31 Days of Spooky - Day 30
31 Days of Spooky - Day 30
Temples, toads and truth telling
Welcome to Beware of Creepy Houses: 31 Days of Spooky, where I’ll be celebrating Spooky Season with my thoughts on books, podcasts, films and spooky activities to get you in the mood this Halloween season.
There will also be a free writing prompt every day to get your spooky creativity flowing, which you can use to build a collection of 31 flashes, begin 31 short stories or stitch together into a great big spooky novel. Or maybe some poetry. Whatever floats your spooky spirit!
It’s Halloween Eve!
Something kooky is on the horizon and someone spooky is at the door!
Vampires, satanists and mad scientists: the evolution of horror in 10 revolutionary films
As you know, I’m not the biggest fan of contemporary horror, especially if it’s particularly gory or “slashy”.
I’m completely there for classic horror though, so this piece which shows the evolution of horror, starting right back in the 1920s with Nosferatu is really interesting.
Various horror genres are laid out together with their earliest examples; and even the slashy films get a look in, though I actually love Psycho - more high-pitched violins, less blood.
Inside the Irish ‘hell caves’ where Halloween was born
This article tells the story of the inconspicuous Rathcroghan, an ancient site in Ireland where a number of temples, burial mounds and other ancient structures have been found.
There is some interesting information about different pre-Christian festivals, including Samhain, which is believed to be the root of Halloween. It is worth noting however that although this article refers to Samhain being the “New Year” festival of the pre-Christian world, academics disagree on this theory, with some believing that Ostara was the traditional “New Year” and others believing that no festival held this marked place in the year, with all being seen as equally important turning points that affected day-to-day life.
I tend to lean towards the latter, while agreeing that if there was a “New Year” it was far more likely to fall in the spring than the darkest part of the year. Modern New Year makes zero sense to me and there’s a reason why people who give something up for Lent are far more successful than people who make (and break) New Year’s resolutions. Saying you’re going to go jogging every morning in hibernation season just doesn’t line up.
Call me cynical, but there probably is some benefit to the New Year industry to keep us making and failing the same goals every year, but overall you’re far better off making and reviewing your goals regularly. And if you want to go jogging every morning, maybe save it for the spring, and then by winter, it’s a habit!
Either way though, Rathcroghan is believed to be the place where Samhain originated and it’s undeniable that this ancient festival has inspired many of the ways we celebrate Halloween today.
Toxic toads
These vegetarian sweets from M&S are very cute little toads in a mix of strawberry and cola flavours.
The strawberry ones are sweet and sour, with the cola ones bringing back memories of cola bottles. They are also mixed sizes which gives each toad its own individuality.
The box contains one large bag of the mixed sweets, so probably not one for trick or treating unless you’re expecting an extra special spooky visitor, but definitely something nice to keep around for creepy movie night!
Witchcraft: Eight Myths and Misconceptions
It’s widely accepted that witches don’t really wear pointy hats and ride broomsticks, but everyone knows that they were burned at the stake just for practising herbal medicine, right? Right?
Maybe. Maybe not. This article debunks eight myths about witches and witchcraft.
From the truth about the misogyny behind accusations to the number of people arrested on charges of witchcraft, this is a really interesting look at what you think you know about witches.
Writing prompt - Strange situations
‘Twas the night before Halloween, when all through the Haunted House, all the creatures were stirring, even the ghost mouse. The pumpkin was sat by the chimney with care, in hopes that trick or treaters soon would be there. And then, the clock struck midnight, and the pumpkin promptly turned into a beautiful carriage, the ghost mouse into a noble steed, and every shoe in the house transformed into sparkling crystal. And not one shoe was part of a pair.
Knock knock.
I’d love to see anything you write over 31 Days of Spooky and hear about anything you are doing to celebrate Spooky Season!
The spiders have put up their decorations. The veil wears thin.
Sending tricks and treats and myth busting,
Donna
Beware of Creepy Houses is free to read, but if you would like to support my work, you can buy me a hot chocolate