{"id":52441,"title":"Halloween Hues - and an autumnal jigsaw","description":"And at the end of October, there was Samhein...","content":"

For those of us in the Northern hemisphere, Autumn is upon us. October is the month of harvests, of days getting shorter. It can get a tad nippy and nature puts on a glorious show of preparation for hibernation time in warm hues.<\/p>

\"rcsbk0hhv5pi6pmifkn4oskyo4tbdymn2uw1jzcpbdqfrifa.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"
In the medieval Gaelic calendar, at the end of October was Samhein<\/em>. For the Celts this marked the beginning of Winter. The end of harvests and the beginning of the dark time of the year. It is a liminal time, where boundaries waver and thin. Between the seasons, but also the boundaries between this world and the Otherworld, so allowing the spirits, and\/or fairies, to cross over.<\/p>

Christians added All Saints\u2019 Day, or All Hallows\u2019 Day, on the 1st<\/sup> of November and thus the last day of October became known as All Hallows\u2019 Eve. Boundaries between old ways and new ways merging.<\/p>

\"hmmkweanw1jrrtrgzgi2p2q4dyjitfa8du2rg5d9d8brexwi.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"
As with all things, bits are added, or forgotten.<\/p>

Lanterns were carved out of turnips to frighten away the spirits, these were the Jack-o\u2019-Lanterns. In American, native pumpkins were more readily available, and bigger, and easier to carve than turnips! Bonfires were also associated with warding off evil spirits.<\/p>

\"nf8lozpgzcr2byomajwx6uorqkd8pux0cpfhcyinxmjgbrbt.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"Soul cakes were baked and offered at the door to folk in exchange for prayers for the dead. That appears to have morphed through various stages, including a recital of a poem by the children in exchange for food, to the more recent arrival on the doorstep of small (and not so small) hands clutching swag bags to hold all the sweets they can collect! Again the boundaries are merging, now from spiritual beliefs into commercial devotion!<\/p>


Still there is fun to be had, apples bobbed for and joy given. And perhaps, still, a thought for the dead.<\/p>

\"vbanz2fki58ttgndyi15s8lbnpctivkw40lxgqcoabv6mckd.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"
I have indulged in a totally nonsensical, just-for-fun, autumnal Halloween witchy jigsaw. After all, what good witch does not appreciate a bubbling cauldron of cheese fondue with some fresh crusty bread? Personally, I\u2019m rather partial to one that is well laden with white wine and caraway seeds...<\/p>

\"kwcdjpt714lpslpn2wvpmibyzei4xskmj4tboetziafvwdr3.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"<\/p>

The Samhein Gathering jigsaw<\/strong><\/p>

Another sustainably made, plastic free, 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle added to the <\/em>Jigsaw collection<\/u><\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>

\"lpu7nzawsm0yftrlqnpu8pdd8kxiaow8jnyy0foiwpqtqdbf.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"<\/p>

And for the snuggle down and cuddle up days that are now here, do have a browse through the growing collections of <\/em>sweaters, hoodies and long sleeved tees<\/em><\/a>. All, naturally, made with sustainability and the health of the environment in mind. And no plastic pollution!<\/em><\/p>

\"zkuw4zgu9lbpot8nit8jezqgiythfkqb0gg28jdsvj8ezux8.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"Live, laugh, smile and cuddle on \u2026<\/em><\/p>

Sarah<\/em><\/p>","urlTitle":"halloween-hues-and-an-autumnal-jigsaw","url":"\/blog\/halloween-hues-and-an-autumnal-jigsaw\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/halloween-hues-and-an-autumnal-jigsaw\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/sarahgteemill.com\/blog\/halloween-hues-and-an-autumnal-jigsaw\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1759412091,"updatedAt":1761482123,"publishedAt":1761482123,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":339313,"name":"Sarah G"},"tags":[{"id":4100,"code":"blog","name":"blog","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/blog\/"}],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/avvmylb6x0i9rp3z9jau1g0mux6zysyveylj51ziljox5eil.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/avvmylb6x0i9rp3z9jau1g0mux6zysyveylj51ziljox5eil.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/avvmylb6x0i9rp3z9jau1g0mux6zysyveylj51ziljox5eil.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"And at the end of October, there was Samhein...","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":50282,"title":"Talking about... organic bee friendly kitchen gardening","url":"\/blog\/talking-about-mint-flowers-bumblebees-and-moths\/","urlTitle":"talking-about-mint-flowers-bumblebees-and-moths","division":339313,"description":"On an organic herbs trug, butterflies, bees and moths ... and the coexistent culinary and ecological benefits, a mini circular ecomomy ... and art.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/5eo4yctctyw9hsdl6zsukcndhvhqddgfae7fnes5dyjqrctk.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/5eo4yctctyw9hsdl6zsukcndhvhqddgfae7fnes5dyjqrctk.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":50290,"title":"The Super Bumblebee jigsaw puzzle","url":"\/blog\/the-super-bumblebee-jigsaw\/","urlTitle":"the-super-bumblebee-jigsaw","division":339313,"description":"Another design that started life as part of the \u2018Their world, in our hands\u2019 collection. This one appeared for Insect week, a year or so back, to acknowledge the importance of insects for the world; \u2018Their world in our hands, our world on their wings.\u2019 Take one jigsaw, (in this case the bumblebee carrying the world on its wings) add it to one tabletop and then cunningly leave doors open...","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/hevthck794wzmynaku8kwwuvpkjgjc8nouab5czkymkjzoxg.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/hevthck794wzmynaku8kwwuvpkjgjc8nouab5czkymkjzoxg.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":50349,"title":"The \u2018Baby Butterfly Buddy\u2019 jigsaw puzzling begins","url":"\/blog\/the-baby-butterfly-buddy-jigsaw-puzzling-begins\/","urlTitle":"the-baby-butterfly-buddy-jigsaw-puzzling-begins","division":339313,"description":"The \u2018Baby Butterfly Buddy\u2019 jigsaw puzzle has been let out from its box, and a couple of uninvited family members decided to try and get in on the fun too...","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/twhhntf4hrz6iixdfhjyq7vzz6intovccqp6r6nkfysabc9c.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/twhhntf4hrz6iixdfhjyq7vzz6intovccqp6r6nkfysabc9c.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}