SUNDAY 4PM 'Chrysalis': BETWEEN THE WORLDS & 6pm LIVE appearance in Chelsea!
Turning to go, I heard you call out my name
Like a bird in a cage, spreading its wings to fly
'The Old Ways are lost', you sang as you flew
And I wondered why
-Loreena Mckennit, patron saint of all modern Celtic Pagan-Curious
Aunt Rebecca, why is there Halloween?
-my niece and nephew
Hey Hartlist!
It is upon us! My favorite time of (yes, even this) year! I know Oct 31 is two weeks away but I will NOT be doing the show that week. Instead, THIS Sunday I offer you The Chrysalis #28: "BETWEEN THE WORLDS (THE HALLOWEEN SHOW)" 10/26 at 4PM on Facebook Live as per usual.
Before I go any further, last week's "GOLD" set is here if you missed it. Covers by the Black Keys, Dolly Parton, Dire Straits, Jill Scott, and more. 'Twas fun.
And before I go any further #2, THIS SUNDAY EVENING 10/26 at 6PM (post-livestream), I am thrilled to say that some of my band members and I will be playing a short live acoustic set outside at Motel Morris in Chelsea, only partly because I want the roast chicken.
The above question, asked by my niece and/or nephew a few months (?) ago, was definitely the "put me in, coach!" moment of the ongoing series known around here as Ask Your Aunt. In the spirit of enhancing your Halloween this year I thought I'd give you the cliff's notes-Ask Your Aunt version of the holiday formerly known as Samhain, or 'Summer's End'.
Long story short and incomplete, a long time ago in certain parts of the world, October 31 was considered the eve of the New Year. (Yes, kind of? like Rosh Hashanah!) People would do ceremonies to banish anything from the old year they didn't want hanging around, and to welcome in what they wanted for the new. (Kind of? like New Year's resolutions, only without the numb resignation to defeat!) But also, significantly, they believed that on this night, the veil between the worlds was thinnest, which meant that there wasn't as much distance as usual between, say, the living and the dead, or the faery realm and the human one. So people would also honor the dead and ask them for help in banishing the Old. (Yes, maybe Ruth Bader Ginsburg CAN help with the upcoming election!) And, on this night, what with the thin veil and all, people claimed they could see ghosts and spirits and whatnot and it was important to treat them nice (like with candy). There's a lot more to this. But to recap, thin veil = ghost and creature costumes, offerings, travel between the worlds. (Actually, let's watch 'Coco' this week.)
See you Sunday at 4 for songs of boundaries and borders crossed and probably one gothic poem, AND/OR SEE YOU IN PERSON at 6 (how do I sing through a mask? Let's find out),
Rebecca xoxo