Celtic pagan fall rituals, also known as Samhain, were an important part of the Celtic calendar and marked the beginning of the dark winter season. This ancient Celtic celebration typically took place on October 31-November 1 and was a time to honor the end of the harvest and connect with the spiritual world. One of the main ideas of Celtic pagan fall rituals was the belief that during this time of year, the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead was at its thinnest. This belief led to various customs and practices aimed at communing with spirits and seeking guidance from ancestors. One prominent tradition during Samhain was the lighting of bonfires. These fires were believed to ward off evil spirits and provide protection for the coming winter months.
These fires were believed to ward off evil spirits and provide protection for the coming winter months. People would gather around the bonfires, perform rituals, and make offerings to the spirits. Another important aspect of Celtic pagan fall rituals was the practice of divination.
'Wicked' fun at The Fabulous Fox!
The musical “Wicked” opened on Broadway in 2004 and was nominated for ten Tony awards with Idina Menzel winning for Best Actress in a Musical. It is currently the 4th longest running show on Broadway and is still going strong.
The musical, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman, is loosely based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West”. The story takes place both before and after Dorothy Gale arrives in Oz from Kansas. It is told from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz. “Wicked” tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (later Glinda the Good Witch).
The Broadway Touring Company of “Wicked” has returned to The Fabulous Fox for a limited run after several very successful tours in the past. The crowd on the night I attended seemed to be made up of “Wicked” faithful and many were festooned for the occasion to boot. It was a glorious production from top to bottom. And speaking of top, above the curtain line is a giant dragon that lights up and blows smoke at appropriate moments. The traveling five-piece orchestra, led impeccably by Evan Roider, is aided by nine local musicians from our Musicians Association of St. Louis Local 2-197 AFM. Cheers to the National Tour for hiring local talent! Settings, by Eugene Lee, and costumes, by Susan Hilferty, are incredible and stunning. The lighting, sound, projections, and special effects (by Kenneth Posner, Tony Meola, Elaine J. McCarthy and Chic Silber respectively) combine to create absolute spellbinding MAGIC.
Of course, all the shiny bells and whistles don’t mean a thing without a strong cast, and this touring company is chock full of strong everything. The story opens just after the Wicked Witch of the West has died from Dorothy throwing water on her and the Munhkins are overjoyed. Glinda (played pitch perfectly by Jennafer Newberry) floats down in her bubble to answer any lingering questions one of which is in regards to her personal history with the aforementioned dead witch. And thus begins our history lesson of Elphaba and Galinda (before she changed her name to Glinda). We are soon transported to their first encounter at college and we meet a fresh, and very green, faced Elphaba (passionately and perfectly portrayed by Lissa Deguzman). Throughout the play we learn the origin stories of the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion. We discover that the Wonderful Wizard of Oz is really not all that wonderful. There are universal themes here of unlikely friendships, unrequited love, good vs evil and how to tell the two apart.
The songs are the star of the show, the cast album won a Grammy in 2004, and this ensemble, especially Newberry and Deguzman, do them proud. Each and every voice fills The Fox with heart and soul. The supporting players are all terrific but standouts are Boise Holmes, as Doctor Dillamond, and Christian Thompson, as Fiyero. The show runs just shy of three hours but the time flies by, pun intended.
“Wicked” at The Fabulous Fox runs through May 7th. For tickets and information go to The Fabulous Fox website.
This involved attempting to predict the future or gain insights by interpreting signs or symbols. Common forms of divination during Samhain included apple peeling, mirror gazing, and casting spells. In addition to divination, costume and mask wearing were also prevalent during Samhain. This was believed to confuse and ward off malevolent spirits. People would dress in costumes made from animal skins and wear masks to obscure their identities. This tradition eventually evolved into what we now know as Halloween. Overall, Celtic pagan fall rituals were deeply rooted in the belief in the connection between the living and the spiritual world. They provided an opportunity for people to honor their ancestors, seek guidance for the future, and celebrate the changing seasons. Today, many of these traditions continue to be celebrated and have been woven into modern-day Halloween festivities..
Reviews for "Ritualistic Feasting: A Key Component of Celtic Pagan Harvest Celebrations"
1. John - 2 stars - I attended the Celtic pagan fall rituals with high hopes, but I left feeling disappointed and underwhelmed. The rituals lacked structure and coherence, making it difficult to fully understand or engage with the meaning behind them. Additionally, the event felt disorganized, with long periods of waiting and confusion. Overall, I was left feeling like there was a lack of effort and attention to detail in the planning and execution of the rituals.
2. Claire - 1 star - I was incredibly disappointed by the Celtic pagan fall rituals. The event felt more like a tourist attraction than a meaningful spiritual experience. The performers seemed more concerned with putting on a show rather than connecting with the spiritual aspects of the rituals. The atmosphere was chaotic and crowded, which further diluted any sense of tranquility or connection to nature. I left feeling like I had wasted my time and money on an inauthentic and shallow experience.
3. Michael - 2 stars - As someone who was curious about exploring Celtic pagan traditions, I was excited to attend the fall rituals. However, I found the whole experience to be confusing and inaccessible. The organizers did not provide enough information or context for those unfamiliar with the rituals, leaving me feeling lost and disconnected. The language used during the rituals was also exclusive and difficult to understand. Overall, I left feeling frustrated and misunderstood, unable to grasp the beauty and significance of the Celtic pagan fall rituals.
4. Sarah - 2 stars - The Celtic pagan fall rituals were not what I expected at all. I had hoped for a deep and meaningful spiritual experience but instead, it felt like a commercialized and superficial event. The rituals seemed more like a performance than a genuine expression of faith. The atmosphere was more focused on entertainment than on fostering a connection to nature or the divine. I left feeling unsatisfied and with a sense of missed opportunity for a truly enriching experience.