That very special time of year is fast approaching: Halloween.
Two thousand years ago the ancient Celts called it Samhain (pronounced sow-in or sau-an) which means Summer’s End in Old Irish. The ancient Irish and Scots believed that the border between this world and the Otherworld became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family’s ancestors were honoured and invited home while harmful spirits were warded off. The need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm.
Well, this — the home of Adam Horning, Ashleigh Carley and their young son Cooper — certainly isn't the spookiest place in town but its home-spun jack-o-lanterns are pretty typical of the decorations around town. If you want to see what really could be the spookiest places in Revelstoke this Halloween, keep scrolling down through these pictures. David F. Rooney photo
After the introduction of Christianity, Samhain was hidden behind the festival of All Hallows Eve, the day before the Christian Holy Day of All Saints Day, Nov. 1. People then would hang skeletons in their windows to represent their departed ancestors and would carve turnips into lanterns that were used to frighten away evil spirits. Skeletons are still a common Halloween symbol as are jack-o-lanterns, although now they are carved from pumpkins — not turnips.
Not that long ago, just about every house in a town or city boasted a carved pumpkin and hordes of children roamed the streets going from door-to-door trick-or-treating. There is less of that today but some people still hold to the old ways and like to decorate their homes for Halloween. A lot of the modern decorations are not very scary. But some still like to make their houses as spooky as possible. Here are a few of the homes in Revelstoke where residents have gone to some effort to keep the spooky Halloween traditions alive… or should I say Undead?
The Meloros at 705 Vernon transformed their front garden into a graveyard with their home-made tombstones. David F. Rooney photo
The Girard residence at 201 6th Street East boasts a graveyard, spider webs, a headless figure and other creepy items, including...... a skeletal hand on one of the steps leading to the front door. Will it leap out an grab an unwary trick-or-treater? We'll find out on Halloween. David F. Rooney photoBetty Donato's home at 505 4th Street East clearly beckons to would-be trick-or-treaters. But first they have to pass by her little graveyard and a bevy of grinning skulls. David F. Rooney photoThe home of Sheryl McInnes and Debbie Ife at the corner of Front and Wilson crouches above the riverbank and, in the right light, even looks a little forbidding, with its windows decorated with skulls and giant spiders and, in the back yard...... a graveyard with its own little crowd of the undead. Brrrr! Does that chill your blood? David F. Rooney photoAnd, finally, there is the Walfords' home at 217 Fourth Street East which has a cast of animated ghouls that make it a veritable Spook Central. Which one is your favourite... or have you plans to turn your own home into The Spookiest House in Town? David F. Rooney photo
