Samhain - Celtic New Year

Samhain

The Celtic New Year starts this evening. It is celebrated as Hallow'een or Hallowed evening. All Hallowed eve, the night before All Souls Day in the Church Calendar. The Christian religion placed its holy days near most Pagan holidays to draw people to their religion and to incorporate many of the old traditions into the new. Halloween celebrations come from many of the Irish traditional folklore and old religion and beliefs where the line between the afterlife was the weakest during this time and the dead could walk the earth during this night and pay a visit and collect on old debts. ;-) This is where "trick or treats" may have originated and it was wise to always have food and and extra plate out for an unexpected "visitor." This was the night where pranks could happen and one could run into the faeries and other supernatural beings besides the dead. It was always wise to stay home and lock your doors.

Happy Hallow'een

Happy Celtic New Year!

Happy Samhain!

Polar Ice Cap Pictures Show Melting

This is truly amazing how much the Polar Ice Cap has receded since 2009 in the top two pictures.

Pictures courtesy of NASA.

Happy July 4th 2012

Happy Independence Day to all!

July 4th, 2012

Memorial Day

Here is a picture of Memorial Day Flags planted in Boston this year in remembrance of our veterans who have given the ultimate sacrifice to the nation. 

Let's take a moment this weekend to remember all of our veteran's from all previous and present wars who have given their lives for this nation and thank them by not forgetting what they have done for us in the name of freedom.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Recently the Skagit Valley had its Tulip Festival and KOMO NEWS flew over one of the fields of flowers to give this beautiful pattern of color. Not only are there tulips there are daffodils in it as well. This is the first time I have ever seen the flowers from this angle.

Happy Chinese New Year - Gong Hei Fat Choy

Gong Hei Fat Choy!

( Happy Chinese New Year! )

Martin Luther King Day

Let's pause to remember a fallen hero of the civil rights movement whose peaceful, non-violent method of protesting against the violence of fire-hoses, police-dogs, beatings and arrests for protesting the right to be equal helped win those rights for Blacks in the United States.

Dr. King said prophetically, he might not make it to the Promise Land, but he did know that ultimately as a people, Blacks would make it. Unfortunately, he was assassinated in the early evening of April 4th, 1968 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. We set aside today to honor the man.