It's About Time
Connecting Today with The Past
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Monday, October 28, 2024
How did Halloween Begin?
How Did Halloween Begin?
Samhain, an Ancient Celtic festival
Halloween’s origins can be traced back to antiquity. Most point to Samhain, a Celtic festival which commemorated the end of the harvest season & the blurring of the physical & spirit worlds, as Halloween’s origin. Over the ages, the ancient, pagan Celtic holiday evolved, taking on Christian influences, European myths, & American consumerism.
Samhain was one of the most important & sinister calendar festivals of the year. At Samhain, held on November 1, the world of the gods was believed to be made visible to humankind, & the gods played many tricks on their mortal worshippers; it was a time fraught with danger, charged with fear, & full of supernatural episodes.
Sacrifices & propitiations of every kind were thought to be vital, for without them the Celts believed they could not prevail over the perils of the season or counteract the activities of the deities. Samhain was an important precursor to Halloween.
Ancient Celts marked Samhain as the most significant of the 4 quarterly fire festivals, taking place at the midpoint between the fall equinox & the winter solstice. During this time of year, hearth fires in family homes were left to burn out while the harvest was gathered.
After the harvest work was complete, celebrants joined with Druid priests to light a community fire using a wheel that would cause friction & spark flames. The wheel was considered a representation of the sun & used along with prayers. Cattle were sacrificed, & participants took a flame from the communal bonfire back to their home to relight the hearth.
Early texts present Samhain as a mandatory celebration lasting 3 days & 3 nights where the community was required to show themselves to local kings or chieftains .the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Failure to participate was believed to result in punishment from the gods, usually illness or death.
There was also a military aspect to Samhain in Ireland, with holiday thrones prepared for commanders of soldiers. Anyone who committed a crime or used their weapons during the celebration faced a death sentence.
Some documents on Samhain, the Celtic festival mention 6 days of drinking alcohol to excess, typically mead or beer, along with gluttonous feasts.
By A.D. 43, the Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the 400 years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.
The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple, and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain might explain the tradition of bobbing for apples that is still practiced on Halloween.
On May 13, A.D. 609, the Christian Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, & the Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day was established in the Western church. Pope Gregory III later expanded the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs, & moved the observance from May 13 to November 1.
By the 9th century, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands, where it gradually blended with & supplanted older Celtic rites. In A.D. 1000, the church made November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. It’s widely believed today that the church was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, church-sanctioned holiday.
All Souls’ Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades & dressing up in costumes as saints, angels & devils. The All Saints’ Day celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) & the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be called All-Hallows Eve &, eventually, Halloween.
All Saints' Day
On May 13, A.D. 609, Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day was established in the Western church. Pope Gregory III later expanded the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs, and moved the observance from May 13 to November 1.
By the 9th century, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands, where it gradually blended with and supplanted older Celtic rites. In A.D. 1000, the church made November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. It’s widely believed today that the church was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, church-sanctioned holiday.
All Souls’ Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels and devils. The All Saints’ Day celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be called All-Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.
See: History.org, Halloween 2023, August 11, 2023
Library of Congress Blog, The Origins of Halloween Traditions, October 26, 2021, by Heather Thomas
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Halloween's Celtic & Christian Origins over 2,000 years ago.
A traditional Irish Halloween carved turnip jack-o-lantern
The traditions of "guising," & "mumming" grew into an event where masked individuals would go door-to-door disguised as spirits dancing & singing in exchange for food & wine.
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Friday, October 25, 2024
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Finally Autumn!
Marie Francois Firmin-Girard (French painter) 1838 - 1921 A Quiet Moment
Biography of Marie François Firmin-Girard (1838 - 1921)
Marie François Firmin-Girard was a notable 19th-century French painter, renowned for his beautifully detailed and vibrant depictions of daily life in France. Born on May 29, 1838, in Poncin, Ain, France, Firmin-Girard's works capture the spirit of Parisian life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His artistic style is characterized by a blend of Realism and Impressionism, with a keen eye for capturing the subtleties of light, texture, and everyday moments.
Firmin-Girard began his formal education in art at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, studying under the guidance of Charles Gleyre, a prominent Swiss painter. Gleyre's studio was also frequented by other notable artists of the era, including Monet and Renoir, making it a breeding ground for the rise of Impressionism. Firmin-Girard absorbed elements of Realism, focusing on the accurate depiction of scenes, while also experimenting with softer, impressionistic brushstrokes and light effects.
Firmin-Girard's career gained momentum when he began exhibiting at the Salon de Paris, the prestigious art exhibition, in the 1860s. His works often centered around idyllic scenes of French countryside and urban life, capturing the elegance and leisure of middle and upper-class society. His attention to detail was meticulous, often portraying women in gardens, markets, and leisurely outings. The vibrant colors and careful composition of his paintings were popular among art collectors, and he became known for his ability to portray both the beauty of nature and the charm of everyday French life.
Friday, October 18, 2024
Finally Auumn!
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Monday, October 14, 2024
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Finally Autumn!
Birge Harrison came from a prominent Philadelphia family, and his early interest in art was encouraged by his background. He initially pursued his studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, one of the oldest art schools in the United States, where he developed his foundational skills in drawing and painting. Seeking to refine his craft, Harrison traveled to Paris in 1876, where he studied at the prestigious Académie Julian, a hub for many aspiring American and European artists.
In Paris, Harrison was exposed to French Impressionism and the Barbizon School, movements that would influence his artistic direction. The Barbizon artists, with their focus on naturalistic landscapes and attention to light, had a significant impact on him, shaping his interest in tonalist and atmospheric painting.
Upon his return to the United States, Harrison became associated with the Tonalist movement, a style characterized by soft, muted colors, harmonious compositions, and a focus on mood rather than precise detail. His work is known for its emphasis on the poetic and subtle beauty of the landscape, often portraying twilight, dawn, and other transitional times of day. His mastery of light effects, particularly in winter scenes, set him apart as one of the premier tonalist painters of his time.
Harrison passed away on June 30, 1929, leaving behind a significant legacy in the world of American landscape painting. His writings on art and his dedication to teaching influenced a generation of American artists, particularly those interested in capturing the subtle beauty of nature.
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Finally Autumn!
Biography of Alois Arnegger (1879 - 1967)
Alois Arnegger was a prominent Austrian landscape painter known for his romantic depictions of alpine scenery, idyllic countryside views, and coastal landscapes. Born on March 9, 1879, in Vienna, Austria.
Arnegger began his artistic journey in Vienna, where he was born and raised. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, one of the most prestigious art schools in Austria, under the guidance of notable professors like Robert Russ and August Eisenmenger, both respected landscape painters.
Arnegger's early career was marked by his alpine landscapes, particularly the mountainous regions of Austria and Switzerland. His love for the Alps is evident in his detailed portrayals of snow-capped peaks, lush valleys, and picturesque villages nestled within dramatic, towering landscapes. His paintings are known for their romanticized view of nature, often focusing on serene, peaceful scenes bathed in warm, glowing light.
Arnegger's work was deeply influenced by the Biedermeier and Romantic movements, which emphasized a harmonious and idyllic view of nature. He continued to paint well into his later years, remaining active as an artist even as artistic trends shifted dramatically in the 20th century. His work remained traditional, focusing on natural beauty and landscape, while modernist and avant-garde movements took center stage. He passed away in 1967 at the age of 88, leaving behind a substantial body of work that remains celebrated for its romanticized and picturesque views of nature.