Unfamiliar happenings can sometimes feel like an everlasting curse. When we encounter situations or events that are outside of our usual experiences, it can leave us feeling overwhelmed, confused, or even frightened. These unfamiliar happenings could be anything from a sudden illness, a job loss, a relationship breakdown, or even a natural disaster. One common characteristic of unfamiliar happenings is the sense of uncertainty that they bring. We are often thrown into uncharted territory, without any previous knowledge or understanding of how to navigate the situation. This uncertainty can be incredibly destabilizing and can lead to feelings of anxiety, fear, and helplessness.
Throughout history, many people have believed that Samhain has dark and demonic roots. This misconception is largely due to Charles Vallancey, a British military surveyor and amateur historian who first visited Ireland in 1762 while on a surveying mission. Vallancey became fascinated with the region, and he wrote a massive, three-volume work on its history and culture. But in his opus, the clueless scholar erroneously claimed that linguists had mistranslated the word Samhain. Instead of meaning “summer’s end,” Vallancey argued it actually referred to a Celtic god alternately named “Balsab”—bal meaning lord, and sab meaning death.
This misconception is largely due to Charles Vallancey, a British military surveyor and amateur historian who first visited Ireland in 1762 while on a surveying mission. The list goes on Characters in the cartoon TV series Ugly Americans an assortment of demons, zombies, wizards, and more observe a holiday called Samhain.
This uncertainty can be incredibly destabilizing and can lead to feelings of anxiety, fear, and helplessness. Another challenging aspect of unfamiliar happenings is the loss of control that accompanies them. In our everyday lives, we often have a sense of control over our circumstances.
The Witches of Halloween Past
If recent memes are any indication, it’s likely you’ll wind up as Big Bird, a face-eating zombie, Psy or the Ecco Homo fresco for Halloween. Or, there are the classics. You know, the default ghosts, scarecrows, clowns and witches our parents’ and even our grandparents’ generations wore for Halloween. (Turns out that my grandmother, my mother and I all had our turns as teenage witches, going door-to-door clad in black pointy hats collecting our bounty.)
Contestants in the Halloween Slick Chick beauty contest in Anaheim, California, 1947.
Silk stockings ad from Ipswich Hosiery, 1927.
Halloween is thought to date back more than 2,000 years to a time when Celtic people celebrated New Year’s Day, or Samhain, on the equivalent of November 1. Legend has it that the day before, or Samhain eve (now known as Halloween), fairy and demon spirits would appear in the ether as they traveled to the afterlife. Celts dressed in costumes to stave off the evil spirits and tap into the souls of their ancestry.
Witch fashion, 1938.
All Hallows’ Eve, as it’s also known, was brought to the United States by European immigrants in the 1800s and with it, the witch costume. With absolutely no scientific evidence, one could conjecture that at least one in four people has dressed up as the hooked-nose, broom-laden, cauldron-stirring, wart-faced caricature at least one time in his or her Halloween career. As proof of this hypothesis, images of Halloween witches throughout the decades aren’t difficult to come by.
Nancy Carroll, date unknown.
Joyce Holden, 1950.
Sexy witches, pin-up witches, cutesy witches. I’d assumed that the proliferation of racy costumes (bananas and bubble gum costumes included) was a more recent occurrence. Slate suggests that the tawdriness actually began in the 1970s for a few reasons: Drag queens began dressing up for Halloween in skimpy outfits; the Halloween parade kicked off in Greenwich Village in 1973 and was quickly mimicked in the Castro and West Hollywood; and retailers began selling suggestive pre-fab costumes. But from digging around for old photos and coming upon images of scantily clad enchantresses riding those broomsticks beginning in the 1910s, it looks like witches were less Salem and more sassy much earlier than the disco decade.
Barbara Britton, Katharine Booth, Ella Neal and Eva Gabor c. 1941.
P.S. Ever wonder why broomsticks were a witch’s accessory of choice? Brooms weren’t initially meant for flying. In Celtic times, they had a much more mundane purpose; they were used to clean an area before a healing ritual could be performed. But if you ask me, the broomstick’s primary function was likely to shoo away black cats from crossing your path.
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Emily Spivack creates and edits the sites Worn Stories and Sentimental Value. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.
By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become a secular but community-centered holiday, with parades and town-wide Halloween parties as the featured entertainment. Despite the best efforts of many schools and communities, vandalism began to plague some celebrations in many communities during this time.
We have routines, plans, and expectations that provide us with a sense of stability. But when faced with unfamiliar happenings, this sense of control is disrupted, and we are left feeling vulnerable and powerless. The everlasting curse aspect comes from the way these unfamiliar happenings can linger and impact our lives long after the initial event has ended. The effects can be long-lasting, leaving scars on our psyche and shaping our future actions and choices. We may become hyper-vigilant, constantly on guard for the next unfamiliar happening, or we may become withdrawn and avoidant, trying to protect ourselves from further pain. However, it's important to recognize that unfamiliar happenings can also provide an opportunity for growth and personal development. When faced with the unknown, we are forced to adapt, learn new skills, and develop resilience. These challenges can push us out of our comfort zones and help us discover hidden strengths and resources. While it may be difficult to see in the moment, unfamiliar happenings can ultimately lead to personal growth, self-discovery, and a deeper appreciation for life. By embracing the unknown and facing these challenges head-on, we can break free from the everlasting curse of unfamiliar happenings and emerge stronger, wiser, and more compassionate individuals..
Reviews for "Breaking the Cycle: Overcoming the Persistent Curse of Unfamiliar Happenings"
1. John - 2 stars - I really wanted to like "Unfamiliar happenings everlasting curse" because I had heard so many great things about it, but I was ultimately disappointed. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, with too many unnecessary subplots that didn't add anything meaningful to the overall narrative. Additionally, the characters felt underdeveloped and one-dimensional, making it difficult to connect with them on any level. The writing style was also lacking, with awkward phrasing and repetitive descriptions. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointment and it didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I couldn't even finish "Unfamiliar happenings everlasting curse." It started off promising with an intriguing premise, but as the story progressed, it became apparent that it was poorly executed. The pacing was off, with long stretches of monotonous dialogue and little action. The author seemed more concerned with setting up future plotlines than actually focusing on the present story, which left me feeling detached and uninterested. The writing itself was also subpar, filled with grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. I regret wasting my time on this book and would not recommend it to others.
3. Emily - 3 stars - "Unfamiliar happenings everlasting curse" had its moments, but for the most part, I found it underwhelming. The concept was interesting, but the execution fell flat. The plot was predictable, and the twists were not as surprising as I had hoped. The characters were also clichéd and lacked depth, making it difficult to invest emotionally in their journeys. Despite these flaws, I will give credit to the author for their descriptive writing style, which added some atmospheric elements to the story. Overall, it was an average read, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it unless you're a die-hard fan of the genre.