Color Your Own Halloween Art
Print & Color your own Halloween Art
Ghost Festival
This is a traditional Chinese festival and celebration in many countries. The first Ghost Festival was held in 1856.
On fifteenth day the realms of Heaven and Hell and of the living are open and Buddhists would perform rituals to absolve the sufferings of the dead. Traditionally the filial piety of descendants extends to their ancestors even after their deaths. Activities during the month include preparing food offerings, burning incense and joss paper. This is for the visiting spirits of the ancestors. Delicious meals mostly meatless, are served with empty seats for each of the deceased in the family. These spirits are as though they are still living. Other festivities include and releasing miniature paper boats and lanterns on the water which signifies giving directions to the spirits of the ancestors.
IN SEARCH OF GRAVESTONES
I was sauntering about the churchyard at Newhaven in Sussex, reading the inscriptions on the tombs, when my eyes fell upon a headstone somewhat elaborately carved. Although aged, it was in good preservation, and without much trouble I succeeded in deciphering all the details and sketching the subject in my note-book.
The inscription below the design reads as follows:
“Here lyeth the remains of Andrew Brown,
who departed this life the 14th day of
January 1768, aged 66 years. Also of
Mary his wife, who departed this life the
3d day of July 1802, aged 88 years.”
This was the first time I had been struck by an allegorical gravestone of a pronounced character.
The subject scarcely needs to be interpreted, being obviously intended to illustrate the well-known passage in the Burial Service: “For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised … then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in Victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” The reference in another ritual to the Lord of Life trampling the King of Terrors beneath his feet seems also to be indicated, and it will be noticed that the artist has employed a rather emphatic smile to pourtray triumph.
It was but natural to suppose that this work was the production of some local genius of the period, and I searched for other evidences of his skill. Not far away I found the next design, very nearly of the same date.
A Truly Vintage Halloween
Orange and black are the colors of Halloween because they are symbols of the ripe harvest and dark magic.
Pumpkins were cut with faces representing demons and was originally intended to frighten away evil spirits. It was said that if a demon or such were to encounter something as fiendish looking as themselves that they’d run away in terror,thus sparing the houses dwellers from the ravages of dark entities. They would have been carried around the village boundaries or left outside the home to burn through the night.








Halloween Mask from the 60’s





HARRY SPOOK – Do you want something really fun and original for your next Halloween party this year? !!! Read this Halloween story to a crowd of party – goers and watch what happens…. It is fun entertainment for all ages – and the best part is– it does not have to cost you a cent. Most of the materials for this party theme are household items!!! See