellent Artwork!
Porthos
Awesome image, exquisite artwork!!!
Irish
A terrific Halloween Classic!!! Exceptional!
AlteredKitty
Wonderfully excellent Hallowe'en pic. Love the little owl :) ____ali x
borsy
Excellent work of art!!!!
webdancer
Wonderful scene! Excellent!
Kinouk
What a wonderful scene you put together, sweety Ori! WOW!!! Love it!!! (((BIS))) huge hugz and kisses
SophiaDeer
Beautiful work Ori! Very stunning and dramatic. Excellent lighting and I like the pumpkin patch!
rosemarygo
very stunning indeed. fabulous image. love her clothes and texture.
Lesthat
Fantastic render Ori!! =) I love it!!! the pose and hair are Stunning, Kisses ans Hugs, Lesthat
BlueLotus7
Wonderfully spooky imagery! Have a safe and happy holiday!