Tag Archives: Halloween

Where Halloween and Hanukah Intersect

Posted on October 31, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

You will probably be surprised to discover an unlikely connection between the popular Pagan holiday celebration of Halloween and the ancient Jewish Festival of Hanukah. The improbable link connecting the two holidays stems from a word often associated with Halloween … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

All and Sundry

Posted on October 25, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

The First Photograph: You may be interested in this fascinating deep dive on the world’s oldest surviving photograph, a pewter plate from 1827 that’s nearly invisible to the naked eye. The exposure lasted several days, and even the famous version … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Randomness of the Now

Posted on October 23, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

“I have heard what the talkers were talking, the talk of the beginning and the end. But I do not talk of the beginning or the end. There was never any more inception than there is now, Nor any more … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Halloween is nigh

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Do Halloween like it’s 1920

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I recently stumbled upon this fantastic vintage Halloween book filled with crafts, decoration ideas, DIY costumes, and more. The book is called Dennison’s Bogie Book for Halloween. It was written in 1920, but the activities and decorations inside can make … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, USA, Writing | Tagged | Leave a comment

Happy Halloween

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

A few years ago, I spent a very happy Halloween in Taupo, New Zealand. The charming lakeside town is sadly overlooked by many foreign visitors to the country. Along with stunning natural beauty, the community is surprisingly welcoming to tourists. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe, Tourism, USA | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The true home of Halloween ?

Posted on October 29, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Did you know that Halloween began on the island of Ireland? 🎃 The spooky season began as an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), celebrated over 2,000 years ago. Marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Film, History, Tourism | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Spooky Times

Posted on October 24, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

It’s that spooky time of the year here in North America. Folks in the U.S. alone will be spending close to $13 billion on holiday decorations, costumes, candy, and parties. I recently spent an afternoon visiting a nearby town that … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Art, Music, USA | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Halloween Greetings

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

These days folks in North America go overboard with Halloween decorations, costumes, parties, candy, and spending, but in the early 20th century they celebrated in a less ostentatious way.  As the autumn festival began to emerge in its modern form picture … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, USA | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Día de Muertos

Posted on October 28, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Here in the Americas we are in the midst of a two-fer holiday season. We can take a short break from the horrors of real life and celebrate the festive spookiness of Halloween and the Day of the Dead (Día … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, South America, USA | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment