Saturday, October 30, 2021

👻 Before the Curse of the 23-hour Day 🎃

 

Bill and Ben were never like this! Is this the sacrifice the Great Pumpkin demands for Halloween? Last week there was a strange fluid emanating from the monster pumpkins at work. I wonder what's was under all those golden balls? 

Got any plans for Nos Galan Gaeaf or Samhain

Round these parts there was a ceremony called "Hwch Ddu Gwta" or Black Sow. Seasonal farm workers would be paid off and this would culminate in a celebration. The farm hands would feast on stwmp naw rhyw (STOOMP NOW RHU-oo) or "mash of nine sorts".

Potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, peas, leeks, pepper, salt, milk. Boil the ingredients (except the milk), drain, and mash (using the milk). The stwmp naw rhiw is exceptionally tasty, and the spirits will not trouble you.

The farmer would decide which animals should be slaughtered. One of the slaughtered pigs - the Black Sow - would rise up, supposedly out of the flames of the fire, and chase away children. The ritual represented the release of the souls of humans and animals, and a chance for those who had died to return for a visit. They would also light bonfires to chase away evil spirits.

Halloween didn't really exist growing up, though carving turnips was a thing around this time of year. All the focus was on Guy Fawkes Night and a big bonfire. Somewhere along the line it has slipped round the other way. 

In the UK the clocks go back tomorrow. How's that for spooky? The first episode of Doctor Who drops as well, so after work my plan is a curry, a beer and watching Jodi in her final series. 

Talking of time twisting and just to sound like a broken record ...

Looks like the Netflix Cowboy Bebop show got the casting right for Ein. 


Have you ever seen the Bebop movie? My understanding is that it is set before the final episodes of the tv show. Something happens to Spike which pushes the final scene of the tv show in an intriguing direction. or should that be die-rection? 

How about some music?


What restless spirits are haunting BackTalk Village today?


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