31 Days of Hallowe'en: Day Nine

 Day 9: The Nightmare Before Christmas

  There has been debate over whether this is a Halloween or Christmas film. Though the story starts at about 11:56pm (it starts in Hallowe'en minutes before it's over) as it ends on Christmas Eve, it is usually seen as a Christmas film. However it is a fun film to watch form 31st October to 25th December. Of course it's a fun film any time in the year but it makes sense to watch it during the season. 

 

   Classed as an old film now, being released in 1993 (way to make me feel old!) it is original enough to not really be dated. Yes the stop-motion animation is notably free of CGI, but in a way I feel it makes it better. I could be biased. It is a PG (I don't really know the equivalent in other counties) which means it's probably unsuitable for children under 8. I wasn't allowed to watch it when it first came out but managed at a friend's house. I was under eight at the time and there were some elements I found a little scary so the certificate is probably accurate. 

 

  This film is mainly set in three locations. Halloween town, Christmas Town and the real world. In the film it is suggested that all the holidays have their own individual towns where the residents spend the year planning for the next time their holiday comes around. These worlds are entered through doors in trees.

  As this is an American film, the holidays are Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Easter, St Patricks Day (it still seems odd to me that so many people celebrate this day) and, of course, Hallowe'en. At the beginning of the film we come to this circle of trees and enter through the Jack 'O Lantern door to come to Halloween town. This effect is ruined slightly when the main character, Jack Skellington, comes to these trees (minus the Halloween one) later by merely walking far enough. The only doors we, as an audience go through, are the Halloween and Christmas ones.

  The main premise, without giving too much away, is that Jack, who is the Pumpkin King starts to tire of both his title and the holiday itself. He goes through a crisis where he starts to feel empty. Going for a walk he comes upon the holiday trees and opens the Christmas one, after falling down (Alice down the rabbit hole style) he discovers Christmas town and is struck by the difference between this town and his. Exploring the town and feeling his emptiness fading, Jack decides he wants to plan and celebrate Christmas. It boasts a stellar soundtrack (Danny Elfman) including songs such 'This is Halloween' to start, 'Jack's Lament', 'What's This?' (a fan favourite) to name a few.

  Like I said, a Christmas film it is but one we can watch at any time of the year. It is a dark film, we have come to expect this from Tim Burton after all. It has elements of abuse, death and abduction in it, definitely not a film for a younger audience. I suppose it is a dark comedy mostly. It has moments of horror, violence and romance. While aimed at older children and teenagers, it is a family film to a point. Adults can enjoy it as much as younger people.

   For a bit of a change perhaps listen to the Nightmare Revisited soundtrack. An Album released in 2008 for the 15th Anniversary of the film it features  Marilyn Manson singing 'This is Halloween', Fatboy Slim 'What's This?' and Amy Lee 'Sally's Song' as well as All American Rejects, Korn and others. A good film to watch during or post Halloween, for us dark people who maybe wish Christmas could be a little darker, this is one of the best Christmas films. Unlike Die Hard and Gremlins, it is actually about Christmas, not just set then. I do know this is 31 Days of Halloween, not 31 Days of Christmas, but I couldn't let this season path without having at least some mention of the Pumpkin King.

31 Days Of Hallowe'en: Day Eight

 Day 8: Pocahontas

Spoiler ALERT: this post references key plot points from Disney's Pocahontas

  Pocahontas is a famous Native American figure, popular in folklore and made a Disney heroine in 1995. However, not a lot of people know the true story of Pocahontas and it can be hard to separate myth from truth. The most famous story about Pocahontas is that she saved John Smith's life. This story was dramatized and fictionalised for the Disney film, they fabricated a romance with John Smith. Pocahontas would have been 12 years old when she saved John Smith's life. This does not mean she couldn't have done it, however, John Smith didn't tell this story until after Pocahontas became famous and there is no evidence or documentation whatsoever that it actually happened. It was probably made up by Smith, probably to capitalize and probably cash-in on her celebrity. The Disney film has a quite sad ending as Disney films go with John and Pocahontas being separated as John needs to return to England to have a gunshot wound treated and Pocahontas feeling she is still needed in her country.

  Matoaka, known as Amonute, was estimated to have been born sometime in 1596. Matoaka is said to mean 'bright stream between hills', Amonute means 'little brave warrior'. John Smith said she was ten when he met in in 1608 but later said that she was twelve or thirteen at the time. Pocahontas was said to be a childhood nickname that means 'little wanton'. People have sometimes interpreted it as 'little mischief' or 'playful one'. Colonist William Strachey said that Pocahontas used to come to Jamestown and play with the young boys. He also said, which is not unusual considering her heritage, she would be naked. It is believed that her tribe may have called her Pocahontas and kept her real name a secret from the settlers due to superstition. In many cultures, names have a lot of power. 

  Pocahontas and John Smith probably did meet sometime in 1608. In 1607, John Smith was captured by her tribe and met her father, Powhatan. Smith claims that he and Pocahontas met sometime later, at least to start with. Pocahontas did regularly visit Jamestown as I said and "every once in four or five days, Pocahontas with her attendants brought him (Smith) so much provision that saved many of their lives that else for all this had starved with hunger". The Jamestown colonists seemed to have had a good relationship with the Native Americans to begin with, like many colonists, of course this changed.

  In 1609, John Smith sustained an injury and he was sent back to England, Pocahontas was told he had died. In 1613, relationships between the colonists and neighbouring tribes having broken down, Pocahontas was captured and held to ransom. The release of colonists held by Chief Powhatan and the return of stolen tools and weapons were the price. Powhatan did release the prisoners but the colonists were not satisfied with the amount of tools and weapons returned. A standoff began. It was suggested by someone that Pocahontas was raped after her capture but this is highly unlikely. Any harm coming to Pocahontas would have angered the Native Americans, especially as she was being held to ransom. The Natives still greatly outnumbered the colonists at this time and it's unlikely the colonists would risk the retaliation that could come. It is reported she was treated quite well which was in the interests of the colonists who wished for a truce.

  During her captivity Pocahontas improved her English and was taught about Christianity. She was eventually forced to convert and was baptised with the Christian name Rebecca. It is said that it was after her baptism she revealed her real name to the colonists. When the stand off between Natives and Colonists became violent Pocahontas spoke to her father and rebuked him for valuing her less than "old swords, pieces or axes" and said she wished to stay with the colonists "who loved her".

  In April 1614, Pocahontas married John Rolfe. Rolfe was a widower who established a plantation growing tobacco. He requested permission to marry Pocahontas (even though she had been baptized, she could still be seen as a heathen and he was a pious man) claiming to love her.  Their son, Thomas, was born January 1617 and they lived together on a farm for two years. Their marriage created a climate of peace between the Jamestown colonists and Powhatan's tribes; it endured for eight years as the "Peace of Pocahontas". In 1615, Ralph Hamor wrote, "Since the wedding we have had friendly commerce and trade not only with Powhatan but also with his subjects round about us." The marriage was controversial in the British court at the time because "a commoner" had "the audacity" to marry a "princess".

One goal of the Virginia Company of London was to convert Native Americans to Christianity, and the company saw an opportunity to promote further investment with the conversion of Pocahontas and her marriage to Rolfe. They decided to bring Pocahontas to England as a symbol of the tamed New World "savage" and the Rolfes arrived at the port of Plymouth on June 12, 1616. They journeyed to London by coach, accompanied by 11 other Powhatans including a holy man named Tomocomo. John Smith was living in London at the time while Pocahontas was in Plymouth, and she learned that he was still alive. Smith did not meet Pocahontas, but he wrote to the Queen, urging that Pocahontas be treated with respect as a royal visitor. He suggested that, if she were treated badly, her "present love to us and Christianity might turn to… scorn and fury", and England might lose the chance to "rightly have a Kingdom by her means". Pocahontas was not a princess in Powhatan culture, but the Virginia Company presented her as one to the English public because she was the daughter of an important chief. When he met her again in London, Smith referred to her deferentially as a "King's daughter".

Pocahontas was apparently treated well in London and was entertained at many public functions. At a masque, her seats were described as "well placed" and she was treated like a noblewoman. Not all the English were so impressed, however. Helen C. Rountree claims that there is no contemporaneous evidence to suggest that Pocahontas was regarded in England "as anything like royalty", despite the writings of John Smith. Rather, she was considered to be something of a curiosity, according to Roundtree, who suggests that she was called merely "the Virginian woman" by most Englishmen. Pocahontas and Rolfe lived in the suburb of Brentford, Middlesex for some time, as well as at Rolfe's family home at Heacham, Norfolk. In early 1617, Smith met the couple at a social gathering and wrote that, when Pocahontas saw him, "without any words, she turned about, obscured her face, as not seeming well contented", and was left alone for two or three hours. Later, they spoke more; Smith's record of what she said to him is fragmentary and enigmatic. She reminded him of the "courtesies she had done", saying, "you did promise Powhatan what was yours would be his, and he the like to you". She then discomfited him by calling him "father", explaining that Smith had called Powhatan "father" when he was a stranger in Virginia, "and by the same reason so must I do you". Smith did not accept this form of address because, he wrote, Pocahontas outranked him as "a King's daughter". Pocahontas then said, "with a well-set countenance". "Were you not afraid to come into my father's country and caused fear in him and all his people (but me) and fear you here I should call you "father"? I tell you then I will, and you shall call me child, and so I will be for ever and ever your countryman". Finally, Pocahontas told Smith that she and her tribe had thought him dead, but her father had told Tomocomo to seek him "because your countrymen will lie much".

  In March 1617, Rolfe and Pocahontas boarded a ship to return to Virginia, but they sailed only as far as Gravesend on the river Thames when Pocahontas became gravely ill. She was taken ashore and died at the approximate age of 21. It is not known what caused her death, many believed she was poisoned., perhaps because someone disliked or did not believe in the so-called "civilised savage" or disapproved of her interracial marriage. Perhaps because of what she was and nothing else. There are other theories such as tuberculosis or smallpox, but as no-one she had been in contact with fell ill and she was said to be in perfect health previously, it is likely she was poisoned. According to Rolfe, she died saying, "all must die, but tis enough that her child liveth". Pocahontas's funeral took place on March 21, 1617.

  A young Native American woman kidnapped, forced into Christianity, married off, shown as almost a sideshow in England and being poisoned before being able to return home. Her life has become sensationalized, fictionalised and portrayed many times. But unlike the happy Pocahontas of the Disney film and the (straight to VHS) sequel, the real Pocahontas lived a tragic life. 

31 Days of Hallowe'en: Day Seven

 Day 7: Trick or Treat 

  Trick or treating (as it is called) is a big part of Halloween. It is particularly popular in America but is present in many countries in modern times. Even people who are not particularly fond or supportive of it sometimes buy sweets in case any children come to their door trick or treating. Not everyone enjoys it, some people turn their lights off to pretend they're not home, some people ignore the door, some people answer it and simply say no, some even buy stickers or signs for their door requesting trick or treaters to skip their house.

  As a UK resident, when I was a child trick or treating was not something I did and few of my friends did either. I think for the most part it was still seen as an American custom. I once went trick or treating to three houses, all neighbours who I knew. The houses Mum said to go to in an emergency. I was also escorted by our next door neighbour who was also a close family friend. But I never had any idea how or why it started

  Celtics believed that on 31st October and 1st November, fairies, spirits and the souls of the dead would roam the earth. Offering them food would appease them. Dressing up and impersonating these supernatural beings and accepting offerings from homes on their behalf was also believed to protect you from them. In 15th century Christianity, from 31st October to 2nd November (Allhallowtide), people would visit houses and take soul-cakes either as representatives of the dead or in return for praying for their souls. Early accounts of people going to houses in costumes incudes a performance; short scenes, parts of plays, verses, rhymes or even singing. The performers would hope for food as a reward, not necessarily sweets but small cakes, apples, anything really.

  The trick or treat element of this Halloween past-time seems to have diminished a little. Very often if the person doesn't get a treat they do not play a trick on anyone. though some people still do, usually it is relatively harmless, a house getting egged or toilet paper thrown in the garden is about as extreme as they get. In some places, the 'trick' element is getting the individual looking for sweets to perform a trick or Halloween themed joke before getting their reward. Trick or treat now, has become more of a phrase than a threat, not a change I object to.

   The trick or treat custom did take something of a hit in the eighties. The media and word of mouth spread the myth that sweets were being tampered with and contaminated candy was being given to children by some of the people they asked for a treat. There were rumours of razorblades, rocks, even poison. Although it seemed to be unfounded for the most part, it threw people into a bit of a panic. It did not help that parents blamed illness or death during or immediately after the holiday on the conspiracy theory. One five year old boy found his Uncle's heroin stash and, unaware of what it was, consumed it. When the boy died shortly after, his family, in an attempt to protect the Uncle, claimed it had been sprinkled on sweets he had received. In another case a man did lace sweets with cyanide to kill his son, he gave the sweets out to some other children in hopes of concealing his crime but thankfully, they didn't eat any and he was convicted for his son's murder. 

  The danger of trick or treating brought to the forefront of people's minds, led to a different way of doing it. Some places now do what is called a Trunk and Treat (trunk being the American word for a car boot). Basically, it's a little like a car boot sale but it's trick or treating out of cars rather than knocking on people's doors. It is seen as a safer option, not least because it is often organised and/or run by church groups or organisations seen as attempting to help and benefit the community. Not something I have heard of happening in this country though, as far as I know, we never heard the contaminated candy myth. 

  Now, there are a few downsides to trick or treating. There are some children that, even with parental supervision, bother people who they should really leave alone. Also, some people dislike the idea of trick or treating seeing it as a form of begging. Back in the forties there was even a group of children who protested trick or treating asking people not to beg. There are also individuals who keep knocking far too long. There could be elderly, disabled, vulnerable people in the houses where there is no answer, I don't see why people insist on pounding on your door incessantly. You'd think when no-one answers they'd take a hint.

  If you are going trick or treating any year please take this advice 

1. A house with no Halloween decorations anywhere might be one to skip

2. Check for signs on doors that say no trick or treats, they did warn you

3. If no-one answers the door move on, a vulnerable person uncomfortable with opening the door may live there, have some respect.

4.If the person offers anything they say you have to come into the house for, run for it, they are still strangers.

5. Put on a costume, if you don't make the effort you don't really deserve a treat.

6. Don't go alone, aim to have someone at least 16 go with you to look after you and stay together

Until then be safe, have fun, and maybe avoid that house on the corner with the wicker man statue

31 Days of Hallowe'en: Day Six

 Day 6: Halloween Film Series 

  The Halloween film franchise, is a famous one. It all started in 1978 and 40 years later in 2018, the latest film came out and we still loved it. I did anyway. Now, 1978 was almost ten years before I was born, so I didn't see it at the cinema, I actually have never seen any of them at the cinema. My introduction to the franchise was at a sleepover with my two best friends. We actually watched one of the sequels, I have since seen the original, the sequel Halloween: Resurrection and the 2018 film but that's it so far ( I do have the second film, Halloween 2, lined up for Halloween this year). I'm not 100% sure which the first one I watched was, but I think it was Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later. I don't remember any of what happened, I may have fallen asleep but I later watched Halloween :Resurrection with the same friends at another sleepover. Now it may be that the amount of slasher and Halloween films I have watched have blurred the lines a little and I have watched Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later but can't recall it. Maybe I'll watch it and a few minutes in be saying "Oh yes I remember now!" Or it may be that I've got my wires completely crossed and I've never actually seen it, just heard about it. however, I digress

   The Halloween films chronicle one of the greatest love stories of all time. Michael Myers saw this girl walking down the street singing a very innocent love song, nothing sexual or dirty, just a sweet song. He became fixated on this girl who was so different from his sister and fell in love. A sick, twisted, dark, crazy, scary, dangerously obsessive love, but love nonetheless. He spent forty years coming after her and she knew that one day he would come back for her.

   Michael Myers is arguably one of the scariest villains from the horror genre. His mask is human-like (it's actually a William Shatner mask) but blank and expressionless which makes his appearance unnerving. He is silent, not a villain who roars or explains his motives to anyone. Also creeps up on people, you don't hear him. He also moves very slowly and deliberately, lulling people into a false sense of security, thinking they can outrun him. His murders are very violent but they're indiscriminate; he kills whomever he needs to, even if his need, to us, doesn't make sense. To compare to other franchises, Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street) kills for revenge, Jason's Mother/Jason (Friday the 13th), also are driven by vengeance, Ghost Face (Scream) the killer is always a different person but they tend to all want some kind of recognition and/or vengeance, Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) kills out of self-defence and fear, being controlled by other family members. Michael Myer's motives are never completely clear. While the film hints that Michael has a mental illness, we are never explicitly told exactly why he kills. I have heard an explanation is put forward in the sixth film but it sounds a bit ridiculous to me. He is in many ways a mysterious killer, why does he kill? Where did he get that mask? How is he apparently indestructible? Our fear of the unknown definitely helps this film.

  Something that often happens with film franchises, is that the sequels start to get silly. Franchises can go on for too long and sometimes the writers seem to be clutching at straws to come up with a storyline. Now, I have only seen 3 or 4 films from his franchise and there are 11 so far, Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends more are scheduled for release in 2021 and 2022 respectively. So I can't really comment on how good the sequels are. As I have said, I can't really remember Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later but I really enjoyed both Halloween: Resurrection and Halloween (2018). I know that a lot of people completely disregard Halloween III Season of the witch as it doesn't really follow the storyline and that some people dislike Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers but, as I haven't seen them myself, I can't really comment. 

  All the Halloween films, while not timeless, are still enjoyable. A perfect film fest for the Halloween season and Halloween night. Maybe once I watch Halloween II I'll have some comments to make on it, but for now let me say, sweet dreams.

Jamie Lee Curtis on Halloween 2018

31 Days of Hallowe'en: Day Five

 Day 5: Nursery Rhymes

  

Every time people talk about dark nursery rhymes, ring-a-ring-o'-roses comes up. Some people say this is about the plague, documenting what a victim would go through. The ring of roses describes the rash, a pocketful of posies is in reference to the flowers that were used to mask the sell of sickness and also used to combat the miasmas people believed could cause illness. Atishoo is referencing sneezing, another symptom and the falling down is, of course, death. It wasn't until after the second world war this theory was put forward though. There is dispute now over whether or not it is based on the plague. There is a suggestion that originally, 'Rosie' was the girl in the middle of the circle who as danced around. There are also several different versions of the rhyme. It may be about the plague, it may not. It is not the only nursery rhyme that has a potentially dark history.

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Baa baa black sheep have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir three bags full

One for the master, one for the dame

And one for the little boy who lives down the lane

  Overly sensitive people have objected to this in recent years saying that the black sheep calling someone master is a reference to slavery. I don't see it at all and I am not singing baa baa rainbow sheep. For goodness sake there are black sheep and we learnt baa baa white sheep at school too. What is actually dark about it is both the subject matter and the original last line.

  Baa baa black sheep is about a tax on wool that came into effect in 1275. Originally the sheep has one bag for the master, one for the dame and none for the little boy who cries down the lane. While the gentry, master and dame, could afford the tax, the poor could not.

Goosey Goosey Gander

Goosey Goosey gander, 

Wither shall I wander

Upstairs and downstairs and in my lady's chamber

There I met an old man who would not say his prayers

So I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs

 

  This sounds pretty dark without the explanation. It is, as you might guess, about religious persecution. From 1559-1791, Catholicism was illegal in England (Henry VIII having founded the Church of England in 1534). Catholic priests, who said their prayers in Latin rather than English, were hunted and executed. Often, they hid in 'priest-holes', usually in the homes of sympathetic citizens. The wandering in the rhyme is searching for the priest and the priest hole in which he is hiding. When he refuses to say his prayers in English he is punished.

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

   Mary, Mary quite contrary

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells

And pretty maids all in a row

  

  At first glance this doesn't seen dark at all. However, the original version of the rhyme didn't say 'garden' it said 'graveyard'. This rhyme is about Mary I of England, also known as 'Bloody Mary'. In her five year reign, Mary executed nearly 300 protestants for refusing to convert to Catholicism. The 'silver bells' in the rhyme are thumbscrews, a torture device used to crush the thumb. The 'cockle shells' are believed to refer to a torture device that was attached to the genitals. Though Mary is famous for burning Protestants at the stake, the 'pretty maids' refer to the guillotine.

  The guillotine is probably best known for being the method of execution in France, especially during the French Revolution. It was invented because beheading people with an axe wasn't easy, it could take more than one blow. People also were known to resist, one woman was chased round the scaffold by the executioner and had to be hacked at. The guillotine, called the Maiden, was a much easier way of beheading people. Rather a chilling rhyme when you know what it's actually about.

Three Blind Mice

Three blind mice, three blind mice

See how they run, see how they run

They all ran after the farmers wife

Who cut off their tails with a carving knife

Did you ever see such a thing in your life

As three blind mice

   As a child I found this a little dark. I always felt sorry for the mice having their tails cut off. This is yet another reference to something that happened during the reign of Mary I. The three blind mice are Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Radley and Thomas Cranmer, The Archbishop of Canterbury. All three were Protestant bishops who plotted to overthrow the Queen and burn her at the stake for heresy. Of course they were unsuccessful. Although it's not 100% clear, it is believed the blindness refers to their religious beliefs.

Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo

  Eeeny, meeny, miny, mo

Catch a tiger by the toe

If it squeals, let it go

Eeny, meeny, miny, mo

  A rhyme that's used a lot, there isn't really anything dark about it, at least these days. The word 'tiger' is a relatively new development. It used to be the n-word. For those who don't know, the n-word is a derogatory way to refer to a black person. It is not the only rhyme with a racist origin.

Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush

Here we go round the Mulberry bush

The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush

Here we go round the mulberry bush

On a cold and frosty morning

  We also wash our faces, brush our teeth and I'm pretty sure a few other things I've forgotten about. A popular children's rhyme and game when I was at primary school. It actually is a reference to female inmates at England's Wakefield Prison. The women would be exercised in a yard in which there was a mulberry tree. On some level I wish I had known that. Imagine walking away from that game, especially in PE and being able to tell my friends we were imitating prisoners. Since I do have a memory of doing it in PE, makes my school days sound pretty dark.

Rock-a-bye Baby

Rock-a-bye baby on the treetop

When the wind blows the cradle will rock

When the bough breaks the cradle will fall

And down will come baby cradle and all

  Poor baby right? That's what I thought when I heard this rhyme as a child. A dark rhyme in of itself, it is actually about child abduction. There are many that think that the son of James II of England and his wife, Mary of Modena, died at birth. Needing an heir to the throne, their baby was smuggled out and switched with the baby of a commoner. Whether the parents of the child were aware or not is unknown. Simply the dead child was exchanged for a live one.

Lucy Locket

Lucy Locket lost her pocket

Kitty Fisher found it

Not a penny as there in it

Only ribbon round it

  Lucy Locket and Kitty Fisher were actually real people. Both worked as prostitutes. One of Lucy's clients was dropped by her when his funds ran low. After this he and Kitty Fisher became lovers. The ribbon is a jibe at Lucy. Prostitutes at the time kept their money tied to their thigh or waist with a ribbon. Kitty got the man, and any money he had in the future.

Orange and Lemons

Oranges and lemons

Sing the bells of St Clements

You owe me five farthings

Sing the bells of St Martins

When will you pay me?

Sing the bells at Old Bailey

When I grow rich

Sing the bells at Shoreditch

When will that be?

Sing the bells at Stepney

I do not know

Sings the great bell at Bow

Here comes a candle to light you to bed

And here comes a chopper to chop of your head

Chip, chop, chip, chop

The last man is dead

  A cheerful one played as a game, with the last person being caught and being 'out'. There are variations. The actually locations of the bells is significant. this is the route prisoners would walk through London from the docks to the place of execution. They would here the bells as they went past and, at the end, would be executed. "Here comes a chopper to chop off your head"

  There are nursery rhymes that sound dark, they are nursery rhymes that sound innocent. Even the ones with not very dark origins, still have origins you might not guess. After all, Old Mother Hubbard is about Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who fell out with King Henry VIII when his annulment from Catherine of Aragon was refused. Humpty Dumpty is about a cannon. Jack and Jill are about an amorous couple. Georgie Porgie is about George VI and his lustful ways. Scratch the surface and many nursery rhymes have, if not dark, questionable source material. I invite you all to do some research on your favourites and find out what, exactly, you have been singing about. I shall leave you with a poem that is beautifully dark without any explanation. For some background, this poem started off as ten little n-words by Frank Green and other versions are ten little Indians, often spelt injuns. due to the racist wording of these poems, it has been changed.

Ten Little Soldier Boys/And Then There Were None

Ten little soldier boys went out to dine

One choked his little self, then there were nine

Nine little soldier boys staying up late

One overslept himself, then there were eight

Eight little soldier boy going down to Devon

One said he'd stay there, then there were seven

Seven little soldier boys chopping up sticks

One chopped himself in half, then there were six

Six little soldier boys playing with a hive

A bumble bee stung one, then there were five

Five little soldier boys going in for law

One got in chancery, then there were four

Four little soldier boys going out to see

A red herring swallowed one, then there were three

Three little soldier boys going to the zoo

A big bear hugged one, then there were two

Two little soldier boys sitting in the sun

One got frazzled up, then there was one

One little soldier boy left all alone

He went and hanged himself and then there were none

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31 Days of Hallowe'en: Day Four

 Day 4: Superstitions

There are many superstitions in the world, some more commonly known than others. Breaking a mirror, one of the better known ones. Maybe because it causes seven years bad luck, maybe because it's not something people do easily or often. Different countries have different superstitions and most people have at least one that they believe. While the superstitions themselves are often well known, their origins are not. Here are some superstitions and their origins.

1. Breaking a mirror. Vampire lore can give you a clue to this one. Vampires have no reflection because they have no soul. as your reflection in the mirror is the image of your soul any damage done to the reflection is damage done to the soul. The seven years of bad luck comes from the Roman belief that life renewed every seven years. Also related to your reflection being your soul, you would have to endure seven years of hardship until your life renewed and your soul repaired.

2. Spilling Salt. Before the invention of fridges and freezers, salt was the only means of preserving meat through the winter months. Salt was valuable, to spill was a huge waste and therefore it was very bad luck. After all, what is worse than food spoiling, leaving you without food during winter. The word 'salary' actually comes from 'salt money', which is the allowance roman soldiers were given to buy salt to season their food.

3. Walking under a ladder.  A lot of people claim this is less superstition and more common sense. Obviously you don't want to knock the ladder, and therefore the person on it, over. Most people say that a fear of having something dropped on you is the main reason not to walk under a ladder. While I have yet to see someone on a ladder actually drop something, the superstition actually has a more  sinister origin. In fact it has several. When a ladder is propped against a wall, it makes a triangle, the triangle is a symbol of the holy trinity. The father, son and holy spirit. The triangle was also a sacred symbol to the Ancient Egyptians. To walk under this ladder is to break the triangle and show sympathy with the devil. Also, a ladder was propped against a cross in crucifixion and in England in the 1600s criminals had to walk under a ladder to reach the gallows.

4. Friday the 13th. Triskaidekaphobia, is quite a common fear. The fear of the number thirteen is an old one. Friday the 13th is especially unlucky because Friday is the witches sabbath.  Popular superstition amongst sailors, means that no ship sets sail on a Friday.  A story that may or may not be true is about the British Royal Navy attempting to debunk this superstition. A ship named Friday, which had its keel laid on a Friday, captained by Captain Friday, set sail on it's maiden voyage on a Friday. The ship disappered with all hands, no trace was ever found. Lots of people think the fear of the number 13, and having 13 sit at a table together, is because of the last supper. Jesus sat with his 12 disciples and Judas left first to betray him, later committing suicide. However, triskaidekaphobia pre-dates Christianity. In Norse mythology, twelve gods are sitting, eating a meal together. Loki, the god of strife, joins them, making thirteen. Loki then provokes a quarrel that ends in the death of Baldur, the favourite of the gods. Whilst Friday and 13 are unlucky on their own, Friday 13th, the combination of two unlucky things, takes the cake.

5. Macbeth. A famous play by William Shakespeare it is also known as The Scottish Play. This is because it is believed to be very unlucky to say 'Macbeth' in a theatre. Many don't question this, it is a rather dark play and included witches. It has however, been blamed for bad things happening in a theatre. Legend has it that real witches disliked Shakespeare's use of real incantations in the script and in retaliation cursed the play.  At it's fist performance, the actor playing Lady Macbeth died suddenly and Shakespeare was forced to fill in. It is rumoured that, at the same performance, the prop dagger used to kill the character of King Duncan was switched with a real dagger, causing the actor's death. Of course, as King Duncan is killed off stage this is unlikely but it may have been seen onstage in the 17th century. The curse of Macbeth even carries over. The Astor Place riot in New York in 1849, which resulted in at least 20 deaths and over 100 injuries, was caused by rivals actors who were both playing Macbeth at the time. Other productions have been plagued with accidents such as actors falling from the stage, mysterious deaths and near misses from falling stage weights. The famous actor Laurence Olivier himself, was almost hit by a stage weight in 1937. Utter a play that must not be named inside a theatre, is a superstition even drama students take seriously. During a theatre tour, a young man said it without thinking, and when gently reminded of where he was clapped a hand over his mouth and kept his eyes peeled for anything that could cause him harm. Being next led above the stage and being warned, with the rest of his group, not to touch the lights as they had been known to be unstable and fall, did not help.

6. Peacock feathers. Some even refuse to have images of peacocks in their house. This is another thing that is considered bad luck to have in a theatre. Although there is disagreement on this superstition, some believe they are good luck, it is probably though to be bad luck because of the superstition of the evil eye. The evil eye is the eye of a demon, usually Lilith, the mother of demons, and as such brings misfortune. The pattern on a peacocks feathers looks very much like eyes and even Greek Mythology says they are a tribute to a many eyed god who was murdered by Zeus' son. The evil eye still feared by  many people in many cultures, peacock feathers are even banned in some places.

7. Passing someone on the stairs. This is probably due to medieval castles. In medieval castles, the stairs spiral in a specific direction. This is because, during a siege, the soldiers defending the castle, coming down the stairs, would have the room the draw their sword and fight the enemy ascending the stairs, their opponent, would find the wall in the way. If you allowed the enemy to pass you on the stairs, that would give them the advantage, it would also mean they were closer to capturing the castle. Those of you questioning how that would work for  left-handed soldier, there was no such thing, Left handed people were banned from being soldiers. The Latin word for left, is where we get the word sinister. Left handed people were often linked to the devil. Another superstition.

8. Shoes on the table. Putting shoes, especially new ones, on the table is bad luck for a number of reasons. Shoes were pricey, very oftn the shoes of a dead person would be passed on to a family member as a 'new' pair, especially in poor families. Criminals were hanged wearing shoes and it is also reminiscent of laying out a body. Essentially it can predict a death in the family. Also, with the table being were food is laid out it could seem like common sense, but again it can imply contamination. An illness being passed on to someone leaving a pair of shoes going spare.

9. A white tablecloth. Leaving a white tablecloth on the table overnight is very unlucky. It indicates that someone in the house will soon be in need of a shroud. As people dressed in a shroud were laid out on the table for people to pay their final respects, essentially leaving a shroud ready and waiting is tempting fate.

10. Opening an umbrella indoors. This one is not at all interesting. In Victorian England, the metal frame of an umbrella could easily hurt someone. There was a fear it would poke a child in the eye. It was unlucky purely because it could hurt someone, especially an unwary child.

11. Pavement cracks. "Step on a crack, break your mother's back". The cracks in the earth were often seen as portals to other worlds, stepping on them was inviting evil spirits into your life. At one time, when black people were seen as inferior to white people, the rhyme "Step on a crack, your mother will turn black" was used. This sometimes was a metaphor and meant to imply your mother would have a black baby, a big taboo. While both rhymes sound a little like the person saying it is threatening others, it is meant a s a warning. Basically don't walk on he pavement cracks unless you want to invite misfortune.

12. Spiders. Whether you are fond of these arachnids (they are not insects, insects only have six legs) or not, killing them is considered unlucky. Arachnids do venture into people's homes, especially in the colder months. In England, spiders are considered relatively harmless, Britain does not boast many native poisonous spiders. Killing them is unnecessary, they can be moved fairly easily. Small spiders, called money spiders, are meant to bring good fortune, so killing one brings the opposite. While you probably shouldn't kill spiders anyway as they don't do much harm, at least in this country, killing money spiders is the only thing believed to always bring misfortune.

Triskaidekaphobics can skip the next one if they wish, it's about magpies.

13. Magpies. One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told, eight is a wish, nine is a kiss, ten is a bird you must not miss. A way many people know to avoid the sorrow one magpie brings is to salute. Some people also say "Good morning Captain" or "Good morning sir magpie". While it may seem silly, the reason we salute is out of respect. Magpies, like many birds, mate for life. Now, as many irritating people point out, seeing a lone magpie doesn't necessarily mean it has no mate but it is a reasonable assumption to make. We salute lone magpies because it is likely they have lost their mate. 

  Now these are all superstitions about unlucky things, there are superstitions about things that are meant to bring luck. Horseshoes, knocking wood, seeing two magpies, picking up pins etc but this is 31 Days of Hallowe'en and we are The Darkside. There are different superstitions across all countries, cultures and people. You can research and find some more, these are just a few. There was an eccentrics club in London who used to meet every Friday closest to the 13th and essentially tempt fate, they did not believe in superstitions. Umbrellas would be opened inside, salt would be spilled, ladders would be walked under and waiters would pour drinks into cracked and broken glasses.

  Now it is easy to dismiss superstitions as nonsense and say there is nothing in them, but only someone who can break a mirror without a second thought, has the right to do so.

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31 Days of Hallowe'en: Day Three

   Day 3: Ouija Boards

Ouija boards have become very popular and are often used as a party game. Whilst sometimes marketed as a game for children as young as eight, it has a sinister side to it. I have no memory of ever having a game to do with summoning or communicating with spirits. My friends and I did say Candyman five times into a mirror for some reason. I never went to a sleepover where we played Bloody Mary or Cat Scratches or any other paranormal game. I'm pretty sure none of my friends had a Ouija board. However all three activities are things people a little younger than me (usually) talk about as being part of sleepovers with their friends. 

  There are people that say they don't work, people that say they do and people that say they wish they didn't. As with any paranormal activity, there are plenty of stories about people using them and having terrifying experiences.  Of course using a Ouija board, especially if you are a child, is messing about with things you don't understand. Some people use them to try to get in touch with loved ones they have lost, some spirits either good or evil and some use them specifically to call a particular entity. Whilst seen as a fun game by many, it is taking a risk. You could be inviting something dark into your life, as many people reportedly have.

  Whilst a Ouija board sounds like something with an ancient history, they have only been around for about 130 years. Spirit writing is as old as 8000 years, but actual Ouija boards are a lot younger. They are used these days as a game more than anything and are almost a substitute for ghost stories. While people used to sit round telling ghost stories to scare each other, they now attempt to use a Ouija board, or play Bloody Mary, or Charlie Charlie. Essentially, playing apparently paranormal games to see what happens. 

  If you want to use a Ouija board, for whatever reason, that is your privilege. Some people say a prayer before hand to limit the chance of something evil coming through but it really is up to you. For cautionary tales, here are some things that a session with a Ouija board is said to have happened.

1. The summoning of a Poltergeist. Literally translated, poltergeist means "noisy ghost". Many explanations are given to this paranormal phenomenon. A young girl named Annabelle accidentally summoned a spirit called "The Jester" whilst using a Ouija board and even by the age of 22, still experienced poltergeist behaviour.

2. Demonic persuasion. Many people have claimed the crimes they committed were due to a Ouija board telling them to do it. Whether this is just an excuse or an example of a spirit manipulating people into nefarious deeds is for you to decide.

3. Demonic possession. You're kind of asking for this one. A young girl in South America was allegedly caught on camera writhing when a spirit possessed her following a Ouija board session. A priest even had to perform an exorcism. While some suspect the whole thing was staged, others truly believe it was genuine.

4. Unwanted information. Some use Ouija boards to try to contact the other side. For a comforting message, to send one themselves, for closure, many reasons. One girl however is haunted by the fact that, when trying to contact her late boyfriend, she was told by a spirit that she couldn't because he was in hell.

5. Physical discomfort. After the fear when a session actually works, people have experienced temporary paralysis, hyperventilation and even night terrors. Nothing scarier than when it stops being a game.

6. Mental health issues. A Ouija board session can be shocking, scary and disappointing. Asking a question and getting an answer you really don't like, can affect you for the rest of your life. 

  Of course, if this is just a game and you believe anything that happens is either, another person there having you on, independent movement (when you relax, your body can move without you telling it to) then maybe even scary answers won't phase you. Just remember, messing with things you don't understand is always risky, being flippant about something that could potential be harmful for you or others is ot a joke and playing a game with something that is not supposed to be a game, is tempting fate. Whatever you do and whatever you experience, I will give you one piece of advice.

Never burn a Ouija board! Whatever happens it is seriously dangerous. Not only does it annoy the ghosts, it opens a gateway from their world to ours. A group of boys printed off a Ouija board and when getting no response burned it. That is when the scary stuff started happening. Throw it out, give it away, sell it whatever, just don't burn it.    

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