Happy Halloween - Part II

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.

(Well...well.., we had a little contest for best pumpkin carving in our office last week and guess what?.....my little elfin, which was first experience with pumpkin, came in first place.....Hurreeyy :)))



Place-Baltimore, MD. Camera-Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT with 50mm Canon lens

Happy Halloween - Part I

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 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

(Continue...)



Place-Conowingo Dam, MD. Camera-Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT with 50mm Canon lens

The Legends

I don’t think this most esteemed legendary musician needs any kind of introduction here.
Ravi Shankar, the master sitarist and his daughter Anoushka Shankar, the sound of modern era, performed in Baltimore few days back. I was fortunate to attend this program and I should say that it was one of the best evenings of my life.

Ravi Shankar - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Shankar
Anoushka Shankar - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoushka_Shankar

Photography was not allowed during the performance, so I took few shots after the session. Hope you all love it.





Place-Baltimore, MD. Camera-Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT with 70-300mm Canon lens

Good Morning Folks...

"Good morning folks, so how was your weekend...?"
"Hmmm...It was okay...I mean relaxing"

"well....I did some shopping you know...;))"

" And what about you miss Tiny Mini...?"

"..Ahhh....ohhh, well, mmm...I have gone to meet my school friend, I mean....;)"

"Oooo...Friend!!!...ya ya ya, we all know who is that little school Friend...;o) ;o) ;0) "

On Monday morning rambling goes on and on...!!!

Place-Conowingo Dam, MD. Camera-Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT with 50mm Canon lens

Flight

"To fly as fast as thought, to anywhere that is, you must begin by knowing that you have already arrived..."


Chiang to Jonathan Livingston Seagull.


Place-Conowingo Dam, MD. Camera-Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT with 50mm Canon lens

Happy Monday...:)

This weekend, I had gone to Conowingo Dam on early morning, a place for bird watching and photography. While driving back from the village, one fresh produce store got my attention. This beautiful flower is from the back yard of it...!
You all have a colorful week ahead...:)

Place-Conowingo Village, MD. Camera-Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT with 50mm Canon lens

TGIF

“Thank God It's Friday!
Wishing you all a happy and cheerful weekend...:)”

Place-Baltimore, MD. Camera-Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT with 50mm Canon lens

Barnes & Noble

Though you are bookworm or not , Barnes and noble in Baltimore downtown is best place for hang out. With Starbuck’s coffee in one hand and your favorite author’s fresh copy in other, you can spent hrs n hrs there. When you get ready to turn over the page, you can simply glance at inner harbor’s beauty for a second, have a warm sip of coffee and then flip over to next page.
This massive brick building have dominated the waterfront since 1895 and originally housed coal-fired electrical generating equipment for the city trolley system.

Place-Baltimore, MD. Camera-Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT with 50mm Canon lens

20, 19, 18, 17, ...

With my previous post dated few weeks back, you know little bit about Baltimore Inner Harbor, ....and you know I like to go there...
And now you know why I like to go there....;))


Wish you happy week ahead!




Place-Baltimore, MD. Camera-Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT with 50mm Canon lens