~ * 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)
Primal
what a fantastic scene,love all the details..
Robo2010
WOW!!...everything is perfecto!!...Excellent job!!...
brycek
Magnificent scene..Excellent!!
SpiritofGabriel
Happy Halloween Sweety! Very sexy image! Bravo!
dadamson
This is an outstanding image!! The way al of the details in the composition blend together is just perfect. Lighting is superb as well!
Dash
Excellent render as usual dark and creepy. Nice job :)
oiram
Happy Halloween ori....top image.
antje
Excellent!!!! Happy Halloween!! :o)
Gabriel_Kain
Beautiful and informitive. Who could ask for more?
akahastur
Wonderful Halloween render! Very well done! Pati
maniano
WoW! Beautiul image! Super postwork and light! Excellent!
garyandcatherine
Beautiful render. Great lights and the whole scene is full of stuff to look at. Excellent.
romanceworks
A gorgeous Halloween image. Such richness.:o) CC
doriano
Woman always knows how to be seductive: she maybe a witch an owl or a crow...and if she wants also a pumpkin! You have expressed with a great style all of this! As always my compliments!
Rhiannon
Oh, I LOVE it sweetie, and I love your history on Halloween ... fantastic Samhain image to celebrate another turning of the wheel ... I love it!! BIG HUGS LYL!
pegasovagante
I find the witch a little too sexy, mainly her dress, but never mind, the picture is doubtless one of my favorites, the lighting is just fabulous! If you go on this way, I shall take to liking Halloween as well - at least in its mediterranean version! ;P Remember you're an old, ugly and naughty bad girl...
Tore13
come sempre grandi capolavori i tuoi complimenti sei sempre di piirraggiungibile
adm5050
That image is absolutely fantastic, done to perfection!! Your history lesson brought together many things for me and I thank you.
Wylder
Gorgeous image, fantastic character, and I love her outfit! Wonderful, all the way around! hugs Isha
FS
Wonderful character,hair and pose.Incredibly fantastic image!!!
JurgenDoe
Fabulous work as always my dear friend Ori :)
capelito
Beautiful character, pose, hair and lights. Fantastic image!
amanda_a42
Fantastic mood Orietta, just the right for today. Happy Halloween!!!
DennisReed
Awesome render! Bravo!
beatoangelico
VUEVUAUUUUUUUUFANTASTICO IL TUO MONDO GRAFICO LE TUE IMMAGINI HANNO DENTRO UNA FORZA GAURDANDO ATTENTAMENTE TUTTI I PARTICOLARI SCOPRO UN TALENTO CHE VA OLTRE ALLA SEMPLICE BRAVURA SEI GRANDE TI VOTO EXCELLENTE ARTWORK SUPER SUPER IMAGE MY COMPLIMENTS BY
visualgirl
Wonderful image! happy halloween!
ilona
This is really beautiful Ori! Amazing!
Avalonne
So sorry I am late in commenting...feels like I never get caught up these days :-( This is a fantastic Halloween image sweetie! Your art is always such a delight to view :-) {{{HUGS}}}
Elfenone
Wonderful imformative story and beautiful image! You always do such pleasing images.
gofer
WOW What a stunning witch and Happy Halloween :)