Happy Halloween! (and Open Thread)

The Neo-Libs

The holiday we now call Halloween was originally a harvest celebration in Celtic territories.  It represented the third and final harvest.  Much more reverent than the first (August 1 or “Llamas”) when fruits, flowers, herbs and medicinal plants were gathered and the second (September 21 or “Mabon”) when root vegetables, gourds and nuts were harvested, the third and final (October 31 or “Samhain”) was the harvest of souls.

On this day, the farmers separated their breeding stock from the rest of the herd, and the remaining animals were ritually slaughtered to provide meat for sustenance during the winter months.  The blood of these animals (which the Celts believed contained the life spark) was offered to the gods that created them, and the bodies were then butchered and the meat cured to provide “life within death”; or food during the winter, where many often died from exposure or lack of nourishment.

After the solemn sacrifice, the townspeople set aside enough food for themselves and their families (and a little more, in case the winter was longer than expected), and the rest was brought into the center of town, where the villagers went “shopping”;  that is, taking what they needed from the excess of others’ harvest.  It was a wonderful way to ensure the continuity of the community, and everyone shared what extra crops they had with neighbors.

There was also a custom called “Hecate’s Supper”, (named for the ancient Goddess who ushered you safely from life into death safely, and also from the womb into life) where everyone left food at the edge of town;  symbolically to feed the spirits of the departed (who were also honored on this holiday), but in reality, to feed the poor, the sick and those who were otherwise disenfranchised.  A lovely custom of sharing and community.

Over the centuries, Hecate’s Supper has morphed into trick-or-treating.  The Democratic Party that I once supported has also morphed into “neo-Libs”, pictured above in the cartoon that a friend sent me via email.

So with that in mind, let’s see whose gone trick or treating at the White House:

 

The White House Guest List (partial)

George Soros – 4 times

Bill Ayers – 2 times

Jeremiah Wright – 1 time

Micheal Moore – 8 times

Micheal Jordan – 5 times

Gen. David Petreus – 0 times

Unions Boss Richard Trumka – 8 times

Union Boss Andy Stern – 21 times

Alan Greenspan – 8 times

Gen. Stanley McChrystal – 0 times