DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

     I know that Halloween is closer than Christmas is but I think it's time for a little change up (It's my favorite, right next to Halloween).  Let us not forget about Thanksgiving, the holiday that gets hardly any praise at all by most people.  Here's a list of some Christmas trivia and folklore for all of us to enjoy!    Let's take a look back at the origins of Christmas and some of the lesser known facts involving one of my favorite holiday's. While the Pilgrims may have been responsible for beginning the tradition of Thanksgiving, they did not celebrate Christmas--it was against their Puritan belief and in fact, it was illegal. It was once believed that whoever (husband or wife) first brings holly into the house will rule the home all year. (wishful thinking on the mans part these days.) Young men of the 1700's believe that if they saw a redheaded girl at Christmastime, he would be pursued by flame-haired vixens throughout the coming y...

   A group of vampires has variously been call a clutch, brood, coven, pack or clan. (a clan if their Scottish!) The Muppet vampire, Count von Count from Sesame Street, is based on actual vampire myth.  One way to supposedly deter a vampire is to throw seeds ( usually mustard) outside a door or place fishing net outside a window.  Vampires are compelled to count the seeds on the holes in the net, delaying them until the sun comes up. A rare disease called porphyria vampire like symptoms, such as an extreme sensitivity to sunlight and sometimes hairiness.  In extreme cases, teeth might be stained reddish brown, and eventually the patient may go mad. One of the most famous "true vampires" was Countess Elizabeth Bathory (1560-1614) who was accused of biting the flesh of girls while torturing them and bathing in their blood to retain her youthful beauty.  She was by all accounts a very attractive woman. Vampire legends may have been based on Vlad of Walachi...

Here's Yor Candy, Now Leave Me Alone! Nestlies Crunch bars and Hershey kisses, I'll hand each child with my best wishes. Want some Lollipops or Tootsie Rolls? Filling up you bag is one of my goals. Kit-Kats, Licorice Whips, Dots and more, I'll give you money, whatever it takes. If you want junk food I'll deliver, You're the taker and I'm the giver. Hedre's some Candy Corn and Popcorn Balls, Please don't throw eggs at my walls. Don't TP my beautiful trees, I'm begging you, Pretty please. This candy costs lots of money don't you know, So here's your loot, now put it in your bag and go! This Halloween Day is coming to a close, It's not my most favorite holiday as everyone now knows! The streets are empty and the kids have gone home, It's just me and the leftover candy all alone. I'll eat each and every piece that's in the big dish, Then offer you all just one more wish- Happy Halloween! Candy-less Lament I got a...

   Since Halloween is just a few months away, and ghoulies and ghosties are on everyone's mind.  It might be a good time to explore how various cultures handle paranormal beliefs.  I will write about the basic beliefs of the Japanese, Jewish and Native Americans.    We Americans are quite open minded about the paranormal, especially lately with the many different shows about ghosts and other paranormal activity.  More than 30 percent of all Americans believe in ghosts. I have never seen one personally, but the town I live in, in California has 2 expected places that are known for being haunted.  One I have stayed the night in (one of them is a hotel and the other used to be a boys prison).     Let's put our beliefs aside for a moment and take a look into the basic beliefs of three other cultures regarding ghosts and spirits.   JAPAN       The Japanese culture, which is rich in superstition and t...

   On this costume filled, candy gorging out of your minds holiday, chances are there are a few things you don't know, so here are some things you may or may not know about everybodys favorite trick or treat'n holiday. When it comes to candy sales, Halloween makes stores jump for joy (especially in their pocket books).  According to the National Confectioners Association, giving and eating candy during major holidays accounts for about a third of all confections sold annually. Candy is keeping retailers and dentists happy. In 2002, each person in the U.S. consumed approximately 24 pounds of candy. Census researchers report that 1,040 manufacturers in 2001 produced $12 billion dollars worth of chocolate and cocoa. Another 616  candy manufacturers made non-chocolate candy that year. Candy corn is a big portion of those treats made annually. (I don't know why it must be like giving people fruit cake at Christmastime) In fact, October 30th is National Candy Co...

Take some dead body parts.  Stitch them together.  Add one mad scientist, and toss in a lightning bolt for good measure.  What do you get?  The Frankenstein monster!  Alternately portrayed as both mindless killer and a misunderstood gentle giant, the Frankenstein monster is a classic Halloween creep.  Learn more  about him with these 13 freaky facts.                                                                                                       ...

For a late night snack you have a craving for brain pudding instead of ice cream and pickles.(still might be all if you're a pregnant zombie) You start grunting a lot and pointing instead of speaking words. (more than just being in the bathroom) You drag your feet a lot while walking. Hygiene and using the bathroom are a thing of the past. You turn gray and green, your hair falls out occasionally, your teeth rot, and you become boney BECAUSE YOU'RE DEAD!!! You tend to sleep walk a lot with your eyes open. Hang out at the mall  to be with your dead friends. (I might be thinking of teenagers) Sometimes find a gutter to sleep in. ( more comfortable because you really don't care, BECAUSE YOU'RE DEAD!!!) Lose different body parts over time. ( ears, eyes, fingers, toes, hair, etc....) Often find yourself rummaging through the trash at the county dump. (almost like dumpster diving, except on a bigger scale!) The last time you changed clothes was 3 or 4 weeks ago.(im...