Firstly may I wish you all a very happy and enjoyable Halloween/Samhain for 2008. Every year we hold a private party here at Twisted Towers, and this year is no exception. Guests started arriving yesterday, with more arriving across the day to help prepare the event.

My thanks extend to the following for helping with the set-up: Hedge, Mog, Kenai, Rubber Switch{TM}, MisBehave and Amber. Needless to say I’m not sessioning today.

This year is going to be an exceptionally merry jape with a bonfire, apple bobbing, flour puddings, pin the nose on the pumpkin and many other fun things. It has also taken some exceptional preparation as we sneak a couple of surprises into the proceedings for two people. I’ll tell you more about that tomorrow!

For those of you who have sadly lost someone this year, you can use tonight to follow some of the Old Traditions and remember your dead. As each guest arrives at the party, they have the chance to take a moment to light a red or white candle and place it in a pumpkin. While lighting a red candle for males and/or a white candle for females we remember the people we love who are no longer physically with us. The tradition goes that they hear your thoughts and feelings through the flame and are guided by the light to join the party. This originally Irish tradition used turnips rather than pumpkins, but as Irish emigrants arrived in the USA they had to adapt their practice to use local items - giving us jack-a-lanterns and many other tales to go with them.

Whatever you do today - have fun and I’ll be sure to share ours with you when I can find the computer again!

Bright Blessings

Mistress

x