Americans love Halloween. We as a country spend over $5 billion a year celebrating it. But where did the holiday come from? And how did traditions like asking strangers for food and dressing up as ghosts develop?

Halloween has its roots in Samhain (pronounced sow-in), an ancient harvest festival held at the end of the Celtic year. The festival marked the end of summer and the beginning of the dark wintertime. It was believed the spirits of the dead returned on this eve to damage crops and play tricks on the living. It was also believed that the Celtic priests, or Druids, were able to make predictions about the future, which they did during large bonfire celebrations where they wore animal skins and sacrificed crops and animals to the spirits.

In early A.D., Romans came to the Celtic territories of modern day England, Scotland and Northern France, and were the first people to influence the celebration of Samhain. They brought their own holidays: Feralia, the Roman day to honor the dead in late October, as well as another holiday to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. It is possible that this Roman influence is the reason apples are given out and bobbed for on Halloween.

By 800 A.D., Christianity spread to the Celtic Territories and brought with it another holiday, "All Saints Day." Pope Boniface IV, the designator of All Saints Day, was likely trying to replace Samhain with a similar but holier holiday meant to honor saints and martyrs. Later on, All Saints Day was renamed "All Hallows" and thus the day of Samhain (Oct. 31st) began to be called "All Hallows Eve," and eventually shortened to "Hallowe'en."

All of the holidays that were melded together to create our modern version of Halloween involved dressing up in one way or another. The celebrators of Samhain wore animal skins at their bonfire celebrations and those that observed "All Saints Day" often dressed as saints or angels. Later on men in Scotland would impersonate the dead on the day, explaining the ghoulish tradition we still observe.

During the mid 1800's, Irish and English immigrants flooded the United States and brought Halloween with them. From these immigrants we received the Halloween traditions we recognize today, however skewed they are now. For instance, the first trick-or-treaters were far from today's smiling children with commercialized costumes. They lived in Medieval England, and practiced "souling," in which poor people would beg for sweet breads, in return for praying for the families' souls. Later, the immigrants who brought Halloween to America would develop their own version of trick-or-treating, but it didn't become popular here until the 1930s.

1) Halloween Is The Second Highest Grossing Commercial Holiday After Christmas

What used to be just a singular holiday with minimal things to purchase has turned into an entire "Halloween Season." Between decorative lights and lawn ornaments, elaborate costumes and loads of candy, the average American spends a pretty penny on this fall holiday. However popular Halloween has become, the recession has affected spending for this year's spooky night. Spending is down, according the the National Retail Federation. Shoppers will spend an average of $56.31 on the holiday compared to $66.54 in 2008. Some ways people are cutting down include making homemade costumes, using last year's decorations and buying less expensive candies. For the children's sake, let's hope everyone doesn't resort to giving out apples and pennies. Didn't you just hate that as a kid?

2) Harry Houdini Died On October 31, 1926

The famous magician was killed (accidentally) by a McGill University student named J. Gordon Whitehead who was hitting him in the stomach repeatedly as part of a stunt. A week later he died of peritonitis from a ruptured appendix. Despite acute appendicitis, Houdini refused to seek medical treatment.

3) There's A Phobia For That

Samhainophobia is an intense and persistent fear of Halloween that can cause panic attacks in sufferers. Other relevant phobias for this time of year: wiccaphobia (fear of witches), phasmophobia (fear of ghosts), and coimetrophobia (fear of cemeteries).

4) The First Jack-O-Lanterns Weren't Made Out Of Pumpkins

They were originally hollowed-out turnips. The modern practiced mutated from the Irish tradition of carving faces of the the dead onto the gourds and putting candles inside to make them glow. These days your Jack-O-Lantern is most made out of a pumpkin, which most likely came from Illinois--a state that grew 542 million pounds of pumpkin in 2007.

5) One Quarter Of All The Candy Sold Annually Is For Halloween Night

Yes, no matter how much we eat for Christmas and Thanksgiving, Halloween has corned the market on candy. As a country we consume 20 million pounds of candy corn a year. Handing out Halloween treats is the perfect excuse to eat some too, as four-in-ten (41%) adults admit that they sneak sweets from their own candy bowl. And if you're a kid, hang on to your basket, because home is where the candy thief is as 90% of parents admit to sneaking goodies from their kids' Halloween trick-or-treat bags. But whether your stealing some, handing out some or having yours stolen, chances are you'll get your hands (or miss getting your hands) on a Snickers bar, it has been the number 1 Halloween candy for years.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

            Wishing you all a great Halloween full of treats, and good tricks. Best of wishes to you all!

Picture by www.panopticum.com

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!

    On July 4th, 1776, President John Adams requested that all Americans do fireworks on this special day celebrating freedom, and the constitution of the United States. For all those cities that are America, and allow "we the People" the right to celebrate our Independence Day with fire works: I thank you, and may God bless you. For those who are in cities who do not allow "We The People" to celebrate like our For-fathers did with fireworks, I ask you. If you do not love this country, that why do you live here? If you do not like the constitution & the ways of our nation, do not try to change it, but take your freedom right & get out! (United States would be better with out you any way!)

		The Story of the Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States, according to James A. Moss, an authority on the flag and its history, was first given national publicity through the official program of the National Public School Celebration of Columbus Day in October 1892. The Pledge had been published in theYouth's Companion for September 8,1892, and at the same time sent out in leaflet form throughout the country.During the Celebration it was repeated by more than 12,000,000 public school pupils in every state in the Union. Mr. Francis Bellamy of Rome, New York, and Mr. James Upham of Malden, Massachusetts were both members of the staff of the Youth's Companion when the Pledge was published. The family of each man has contended that his was the authorship and both hold evidence to substantiate their claims. To determine, in the interest of historical accuracy, the actual authorship, the United States Flag Association (formerly in Washington, D.C., but now disbanded), in 1939, appointed a committee consisting of Charles C. Tansill,Professor of American History; W. Reed West, Professor of Political Science; and Bernard Mayo, Professor of American History, to carefully weigh the evidence of the two contending families. Unanimously, the committee decided in favor of Francis Bellamy, and on May 18, 1939, the decision was accepted by the American Flag Committee. Mr. Bellamy had been chairman of the executive committee which formulated the program for the National Public School Celebration and furnished the publicity when he was on the staff of the Youth's Companion. In the material which he nationally circulated, he wrote, “Let the flag float over every school-house in the land and the exercise be such as shall impress upon our youth the patriotic duty of citizenship.” He also included the original 23 words of the Pledge which he had developed. * 'to' added in October, 1892. I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and (to*) the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all. Thus it was that on Columbus Day in October 1892, the Pledge of Allegiance was repeated by more than 12 million public school children in every state in the union. The wording of the Pledge has been modified three times. On June 14, 1923, at the First National Flag Conference held in Washington, D.C., under the 'leadership of the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution, changed the Pledge's words. The latter words were added on the ground that some foreign-born children and adults when giving the Pledge might have in mind the flag of their native land.In 1923, the words “the flag of the United States” were substituted for “my flag.” I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all. In 1924, “of America” was added. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all. On Flag Day June 14, 1954, the words “under God” were added The last change in the Pledge of Allegiance occurred on June 14 (Flag Day), 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved adding the words "under God". As he authorized this change he said: "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war." This was the last change made to the Pledge of Allegiance. The 23 words what had been initially penned for a Columbus Day celebration now comprised a Thirty-one profession of loyalty and devotion to not only a flag, but to a way of life....the American ideal. Those words now read: “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” The Pledge of Allegiance continued to be recited daily by children in schools across America, and gained heightened popularity among adults during the patriotic fervor created by World War II. It still was an "unofficial" pledge until June 22, 1942 when the United States Congress included the Pledge to the Flag in the United States Flag Code (Title 36). In 1945 the Pledge to the Flag received its official title as: The Pledge of Allegiance When the Pledge is being given, all should stand with the right hand over the heart, fingers together and horizontal with the arm at as near a right angle as possible. After the words "justice to all," the arm should drop to the side. While giving the Pledge of Allegiance all should face the flag. According to Colonel Moss, no disrespect is displayed by giving the Pledge with a gloved hand over the heart, but he calls our attention to the fact that an Army Officer or an enlisted man always removes his right glove upon taking his oath as a witness. The Daughters of the American Revolution follow the custom of having the right hand ungloved. The idea of the annual PAUSE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE originated in 1980 at the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in Baltimore, Maryland. The National Flag Day Foundation. Inc. was created in 1982 “to conduct educational programs throughout the United States in promotion of National Flag Day and to encourage national patriotism by promotion of the PAUSE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGiANCE.” On June 20, 1985, the Ninety-Ninth Congress passed and President Reagan signed Public Law 99-54 recognizing the PAUSE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE as part of National Flag Day activities. It is an invitation urging all Americans to participate on Flag Day, June 14, 7:00 p.m. (EDT) in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.   Meaning of Pledge Sign Language of the Pledge of Allegiance back to Educational Materials

To those who do not want to say the Pledge of Allegiance to this flag that means freedom, and the constitutional rights of "We the People" - Please do "We The People" a favor.... Please do not try to change "we The People's" way of life, for we love this country, this flag, the constitution, and all that this flag stands for. Please take your freedom right & buy a one way ticket and move to another country that would be more to your liking. But please leave "we The People" with our rights, and or Pledge of Allegiance to this great flag that stands for freedom. (No it doesn't stand for gun control, seat belt laws, banning fireworks, control laws, and all these laws made in this country by non-Americans who are traitors of "We the People" and our "Constitutional Rights")

    To all the true Dad's out there who take their role as a father, and have honor to do their part. I want to wish you a very have Father's day! Also to those women out there who are doing their part as mom, as well as their part as dad due to the real sperm donor isn't there. I also want to wish you a very happy father's day. This also goes out with a very special "Happy Father's Day" to those father's who are the true father, doing both their part as Dad, as well as mom due to the egg donor chose to leave.

    For those of us who live in 1st world countries, it seems as if the role of family is very hard to keep, and has been being destroyed by people's own greed, pressure or temptation they choose and by others who have broken up or cheated that are jealous of the families that are still together to also break up or cheat. Also first world people seem to live in a corporate world that makes more money by breaking the families up, and make it hard to have a family time together schedule. Also like for those who live in the United States in democratic powered states you will find welfare policies that will not help a family in need, but will help the women only if she divorces or breaks up with her husband, then they will help. 

    For this reason, I want to make a special cheers to those couples that are still together, who honor their promise they made to God and to each other to stay together, and who are raising their children in these first world countries (Who is against them for staying together) and honor their roles as mother and father. I give you great praise. 

    For those Fathers and mothers who play both roles as mom and dad, I want to give a special cheers (That I do every Mother's Day, and Father's day.) to you this father's day. 

Happy Father's Day! 

    May God Bless You true father's (And those who play the part as dad) with all the Great Blessings of Being a Father. 

May You be blessed with children who have good souls, for You teach them so. 
May You be blessed with children who love you, for You love them so. 
May You be blessed with children that grow up with wisdom, and honor, for they follow your example. 
May Your children by strong and protective and just ("Just" meaning Your strength is not used to prove You are a man. For You only use your strength for good & to protect Your family and the weak.), for You have shown them this is the way of a true man.
May You be blessed with children who know right from wrong and have honor to do what is right, for You do have this honor.

And, Most important...

May You be Blessed with children that go with God, for by Your example they know God to follow.

FLAG DAY! 

    I honor of the true United States. A country I love, a country that believed in "We The People" a country that use to have a "Constitution" and rights for all. I love this nation.... It is sad that many people all over the world fight and die for the rights people of The United States had the stupid people of the United States vote to lose these rights. 

    I honor of  the Flag that is for "We The People", The Constitution, and rights and freedom for all. I ask those who live in this country who do not want these to please buy a one way ticket and move out! And let this free country once again be free. For those stripes on the flag do not mean "jail bars" and laws for everything, but represent the 13 colonies who fought England for "FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!" it means for those who fought and died for the constitution (Some thing our young is not even taught in school these days.)

    United States.... I love you... I only wish those of your nation really did as well. (That goes for judges, law enforcement, congress, senators, or any other person in government that are for laws to suppress "WE The People") 

    I beg those who do not love the constitution to please understand those who love the constitution live here for that freedom, "We The People" are not asking you to get rid of your freedom, so please do not ask us to take away ours. And if you can't handle living in a country with freedom, than please take your freedom right and buy a one way ticket and move out! 

    What is a true American? One who loves....

1. Freedom of religion & freedom of Speech. If you do not like others to have the right to their choice of religion, or want rules to stop people from praying, or greeting others with religious holidays such as "Merry Christmas" then please take your freedom right and move out! (Old Russia, or Old Germany are no longer here, and even these nations now allow freedom of religion. You might like the Middle East were there are many countries that kill people if they are not Muslim. But please leave.... Because "We The People" want this freedom of religion, and do not want this hate!) P.S. President Clinton made laws against Christians prayer in school, as well as laws of what the media can and can not say. Is he a real American?

2. Freedom of Militia. If you want gun control, police, large government, any unconstitutional laws such as "The Seat Belt Law" then your not a true American, for the Second Amendment to the constitution is to have these rights. If you do not like them, please do not try to change them, for there are many in this nation who love this right, and live here for this right. I ask you this, if you do not like a type of music... do you go to that type of dance hall, or place that plays this music? And if you do, do you try to make them stop playing their music, and start demanding them to play what you like? Or do you do the right thing. "if it's not your style, then not go there, and go to a place that is your liking. If you want all these control laws, and no rights, please take your freedom right that we give you, and please move to a country with the control laws of your liking, but please do not try to change our nation's constitution. P.S. - Clinton made gun control laws. Is he a real American?

3. Freedom of your home. If you are a corporate C.E.O. or one of these large apartment complex owners who want all these laws that the government can come in a steal "We The People's" law at unfair home values, then why do you live here? The constitution protects "We The People's" homes, and if you do not like this, then please take your free right and move! I think you will like it in Mexico... There no one can own land. P.S. Clinton made a law that if a large corporation can prove they can create jobs, and income, they can get a court order to take "We The People's home. Is he a real American? 

4. Freedom of  "We The People's" houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures with out a warrant. If you like the idea of police or military just breaking down people's doors because they think there is drugs inside with out a warrant should be legal, then please take your freedom right and move out & keep us "We The People" with our 4th amendment . P.S. Clinton made a law a police officer can break in anyone's home with out a warrant, all they have to say is "They thought the house or car had drugs or terrorist inside" (it doesn't have to be true, they can just say that is what they thought there fore it can be done. Is he a real American? Just think during the Vietnam war Clinton lived in Russia, and country that was supporting the Vietcong we were fighting. Clinton was on enemy soil during this time during a time when people couldn't get in Russia and were killed if they tried leaving. My question is... 1 how did he get into Russia at that time & even bigger question is.. "How did he get out without being killed unless he is a communist?"

I could go on and on on this.... I suggest you do the test.... Are you really American? Read the constitution and you you agree with the constitution, then you are an American. But if you disagree with it, then respect nation the same way you would as a dance club that doesn't play the music of your liking... "Just Leave!" 

    In honor of those who love an fight, fought, got injured, or died for the Flag of the United States, the constitution, for freedom for "We The People" I want to thank you, and may God bless you. For those who are in government, judges, law enforcement such as Sheriff, Deputy and Marshall.. (Notice I do not say "police"... That is because in the constitution it says "WE are not to be a "Police State" and before Franklin D. Roosevelt we didn't have police and were never to have police. the reason is police are not voted into office and can become corrupt such as they are in many cities of the United States.) If you are a police officer, and you love the United States, then you would do the honorable thing, and request a law enforcement title that "We The People" vote you in. But if you are a police officer, and like the idea of your power over others, then please do "We The People" a favor. And move to any other country in the world that has police govern the people, but please do not do it to those who want to be free.  

HAPPY

(Pictures from petrifiedtruth.com, webclipart.about.com, dial-a-teacher.com, odl.state.ok.us, prisonplanet.tv, defendamerica.mil, propagandamatrix.com & constitution.org )

Welcome all.

     It is that time of year that soon kids will be out of school, and summer is soon here. It is time to relax and enjoy the weather.

     May you have a great summer!

Held every May in Norway, one of the country’s largest celebrations is held known as Constitution Day. During this national holiday, you will see Norwegians taking the streets in traditional folk costumes, as they commemorate the signing of the Constitution at Eidsvoll in 1814. Throughout the country, you will see the various cities and towns pouring heart and soul into this one festival.

Children’s parades are a big part of the celebration where flags are flown. The elementary schools usually create their own special parade, which is led by that school’s marching band. Then, other children from the community will join the parade, as they make their way to the homes of seniors, war heroes, and others. Along with the abundance of flags, the people carry white, red, and blue ribbons. To follow the country’s tradition, the men, women, and children will wear Bunad, which are the traditional consumes.

In addition to the elementary schools having a celebration, the high school will then organize its own, which is called Russ. For this, the students will remain awake all night as they make their way through the various communities. In the city of Oslo, the children from the school make an effort to parade past the Royal Palace. As they go past, the royal family will greet the children with waves.

Although there are a number of celebrations for Constitution Day, the one in Kuba is definitely unique. In this particular city, you will not see as much tradition as lute fish and bunad but instead, more modern activities to include rock and roll. For this celebration, the anti-racist movements arrange and promote the activity in an effort to remind people that this day is for people of white and of black skin.

Then it you head to Asker, you will find the Constitution Day involving children that gather outside Crown Prince’s residence at the Skaugum Estate. As they all arrive at the estate in the morning, which provides the royal family time to get ready for the Oslo celebration later that day, they put on shows with comic troupes, singing, local organizations, and more.

For the most part, the Constitution Day celebration is about patriotic pride where music and flags are the primary focus. Street vendors serve everyone’s favorite of ice cream, kebabs, and hot dogs. Although the children of the cities are the center of the celebration, people of all ages come to enjoy the festivities, all dressed in traditional costumes. As you take in all the sites and color of this magnificent and meaningful event, you will walk away feeling the pride of the Norwegian people.

(Above story from "hotelsru.com" & pictures from "orkney.org" &  "orkney.org")

NEVER AGAIN!

This mean we should remember what history did before and not allow it to happen again.

We must stop the hate, the gun control, government control, and laws that control people. It is the only way to stop this from happening again.

Picture from www.jude.bloomradio.com

GOOD FRIDAY 

    Jesus Christ, The son of God, came on Earth in man's image, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and Became man. For our sake he suffered died on a cross for our sins to be forgiven.

    May we all bow our heads in honor of Christ our King. May we love him as he love's us. May we take at least this day, to bow our heads in shame of what we take for granted. For we have been blessed with the greatest gift of all. The forgiveness of sins, and a chance for heaven.

    Next time we feel pain, we should look up to the Lord, and offer up this pain, as just a small portion of pain Christ went through for our sins. We should take a moment of prayer, and pray for those who have more pain, or have less.

    Lord.. I'm sorry for my own vanity, my own spoiled greed. I'm sorry for my own personal mind thinking of how I would make the world. For I know if the world is the way I would want it. there wouldn't be any reason for you to come as man. Man needs to see the world with out being perfect for if man would have everything perfect they would feel they are perfect and would not think they need God, and wouldn't praise him.

    Lord, I thank you for showing us we are not perfect, and that we need your hand to guide us. Please Lord, I beg you to have your hand always there to hold me, and to prevent me from falling. May your hand lead me to the right path on this life, that will lead me to the gates of Heaven. Lord, I'm not worthy to stand beside you, but only say the word, and I shell be healed. As you came as man & died on that cross, you gave a sinner like me the worthiness to have a chance for Heaven, to live forever in your kingdom. I pray that I will be granted the wisdom, and the spiritual holiness to always follow you and be one on those souls who have the greatest honor of standing beside you in your kingdom of Heaven with eternal life.  

Blessed be the Passover

About 3000 years ago the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians under the rule of the Pharaoh Ramses II. According to the Book of Exodus - Moses, a simple Jewish shepherd, was instructed by God to go to the pharaoh and demand the freedom of his people

Moses' plea of let my people go was ignored. Moses warned the Pharaoh that God would send severe punishments to the people of Egypt if the Israelites were not freed. Again the Pharaoh ignored Moses' request of freedom. In response God unleashed a series of 10 terrible plagues on the people of Egypt

1. Blood
2. Frogs
3. Lice (vermin)
4. Wild Beasts(flies)
5. Blight (Cattle Disease)
6. Boils
7. Hail
8. Locusts
9. Darkness
10. Slaying of the First Born

The holiday's name - Pesach, meaning "passing over" or "protection" in Hebrew, is derived from the instructions given to Moses by God . In order to encourage the Pharaoh to free the Israelites, God intended to kill the first-born of both man and beast. To protect themselves, the Israelites were told to mark their dwellings with lamb's blood so that God could identify and "pass over" their homes

The Pharaoh was unconvinced and refused to free the Jewish slaves

Until the last plague

When the Pharaoh finally agreed to freedom, the Israelites left their homes so quickly that there wasn't even time to bake their