Halloween, also known as Samhain in the Wiccan tradition, is a significant holiday for Wiccans and pagans alike. It is a time when the veil between the worlds is said to be thin, allowing for easier communication with spirits and ancestors. In Wicca, Samhain is celebrated as the Witches' New Year and marks the end of the harvest season. During Samhain, Wiccans often choose to use their Wiccan name instead of their given name. This special name holds personal and spiritual significance, reflecting the individual's journey in the craft and connection to their chosen deity or deities. Using a Wiccan name during Samhain allows practitioners to fully embrace their spiritual identity and connect more deeply with the energy of the holiday.
Razorbacks Hogs
Arkansas was known for its razorback hogs long before the University of Arkansas mascot came into being. These wild boars were called razorbacks because of their high, hair-covered backbone and ill-mannered temper. The razorback hog was considered ruthless and dangerous when backed into a corner.
The true wild boar, also called the European or Russian boar, is not native to the United States. Christopher Columbus introduced their domesticated ancestors to the New World in 1493. Wild boars are thought to have arrived with explorer Hernando de Soto, who brought the original thirteen grunting hogs to the new world in 1539, though this theory has lately been cast into doubt by Charles Hudson, who reconstructs de Soto’s path in his book, Knights Of Spain, Warriors Of The Sun (University of Georgia Press, 1997).
Domestic swine arrived in Arkansas with the first settlers. Many escaped from their pens and headed for the hills, where they established breeding grounds and roamed town streets. Over time, these feral pigs interbred with their wild counterparts and became what we now call “wild boars.” Settlers would trap the hogs in large pens and take them to market. This practice continued into the twentieth century, but the Depression forced many farmers to leave their country lifestyle for a more stable life in town. Today, feral hogs are present in more than fifty Arkansas counties.
The most common color for feral hogs is black. Boars have long, bristly hair, high shoulders, a sloping rump, long, skinny legs, and small hips. The massive wedge-shaped head with short, hairy, erect ears ends in a pointed snout. The nose is almost round and looks and feels somewhat soft but must be one of the most efficient rooting machines of any animal. Boars dig up fields of crops with ease.
A mature male is 4′ to 5′ long and weighs 150–300 pounds. Females are slightly smaller. The boar has long tusks. The upper tusks rub against the lower ones and sharpen them. The boar’s body armor of fat, gristle, and tendons can be more than an inch thick. It starts around the neck and extends just past the lower ribs.
Boars adapt to various habitats as long as there is a reliable source of water. If they have a weakness, it is a low tolerance for heat. They make “wallows” to cool and protect themselves from insects and lice. A lot of the wild hogs in Arkansas are found in swampy terrain.
Wild boars are intelligent, equipped with keen senses, swift, wary, easily agitated, and aggressive when cornered. They can move thirty-five miles per hour and are constantly on the move, even when feeding.
Problems with wild hogs are numerous. They uproot plants and will eat anything they can catch, including young mammals. They destroy terrestrial and aquatic vegetation, ruin water holes used by other wildlife, and contribute to erosion and siltation, which can degrade water quality. They can transmit brucellosis and other diseases to domestic animals. There have been cases in Arkansas of feral hogs transmitting brucellosis and trichinosis to humans.
Despite the problems hogs cause, they provide great hunting opportunities for the expert hunter. There are still wild hogs roaming free on Arkansas Game and Fish and federal hunting lands.
For additional information:
“Feral Hogs.” Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. https://www.agfc.com/en/hunting/feral-hogs/ (accessed July 27, 2023).
Foti, Thomas, and Gerald Hanson. Arkansas and the Land. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 1992.
Lancaster, Bob. “The Adelantado’s Pigs.” Arkansas Times, January 1986, 65–76.
“Laws and Regulations Governing Feral Hogs in Arkansas.” University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-9106.pdf (accessed July 27, 2023).
Tina Easley
Paragould, Arkansas
Five more things -- all mascot
While the University of Arkansas is on spring break, ArkansasRazorbacks.com is giving viewers a chance to learn more about Arkansas Athletics with a special series of 25 Things About the Arkansas Razorbacks You Might Not Know. For the five days, we’ll have installments of five different noteworthy factoids about Arkansas Athletics.
Day 1
:
Wired Razorbacks ||
Day 2: We’re Top 25 ||
Day 3: Arkansas and the SEC
Day 4: A Mascot Like No Other ||
Day 5: America’s Best Facilities
| #16 – The One and Only Lions, Tigers and Bears – but oh my there is only one Razorback in college athletics. Perhaps the most distinct and unique college mascot, the Razorback is considered one of the top sports icons not just in the United States, but world wide. Any Razorback fan who has traveled the globe knows that wearing the distinctive classic hog on a shirt or hat is guaranteed to draw a Woo Pig Sooie in airports or city streets. In Division I sports, there literally is only one Razorback, and on the world stage, we only know of a few other sports franchises that use the name: a semi-pro German football squad, Sydney, Australia’s, pro basketball team and the North Queensland Razorbacks of the New Zealand soccer league. |
| #17 – Mess With the Hog and You Get the Tusk Tusk II is the current Razorback mascot, a strapping Russian boar. His predecessors in the role of Head Hog have quite a reputation. As a result, the Razorback mascot is often listed in the top two or three most dangerous mascots in all of sports. Former mascot Big Red III escaped from an exhibit near Eureka Springs in the summer of 1977 and ravaged the countryside before being gunned down by an irate farmer. Another live mascot, Ragnar, was a wild hog captured in south Arkansas by Leola farmer Bill Robinson. Before Ragnar’s spree was done, the mighty animal had killed a coyote, a 450-pound domestic pig and seven rattlesnakes. Ragnar died in 1978 of unknown causes. |
| #18 – Our Mascot Isn’t Plush Sure, Big Red – the official spirit squad mascot – and the Razorback family – Sue E, Pork Chop and Boss Hog – are friendly folks, but the real Razorback isn’t a Styrofoam cartoon character. Only a handful of colleges and universities that maintain a live mascot, Tusk II is the second generation Russian boar which serves as the ambassador for Arkansas Athletics. Cared for by the Stokes family of Russellville, Ark., Tusk travels to home events and special appearances for the Razorbacks. A legacy program is underway to insure future Tusks. Razorback fans who wish to contribute to the support of the live mascot can make donations to the Tusk Fund, care of the Razorback Foundation, Inc. |
| #19 – The Legend of the Hog Hat It is true; no Razorback fan’s closet is complete without an official Hog Hat. The original style was a hard plastic hat with a long snout, rough razorback ridges across the top and wickedly sharp, pointed curly-cue tail. The modern versions are often sculpted from softer material. Regardless, the Hog Hat is undoubtedly the most recognized piece of fan apparel in college athletics. Just ask ESPN GameDay’s Kirk Herbstreit as he dons the traditional Hog Hat. |
| #20 – 100 Years of Razorbacks When football coach Hugo Besdek stepped of the train at the Fayetteville station in the late fall of 1909, the proclaimed the Arkansas football team played like a wild bunch of Razorbacks. Alluding to the Razorback, characterized by a ridge back and tenacious, wild fighting ability, Bezdek never forgot this idea and often called his team “a fighting band of Razorbacks.” This new nickname became increasingly popular and the student body voted to change the official University mascot from the Cardinal to the Razorbacks Next year, 2009-10 is the 100th anniversary of the mascot change. |
Arkansas Traditions
A few things we've grown fond of since 1871.
We're proud of our many fun and unique traditions at the University of Arkansas. Here are just a few of the traditions that have shaped the U of A's distinct identity and have united generations of students.
Using a Wiccan name during Samhain allows practitioners to fully embrace their spiritual identity and connect more deeply with the energy of the holiday. Choosing a Wiccan name for Halloween can be an exciting and meaningful process. It is a time for self-reflection, self-discovery, and embodying the essence of the holiday.
How we became the Razorbacks
There are dozens of Lions, Tigers and Bears, but in all of college athletics there is only one Razorback – but it wasn't always that way. The university's teams were known as the Cardinals until Arkansas football coach Hugo Bezdek fatefully called his players "a wild band of Razorback hogs" after a big win over LSU in 1909.
The Razorback, characterized by a ridge back and its tenacious, wild fighting ability, immediately became a popular nickname, and one year after coach Bezdek's statement, the student body voted to change the official mascot to Razorbacks.
Some practitioners may choose a name that resonates with the energy of Samhain, such as "Raven" or "Hallow." Others might choose a name that represents their personal spiritual journey or connection to a specific deity, such as "Luna" for those who connect strongly with the moon goddess. It is important to remember that choosing a Wiccan name is a deeply personal decision. It is not necessary for all Wiccans to have a special name, and some may choose to use their given name during Samhain or in their everyday practice. The decision to use a Wiccan name should come from a place of intention and connection to one's own spiritual path. Overall, using a Wiccan name during Samhain adds an extra layer of magic and significance to the holiday. It allows practitioners to step into their spiritual identity and embrace the energy of the season. They may choose a name that resonates with the energy of Samhain or reflects their personal journey in the craft. Ultimately, the choice of a Wiccan name for Halloween is a personal one that adds depth and intention to the celebration of this sacred holiday..
Reviews for "The Language of Magick: How a Wiccan Name for Halloween Enhances Spellcasting"
- Sarah - 1 star
I was really excited to try "Wiccan Name for Halloweeb" as I love all things Wiccan and Halloween, but I was extremely disappointed with this product. The content was poorly organized and lacked depth. It felt like the author just scratched the surface of Wiccan traditions without giving any real insight. Additionally, the writing style was dry and monotonous, making it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a comprehensive exploration of Wiccan practices related to Halloween.
- Michael - 2 stars
As a beginner in Wicca, I was hoping "Wiccan Name for Halloweeb" would provide me with insightful information about incorporating the spiritual elements of Halloween into my practice. Unfortunately, I found the book to be quite confusing and disorganized. The topics were all over the place, and it felt like the author was trying to cover too many things without going into much depth. The lack of clarity made it challenging to understand the concepts being discussed, especially for someone new to Wicca. I think this book had potential, but it ultimately fell short of my expectations.
- Emily - 2 stars
Although I appreciate the effort to create a resource specifically for Wiccans during Halloween, "Wiccan Name for Halloweeb" didn't meet my expectations. The content was too basic and lacked the depth I was hoping for. It felt like a quick overview rather than a detailed guide. Additionally, the book had numerous grammatical errors and typos, which made it difficult to read. I understand that self-published books may have some imperfections, but these errors were quite distracting. Overall, I can't say I would recommend this book to fellow Wiccans looking for an in-depth exploration of Halloween traditions in Wicca.
- David - 1 star
I found "Wiccan Name for Halloweeb" to be a complete waste of time and money. The information provided was shallow and repetitive, offering nothing beyond what a quick internet search could provide. The writing style was uninspiring, and the lack of any real substance made reading this book a chore. I was hoping for fresh perspectives and unique insights, but instead, I was presented with regurgitated cliches. I would advise anyone interested in Wicca and Halloween to look elsewhere for a more substantial and well-crafted resource.