07 Video

[clevermind]

[Thin fingers carefully hold the phone as if she's speaking into a magic mirror.]

Hello. My name is Belle.

I do not know if this is the time to ask but I've heard and seen a lot about Halloween and it's monsters. I was wondering more about these traditions or if anyone else has traditions outside the ones that we've seen.

I've heard some about costumes too but, I admit, I do not know why people are wearing them.

[Magical mayhem aside, it all seems rather odd.]

Thank you for your time.

Comments

( video )

[tevinteraltus]

[Dorian's smiling, because frankly, he's always happy to see people wondering about the world around them. Belle never ceases to satisfy.]

Ah, yes! The costumes! It seems there are a few traditions, but most are related to the belief the veil between this world and the next is thinnest this time of year and the costumes protect the wearer from malicious spirits. Now it's all a bit of fun for the celebrants.

( video )

[clevermind]

You mean the realm of the dead? Does that really work?

[She can see why it might be fun though it isn't something she has personal experiance with.]

( video )

[tevinteraltus]

I've never known a costume to protect anyone from demons but nothing is beyond the realm of possibility.

[He shrugs before smiling.]

It's a good excuse, I'll give them that.

( video )

[clevermind]

I find that people will do what they want with or without an excuse.

[She laughs softly.]

Though it is fun to learn about it.

[video]

[borntolove]

Well - started off as the end of the harvest for the year. Then as centuries processed and different Earth cultures shaped and sculpted the holiday as it was believed to be the day of when the realms of the living and dead were the thinnest. Which by the way is completely rubbish - in England starting in during after the fall of the Roman Empire groups of individuals went from church to church begging for soul cakes in exchange of souls of the givers and their friends. Which this would continue to the 19th century.

Whereas in Scotland and Ireland's at the same time children disguised in costume going from door to door for food or coins and carried lanterns made out of scooped out turnips because of superstitious none sense that a turnip with a candle inside would ward off the evil spirits.

More time passed and when the humans in Europe migrated to North America they took thar culture with them but it all came together into some kind of commercialism.

That's the history of Halloween at least from my universe. Given the number of worlds here sure thar will be some varying differences.

[video]

[clevermind]

I understand the celebration of the harvest but I'm afraid I don't understand why they'd have costumes or how it related to superstitions.

[Belle thinks for a moment.]

And why turnips? Where did the traditions first come from?

[She feels like she's missing more context. Nothing in the bible really talks about Halloween and that's the only religious text that she knows.]

Re: [video]

[borntolove]

[The Were! 10 slowly shakes his head]

Don't know. Sometimes I think you humans enjoy making yourselves more ridiculous looking.

[There's a slight tease about it]

Those were the crops in the area.

[video]

[clevermind]

I see.

[She doesn't mean to sound so disappointed.]

I was hoping there was a bit more to it than that.

[Video]

[liorafae]

...I'm not sure I like this Halloween thing anymore. I didn't mind it as much last year, but now...I don't like what happens here...

We don't have Halloween in my world, but we have different holidays...one for every month of the year, except one...

[Video]

[clevermind]

[Belle doesn't particularly care for this Halloween either which is why she's asking about other, hopefully more enjoyable, holidays.]

What month doesn't have a holiday?

[Video]

[liorafae]

December is the month without a holiday. We have a holiday for each deity, and we honor their flight and element during their respective holidays. There are twelve months in the year, but only eleven deities...

[Though arguably, the current holiday probably wouldn't be seen as enjoyable by a lot of people...]

[Video]

[clevermind]

I see. Do you mind telling me about the months and the corresponding deity? It sounds very different from what I'm used too and I'd love to learn more.

[spacepeterpan]

Oh, hello, Belle, I'm the Doctor, and I s'pose you've heard about Halloween a bit, but now, but it's probably worth mentioning it's mostly just a bit of fun, used to be about warding off spirits and monsters by impersonating them, clever idea, frankly, not really about actual monsters, or at least not halloween monsters. ...well, not usually actual monster, I do know a planet--actually, I know lots of planets--but there's one with naturally-occurring jack-o-lanterns, not actual jack-o-lanterns with candles, of course and not actually pumpkins, but bioluminescent, and not half bitey, but not really dangerous in small numbers, if you're quick, and they make a superb pie, with a little work.

[A brief pause and his big eager smile falters into something like if she'd asked a bartender at a craft beer house for the beer menu and then ordered a Coors Light but he was really trying to be polite, so it's just sort of disappointed at his enthusiasm probably being completely wasted.]



...and you probably meant something more like other traditions from Earth, no idea about those, really, probably texting and flirting, if I know human beings at all.

[clevermind]

Hello Doctor. I've heard some about you.

[Nothing too specific, merely that Ten had two other versions of himself here.]

What's a jack-0-lantern? [Carving gourds has been common practice for thousands of years but the concept of a jack-o-lantern only arrived in the early 19th century. In theory, Belle might have heard of them, except that she lives in a small town in the middle of no where who has yet to hear of the practice.]

And I don't mean just from Earth. I'm not sure what texting is but I'd like to learn about traditions from my worlds. [One of her closer friends isn't from Earth.]

[spacepeterpan]

[Oh, he perks right up at a broader interest.]

Oh, well, big universe, universes, here, lots of ground to cover, I've found it helps to narrow it a little, pick a corner to start out, or else just jump into the middle of things and figure it out as you get your bearings.

A Jack O' Lantern's, well, usually a turnip, gourd, that sort of thing, carved, with a candle inside, sort of like a lantern but more festive and more edible, although, I s'pose the lanterns might be pretty edible in Everglade, right now...

[clevermind]

That sounds wise. It might be a little too much to learn at once.

[She smiles softly.]

I see. I have been told about turnips. I didn't grow any at home but I had pumpkins and squashes of sorts. I wonder if they would do?

[Belle gently gnaws at her lower lip.]

How about we start at your favorite Halloween tradition or planet? I'm sure you have one.

video;

[hopeschild]

People have already explained it above me so I'm not going to repeat what they already said because there is really nothing else to add to the exact meaning of Halloween.

For me it's always a fun time to tell scary stories to friends, or watching horror movies or things like that.

video;

[clevermind]

[A small smile pulls at Belle's lips.]

Thank you for not repeating. [She's very thankful for that.] What sort of horror movies? I'm still getting used to movies and I've only seen ones that I knew as books.

I'd love to be introduced to more.

video;

[hopeschild]

I think it ultimately depends on what you are into. People that try to kill you from dreams, a story about Frankentein's monster, a movie about a killer doll. Then you have movies that have a lot of gore more than horror itself and those that build up suspense

So would you be the type that could watch one with a good story behind it?

[molestedbytailors]

[This maid is gleeing with delight!]

Oh Miss, there are quite a lot of traditions where I'm from, and really depends where you live. Such as in Europe, they use turnips for jack-o-lanterns and the United States uses pumpkins instead is one.

Oh! And of course other countries honor the dead and such while others pass out candy from their door to the children. It's quite exciting!

[clevermind]

That sounds wonderful. I'm from France myself. I'm afraid I haven't heard of jack-o-lanterns until today but I'd love to try and make one.

Would it be to much of an imposition to ask for your assistance with creating a jack-o-lantern?

[molestedbytailors]

They are fun. You carve a face and light it up with a candle inside.

Shall I bring two turnips? Or maybe three? I should make it four.

[ Video ]

[pianola]

I am not wearing mine by 'choice'.

[ Said rather flatly. ]

Others have been forced into costume as well.

[ Video ]

[clevermind]

Why don't you want to wear a costume?

It all seems rather fun.

[ Video ]

[pianola]

Maybe I would.

Being forced to is a different matter.

[ ... Today, Fayren seems to have forced her into some sort of gothic princess dress. Oh dear. ]