Witch holidays in October are a time for celebration and mysticism. One of the most well-known witch holidays in October is Halloween. This holiday, celebrated on October 31st, is a time when witches and other supernatural beings are said to be able to roam the earth freely. Halloween has its roots in ancient Celtic traditions, particularly the festival of Samhain. This festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was believed that the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was at its thinnest during this time, allowing spirits to cross over into the mortal realm.
“I think what happened is that the pagan tradition of the Vikings mixed in with the Christian traditions,” Sherman said.
For instance, the belief that the yule log burned for 12 days may have been influenced by the Biblical story of the three wise men, who visited the newborn Jesus Christ in Bethlehem 12 days after he was born. The bûche de Noël or Yule log is a Christmas dessert popular in France and other countries that consists of chocolate roll designed to look like a tree trunk.
It was believed that the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was at its thinnest during this time, allowing spirits to cross over into the mortal realm. People would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off any malevolent spirits that may try to harm them. In modern times, Halloween has become a fun and festive holiday.
How the Yule log tradition evolved from an ancient Viking ritual
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Published Dec. 26, 2022, 12:46 p.m. ETThe word yule means winter in Old Norse. Shutterstock
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Yule logs can mean different things for different people. For some, yule logs mean warm, crackling fireplaces. For others, they bring to mind sweet, chocolate cakes.
Either way, the Christmas icon in modern times may echo a tradition from as far back as ancient times, particularly in a changing medieval Scandinavia.
Popularly known as the home of the Vikings, this region in northern Europe experienced a significant shift in its culture beginning in the 11th century — a shift involving a mixture of religion and long winter nights, all curiously represented in the unsuspecting yule log.
The long winter night
“The word ‘yule’ really is our understanding of the word ‘winter’ in Old Norse,” said Heidi Sherman, associate professor of medieval history at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and curator of UWGB’s Viking House.
According to Sherman, Old Norse was the ancient language spoken by the Vikings and their fellow Norsemen in Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
They celebrated a holiday known as the Yule, or Winter Festival.
“It really centers around the winter solstice, which of course, is the longest night of the year,” Sherman said. “It’s also celebrating the coming of the light because, after the winter solstice, the days get longer and longer and longer.”
“The winter solstice is really sacred because it’s celebrating the quiet of winter, but also the excitement of celebrating the sun,” Sherman added.
This cusp between darkness and light was of particular importance to the people of Scandinavia. Due to their northern location, they may have experienced as few as four or five hours of daylight leading up to the winter solstice.
As part of their winter Yule Festival, the early Scandinavians would gather around a fire.
“They would light this giant log, and everybody would sit around telling stories and feasting and sharing together,” Sherman said. “And then every morning, they would relight it again if it had gone out, and then for 12 days until the new year, they would continue the burning and the celebrating and the feasting.”
The burning wood was often made of oak and would have been carefully selected, according to Sherman. It may have also had carved images, such as those of Norse gods.
This fiery focal point was called the yule log.
Yule logs in modern times take several forms – some sweeter than others. Shutterstock
People dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, and decorate their homes with spooky decorations. Witches, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures are common symbols of Halloween. It is a time to embrace the mystical and supernatural, and many people enjoy exploring the world of witches through movies, books, and other media during this time. In addition to Halloween, there are other witch holidays in October that are celebrated by those who practice witchcraft or have an interest in the occult. One such holiday is Mabon, which falls on the autumnal equinox, usually around September 21st or 22nd. Mabon is a time to give thanks for the harvest and to prepare for the coming winter. It is a time of balance and reflection, and many witches use this time to perform rituals or spells related to gratitude and abundance. Another witch holiday in October is known as Samhain, which is also the ancient Celtic festival that Halloween is based upon. Samhain, celebrated on November 1st, is considered the witches' New Year and is a time to honor ancestors and those who have passed away. This holiday is often celebrated with rituals, feasts, and ceremonies. It is seen as a time of transition, as the old year ends and a new one begins. Overall, witch holidays in October are a time for embracing the supernatural and celebrating the mystical. Whether it is Halloween, Mabon, or Samhain, these holidays offer a chance to connect with the spiritual world and explore the traditions and practices of witchcraft. They are a time for reflection, celebration, and a little bit of magic..
Reviews for "Exploring the Witch Trials of October: Dark History and Lessons Learned"
1) John - 1 star
I was really disappointed with "Witch Holidays October". The storyline was confusing and all over the place. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked any depth or relatability. The writing style felt disjointed and lacked cohesiveness. Overall, I found the book to be a complete letdown and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
2) Sarah - 2 stars
"Witch Holidays October" had potential, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. The dialogue felt unnatural and forced, and the plot twists were predictable. I also found the world-building to be lacking, as it wasn't well explained or fleshed out. While I think the concept had promise, the execution was disappointing.
3) Mark - 1 star
I couldn't get into "Witch Holidays October" at all. The writing was riddled with grammatical errors and poor sentence structure. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any sort of personality. The story itself was dull and unoriginal, offering nothing new or exciting. I struggled to finish the book and ended up feeling like I wasted my time. I would strongly advise against reading this.