Happy Crack-Nut Night!

As you walk in the crisp fall air this evening--I bid you all a Happy Crack-Nut Night!

Pumpkin Power - Postcard Friendship Friday #87

Traditionally glowing jack-o-lanterns, carved from turnips or gourds, are set on porches and in windows, to welcome Trick or Treaters as they canvas neighborhoods for goodies.

In ancient times, it was thought the lighted pumpkin faces acted as protection against evil spirits. Burning lumps of coal were used inside as a source of light, later to be replaced by candles.  

Pumpkins are only found in the western hemisphere so they were completely unknown in Europe before the time of Columbus!  Just think, no one had ever tasted Pumpkin Pie back then!  In 1584, the French explorer Jacques Cartier reported from the St. Lawrence region that he had found "gros melons", which was translated into English as "ponpions," or pumpkins.  In fact, pumpkins have been grown in America for over 5,000 years. Native Americans called pumpkins "isquotersquash."

Did you know pumpkins are not a vegetable - they are a fruit! Pumpkins, like gourds and other varieties of squash are all members of the Cucurbitacae family (just try to pronounce that), which also includes cucumbers, gherkins, and melons.

*  NOTE: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  Don't forget to visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising and do not refer to any of the following; Postcard Friendship Friday, mailboxes, the Post office, postcards or the love of postcards, will be deleted.

Carving Hearts - Guest Heart Thursday

I was delighted to find this cute vintage postcard of a small boy carving a heart into a rather green looking pumpkin.  The look of anticipation on the little girl's face is priceless!  

Happy Guest Heart Thursday!   

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

Halloween Apple Peel Game - Postcard Friendship Friday #86

In ancient times, the Apple Peel Game was quite popular among young people during "Snap Apple Night."  An apple was peeled continuously with a paring knife so the peel had no break.  When the entire apple peel was cut free, it was tossed over the shoulder without looking.  It was said the peel would fall in the shape of a letter of the alphabet.  This was thought to be the first letter of the name of one's true love.  

 

*  NOTE: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  Don't forget to visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising and do not refer to any of the following; Postcard Friendship Friday, mailboxes, the Post office, postcards or the love of postcards, will be deleted.

May You Find Your Love - Guest Heart Thursday

 

I adore the romantic Halloween vintage postcards I've found over the past few months.   I had never associated this holiday with romance before!  Thanks to Guest Heart Thursday, I sought Halloween hearts and found them!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

Happy "Snap Apple Night" - Postcard Friendship Friday #85

 

In parts of the north of England, Halloween was known as Nut-crack Night.  Nuts were put on the fire and, according to their behavior in the flames, forecast faithfulness in sweethearts and the success, or failure of marriages. 

In Lancashire, England 'Lating' or 'Lighting the witches' was an important Halloween custom. People would carry candles from eleven to midnight.  If the candles burned steadily the carriers were safe for the season, but if the witches blew them out, the omen was bad indeed.

Halloween was also sometimes called Snap Apple Night. The original game of Snap Apple was played with apples suspended on a long piece of string.  Players had to try an bite the apple without using their hands. Another way to play the game was to fix an apple and a lighted candle at opposite ends of a stick suspended horizontally and to swing the stick round.  The object was to catch the apple between the teeth whilst avoiding the candle.   Bobbing for Apples in a vat of water is a much safer variation of this game!

Many places in England combined Halloween with Mischief Night when boys played all kinds of practical jokes on their neighbors.  They changed shop signs, took gates off their hinges, whitewashed doors, and tied door latches.  Things which, if done today, might land them in the jailhouse!

Happy Snap Apple Night, everyone!

*  NOTE: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  Don't forget to visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising and do not refer to any of the following; Postcard Friendship Friday, mailboxes, the Post office, postcards or the love of postcards, will be deleted.

With a Goose Wishbone - Guest Heart Thursday

What a surprise to find romance was such a part of Halloween whimsey in the past!  The above postcard is an example.  Love is in the air!  Watch out, fellows!  On Hallows Eve, a lady with a goose wishbone, a few pumpkin seeds and a little love, may capture your heart for all time.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

Bobbing for Apples

I adore this picture--reminds me of harvest parties of the past, where bobbing apples was a part of the fun festivities--though this young man doesn't seem to happy, does he?

Bobbing for Apples is played by filling a tub with water and putting apples in the water.  The apples bob on the surface of the water.  The first to grab an apple in one's teeth wins.  Since a person isn't allowed to use anything but their teeth, catching an apple floating in water, isn't as easy as it may sound!  I say that from personal experience.  Since players aren't allowed to use their hands, it's all in the "dooking" as they say in Scotland. 

In ancient times, the first "single" person to capture an apple in their teeth is said to have the blessing of becoming the first to be married in the group.   In Ireland, this game is known as "Snap Apple."  In other places Snapp Apple Night is another name for Halloween.  

Stingy Jack - Postcard Friendship Friday #84

I posted the story of Stingy Jack last year during Halloween--I loved this unusual story so much, I decided to post it again!  Happy Halloween!

The term "jack-o-lantern" came from the fae Irish in the form of a mythical story about a character named Stingy Jack. Jack was a drunkard who, having invited the Devil for a drink, requested the Devil transform himself into money to pay for the drinks. When the Devil did so, Jack took the money and put it in his pocket next to a silver cross. The Devil, unable to transform himself into his original form because of the cross, was trapped.

So Jack made a deal with the Devil--he would not bother Jack and would leave him alone for a year if he was allowed to change back. The Devil, agreeable to this, came back to Jack in a year. However, a year later when confronted by the Devil, Jack tricked the Devil into climbing a tree to pick a piece of fruit. Once the Devil was in the tree, Jack carved a cross in the trunk of the tree, preventing the Devil from descending, until he agreed once again not to bother Jack for another ten years.

When poor Stingy Jack died a short time later, neither God nor the Devil would accept him into their kingdom. But the Devil sent Jack away into the night with only a hot coal to light his way, which Jack put into a hollowed out turnip. Thus began the tradition of jack-o-lanterns.

For many years jack-o-lanterns were carved from large turnips.  However, in the 1800s, Irish immigrants discovered America's native orange pumpkin, which lent itself even better to the tradition of carving out lanterns.  Thus our tradition of carving pumpkins for Hallows Eve.

*  NOTE: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  Don't forget to visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory for Weekend Mailbox.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising and do not refer to any of the following; Postcard Friendship Friday, mailboxes, the Post office, postcards or the love of postcards, will be deleted.

A Merry Halloween - Guest Heart Thursday

This little fellow is ready to party!  And if you notice, the pumpkin's eyes are hearts--just perfect for Guest Heart Thursday!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

Fire in the Grate - Sunday Scans

This wonderful lineart was scanned from an book of children's poetry from the early 1900's.  I love the pen and inks to be found in this book--I've had the book since I was a child.  If you look at my drawing style, you can see how these long-gone artists have inspired my own artwork.

Have a lovely day!

Al's Photography Blog, by our good friend Al, hosts "Sunday Scans" each week.  Sunday Scans is a place for all things scanned.  So pick up your artwork, old photo albums, ephemera, postcards, ANYTHING which can be scanned and join in the fun!