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Modern pagans and Wiccans today have returned to the history of Halloween in their celebrations. They observe October 31st as Halloween or Samhain, and honor it as their New Year. This is the day believed to be when the veil that separates the living and the dead is at its thinnest. Samhain is also the day that the pagan god dies, to be re-born again during Yule. These pagans use Samhain as a day to remember and honor dead loved ones. It is a celebration of the eternal cycle of reincarnation. What ever your choice for Halloween gifts this year, try to find the one that fits the person you are shopping for. Small children might not enjoy watching horror movies, and the adults probably wouldn’t care too much for little candy treats. Or maybe they will. Buy things you know the person will enjoy, whatever that may be. This once pagan holiday was made into a Christian festival from the efforts of Pope Boniface. Initially, these holidays were celebrated on May 13. A century later, it was changed to November 1st by Pope Gregory III. This is how it remains to this day. This meant October 31st was not the last day of the year any longer, and Samhain was changed to The Feast of All Saints.
Other halloween Items
NY attorney general recuses self in Paterson probe (AP via Yahoo! News)
Amid concerns over a conflict of interest and just two days after a poll showed the public opposed his investigation into two scandals involving Gov. David Paterson, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo took himself off the case Thursday and appointed a respected former judge to take over.
Man Convicted of Stabbing Girlfriend (FOX News Chicago)
The former boyfriend of an Aurora woman stabbed to death on Halloween in 2007 has been convicted of her brutal murder.
Former deputy pleads not guilty to sex charge (The Janesville Gazette)
The former Rock County sheriff’s deputy accused of sexually assaulting a teen at a Halloween party pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony third-degree sexual assault.
Boo or Woo!? Little Evidence Against Paterson in AG Probe (Gothamist)
Sherr-una Booker Although the Attorney General's probe is not yet complete, sources tell the Daily News that investigators "have found little direct evidence" that Governor Paterson illegally interfered in a domestic abuse case against one of his top aides, David Johnson. Sherr-una Booker, who tried to get an order of protection against Johnson after he allegedly assaulted her on Halloween, has ...
Where the wild things are (Telluride Daily Planet)
Nick Kenworthy of Pip’s Fine and Funky Consignment shop gets into the Halloween spirit. The shop offers all different kinds of costume ideas for the creative minded people of Telluride. [Photo by Brian Kozak]
Hockey season begins Nov. 1 (Telluride Daily Planet)
It won’t be long before Town Park is filled with red noses and the scraping of ice skates. Telluride’s winter alternative to soccer is forming teams now, with first ice to be the day after Halloween.
Court told of Bristol stab victim's Halloween horror (This is Bristol)
A man who was repeatedly stabbed while walking to a Halloween party was the victim of "gang warfare", a court heard.
Riverview woman disputes harassment claims over Halloween decorations (St. Petersburg Times)
In an interview, the Riverview woman says the decorations were like Disney's.
Prince George's police officer, 27, dies after car crash (Washington Post)
There's a photo that shows Thomas P. Jensen wearing a Prince George's County police uniform when he was 4 years old, friends said. Sure, it was just a Halloween costume, but everyone knew it was only a matter of time before Jensen would be wearing the uniform for real.
Anoka Halloween reps take in Winnipeg fest (Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune)
Several representatives of the Anoka Halloween festival attended the city of Winnipeg's 41-year-old Festival du Voyageur last month. Each year, the Winnipeg celebration invites people from a limited number of other long-established festivals.