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Show Page 16 Thursday, October 25, 1979 Mt Walking Abnraii Hill By Tina Moenth The setting sun on the last day of October marks the night set apart for a universal univer-sal walking abroad of spirits, both visible and invisible, mythical and real. It is a night when old and young delight in astonishing themselves them-selves with apprehensions of witches, goblins and ghosts. When dusty pages are brushed off by a fire's glow, eyes grow wide with images of Poe's black cat and Irving's headless horseman lurking in the gathering darkness. The celebration of October 31st is a combination of ancient pagan practice, classic clas-sic beliefs and religious superstition. As early as the 7th century, it was a time of the autumn festival of the Druids, a Celtic priesthood of Gaul, Britain and Ireland appearing in legends as magicians and wizards. It marked the waning power of the sun and the beginning of winter. The word Samhain appears many times in Celtic history and its meaning varies from "end of summer" to the name of their saviour god. This festival marked the opening of winter stores put up during the summer, as well as a fire ceremony to Samhain, "Lord of Death," judge of souls and dispenser of rewards and punishment to the world. November ushers in darkness dark-ness and imaginations soared as the Lord of Death summoned together the souls of the wicked who had died during the year. In Roman history the last day of October was celebrated cele-brated in a festival honoring Pomona, goddess of the harvest. Worshippers brought fruits, grains and nuts as offerings, a tradition tradi-tion that appears today in trick or treat bags. This same night north of England was known as Nutcracker Night, also a harvest celebration. cele-bration. In the 8th century there was an increasing spread of Christianity, and the church arbitrarily designated November No-vember 1 as a day to honor saints, or All Saints Day. The evening before, then, became be-came known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. It is purely by coincidence that the pagan rites that spawned the first thoughts of bubbling cauldrons and broom-riding witches fell on the evening vigil of the Christian holy day. Stepping out into the blackness black-ness on Halloween is the same as any other night, or is it? Black cats seem purposeful in crossing your path and hazy images linger in abandoned doorways. A low whistle eases from your lips as you pass a cemetery, quickening your pace to keep ahead of the invisible footsteps foot-steps breaking branches and dried leaves behind you. An owl "whooing" in the trees is the descending howl of a fearsome goblin that sends you galloping to the security of a well-lit room where relief warms the chill in your spine. The traditions of Halloween festivities have been passed from century to century throughout the world. The building of a great bonfire to keep away the spirits released re-leased by the god of evil on that night became a story telling occasion. People huddled close to the glowing embers and related their harrowing tales of queer noises, strange flappings, shadows and mystical practices. prac-tices. Ghost story telling, real or imagined, is much a part of today's observance of Halloween. Carving eerie faces into pumpkins is an American tradition patterned after a practice that came to the country with the Irish immigration im-migration in the 1840s. It was an old Irish custom for children to hollow out turnips and put a lighted candle inside as a lantern. In the United States, pumpkins were far more prevalent than turnips, and their hollowed countenances cast a brighter light. According to Irish tradition, the term Jack-O-Lantern was derived from a man named Jack who was condemned to walk with a lantern until Judgement Day. Trick or treating has lost the trick over the years, with sweet-toothed masqueraders holding open their bags with expectations of chocolate bars, ginger snaps and gum tumbling in on top of layers of other goodies. An occasional oc-casional unpopular apple also will find its way into the stash, but all without effort to the costumer. In the 7th century, the trick or treat originated with the poor begging for money to buy food for a feast. A quick jig or a cartwheel amused the affluent, and a coin was flicked casually to the dirt. Despite his black fingers of evil being shunned throughout through-out the year, the devil's help is sought on Halloween to fortell luck, health, marriage mar-riage and death. An apple peel thrown over the shoulder will form the initials of a true love, and a woman who stands before a mirror at midnight will see the face of her future husband. It is said that many women feigned sleepiness at the eleventh hour rather than face an empty mirror. In Ireland it is customary for a young lady to place three nuts on the bars of a grate in the fireplace, naming nam-ing one for herself and two for lovers. If a nut cracks or jumps, that lover will prove unfaithful. If a nut burns or blazes, he has a deep regard. City's In Good Shape Continued From Page 1 major moneymakers also showed significant increase . Total taxes collected jumped 47 percent from $559,285 to $819,459 while revenues from licenses, permits and impact fees registered a healthy 16 percent. The 1978 figure of $358,091 went to $574,849 in 1979. In his written comments, Robbins wrote: "Due to the rapid growth of the City, it became apparent during the audit that a Financial Director-Assistant City Manager needed to be hired. The City filled this position with Mr. Ric Jentzch. We feel that Mr. Jentzsch will be a valuable asset to the City's personnel staff." Robbins also provided some technical techni-cal recommendations regarding accounting ac-counting systems. Jentzsch said the recommendations "would be studied and implemented where feasible without causing undue strain on the city." As for the audit as a whole, the financial director said: "We will get into this in detail next month. It will take an entire month to analyze it." PAUL BUNYUN's FIREWOOD COMPANY PRIME PINE WOOD If 01 J f Winter is a coming! Don't get caught without firewood or paying high prices in late Winter. Give Paul Bunyun a phone call. We have a preferred customer plan that will be hard to beat. Well guarantee supply & price now for you inflation-wise customers. Delivered & Stacked. Courtesy Sample Enough for one evening's use. Call SLC collect 272-6735 Hours 7 to 7 Monday-Sat. Wm W k 1; I J, '4 : KJJ Y A HAPPY HOUR If the nut named for herself and another burn, they will be married. (Sounds nutty to me.) In Scotland children run to the kailyard, or garden, and pick the first stalks of colewort they come to. Back inside they compare their pickings, with the size and shape of the stalk fortelling the future. The stalks are placed over the door, one on the other, each being named for its picker. Unsuspecting people entering the room are held in succession to marry those who picked the stalk. So next Wednesday night, once you have gathered your courage to step into the moonless night, closing the door to light and safety behind you, remember this little Scottish ditty, that Halloween is "The night atween the Saints and the Souls When the bodiless gangaboot." The Skier Is Here Specialty Drinks $.85 Beer & Setups $.60 We have a State Liquor Store on the premises at THE YARROW a Holiday Inn 649-8659 1800 Park Ave $lh VCJDV U WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? All the candidates sound the same. All the candidates are capable, concerned, committed. Does it matter who wins? Yes, it matters. Yes, there is a difference. ONE CANDIDATE HAS THE COURAGE TO ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS 1 . Will the new Snyderville Basin Sewer District plant be at capacity capa-city on opening day? 2. Will the revenue generated by the Park City Fire District mill levy ever be sufficient to purchase the facilities and equipment needed to protect existing buildings as well as the new developments de-velopments already approved by the planning commission? 3. Last year we spent $207,898.00 on mass transit. Why doesn't the system work? Who authorized the purchase of used equipment equip-ment before it was certified mechanically sound? If the used buses were determined to be in good running order why are they always in the maintenance garages for repairs? 4. As of June 1979 the city had an unappropriated general fund balance of $426,546.00. Why wasn't a reasonable portion of that fund appropriated to solve some of the pressing problems of the city? Problems such as uncontrolled storm water runoff, run-off, park maintenance, public parking, development of a professional pro-fessional comprehensive traffic study and master street plan? HELEN ALVAREZ IS RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE SHE WANTS ANSWERS TO THESE AND OTHER QUESTIONS, HONEST ANSWERS AN-SWERS BASED ON FACTS, HONEST ANSWERS THAT LEAD TO INTELLIGENT INTELLI-GENT SOLUTIONS. ELECT HELEN ALVAREZ PAUL BUNYUN FIREWOOD CO. |