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| Photo courtesy of Freestocks |
Welcome to Our Final Day of Celebration!
Before we get started, let's announce the winner of our Day of the Dead Witch-ball giveaway from Cordelia's Charms...
River Eno!
Congratulations!
Today's Music Selection: All Soul's Night by Loreena McKennitt
submitted by Alexis Kennedy
Today's Article: Samhain Eve with Alexis Kennedy
Since Celtic days start at night, tonight will be the beginning of Samhain (Summer's End) and time to honor our ancestors, and our birthrights. Some of us will participate in the traditional Halloween Trick-or-Treat with children/grandchildren, giving out treats in exchange for the delighted faces of children who show up at our doors, eager to see what we'll give them. We'll then turn our faces toward our Beloved Dead, and honor them with a meal.
Some will participate in a "Dumb Supper," where they will serve a meal with places set for the dead, and not speak until the meal is over. Some will simply prepare a feast of things our loved ones liked when they were corporeal. My family will set the meal outside, as an offering to those who are passing through the veil, and would like some sustenance on their way. We'll light candles, and invite our visitors to share time with us, until the veil closes again. The night is holy and sacred, and is honored by many cultures in different ways. This is one of my favorite holidays of all.
I want to thank each of you who have participated in our celebration of this season, and wish all of you the very best of Samhain feasts and blessings. May your ancestral visits be joyful. We'll be back ion December 17 to celebrate the Winter Solstice. We hope you've enjoyed our gift of merriment and mirth, and accept our offering to you, our community, with love.
Today's Cocktail: Spiked Mulled Cider with Alexis Kennedy
Ingredients
1 gallon unfiltered apple cider, preferably fresh from a local farm
1 large orange, cut into 1/4” slices
3 cinnamon sticks
4 star anise
1 tablespoon whole cloves
1 tablespoon whole allspice
1” ginger root, sliced
1/2 bag of fresh/frozen cranberries
1 1/2 cups spiced rum (this is optional. You can do it without the alcohol)
Instructions
To a large 10 qt dutch oven or a large slow cooker, add apple juice, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, whole cloves, whole allspice and ginger root. (If you have a spice ball, add clove and allspice to that. Or, if you are a witch, you can always use one of those muslin bags we're sure to keep around. It’s easier cleanup afterwards.)
Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cover for 2-3 hours.
Add rum to the apple cider mixture. (again, optional)
Remove fruit and spices from the pot.
Serve!
(optional: garnish with orange slices, apple slices or spices)
Today's Recipe: Traditional Irish Colcannon with Jaye Todd
Colcannon recipe
Colcannon or in Gaelic “Cal Ceannann” which translates as “White-headed cabbage” is a simple recipe usually made of cabbage or kale and fluffy mashed potatoes.
Traditionally during Samhain in Ireland charms would be hidden within the dish and depending on what you found in your portion it was thought that this is what was in your future.
For example finding a coin was said to predict wealth coming to you, a ring – marriage, a thimble or button meant you would remain a spinster or bachelor for the coming year.
It was also thought that filling your socks with Colcannon and hanging it on your front door would bring a young ladies future husband to her door.
Ingredients
• 7/8 large potatoes (‘old’ potatoes work best)
• 1 head of cabbage or kale
• 7fl oz of milk/cream (or alternative)
• 40g of butter x3 (120g in total)
• 4-5 scallions (spring/green onions)
• Fresh parsley or chives
• Salt & pepper (to season)
Method
1. Peel & boil the potatoes until they are soft enough to mash.
2. Slice the cabbage into strips and place into a large sauce pan, covering it in boiling hot water from a kettle, and then cook for 3-5 minutes or until the cabbage has turned a dark green (be careful to not overcook your cabbage)
3. Drain the cabbage, ensuring that any added moisture has been drained and return to the saucepan. Add one of the 40g of butter to the cabbage, cover and leave to the side.
4. Once the potatoes are cooked, drain completely of water and return to the stove on a low heat. Slice the scallions (use kitchen scissors for ease). Add the milk/cream (or alternative) along with another of the 40g of butter and allow the heat to melt the butter.
5. Using a potato masher or a fork (do not use a mixer), mash the potatoes ensuring the milk and butter are thoroughly mixed.
6. Add the cabbage to the potato and scallions and mix together thoroughly.
7. Place into a serving bowl sprinkle the fresh parsley/chives season with salt and pepper.
8. Finally create a small well in the centre of the dish and place the last 40g of butter into it and serve.
Samhain Beannaithe ~ Blessed Samhain
Jaye – The Gaeilge Moonchild
Forget Me Nots
It is our tradition to honor our dead on Samhain. Some of our Sirens have been gracious enough to lead by example here, and we are posting their tributes to those who have passed through the veil.
Renee Sosanna Olson's Tribute:
Lynn Green's Tribute:
For my Mom and Dad. So many years have came and went since you crossed over. I celebrate your life and your love. I hear your echos of laughter and often catch glimpses of you in myself. Thank you for all of the pennies and dimes that you leave on my path, so that I know you are ever present. Remembering you with love always.
Jaye Todd's Tribute:
My amazing grandparents, Elizabeth and Peter I miss you always and think of you often. Love you until the end of time… gone from sight but not from heart.
My familiar, Clarkus Maximus aka Clarkey. My boy, my friend, my familiar, my Clarkus Maximus. You are always in my heart and missed dearly, eternally loved and never forgotten.
Johanna Lawson's Tribute:
Today, at Samhain, I honor two very special women in my life who passed beyond the veil this year. Both are considered honorary members of my family and will never be forgotten. They have been added to my "fallen leaves" on my Samhain ancestor altar this year.
Bridgette McCallen
February 16, 1941 - May 11, 2021
Bridgette moved in next door to me over 11 years ago and we quickly became friends. Our conversations were easy and she was full of stories of her life, her family, and her friends. She was the matriarch of her family, being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and was always excited to share the latest family news and photos. She was an immensely kind and generous soul, bringing me wine and little gifts every time my husband, son and I helped her with something she needed done but knew she could not do on her own. However, she was fiercely independent and often refused help when offered, wanting to do the task on her own. She loved animals, especially her dear dog Murphi, who passed shortly after Bridgette, so missing her "Mom". Bridgette also wrote poetry, something I did not learn until after her passing, and loved her evening cocktail of vodka and cranberry juice and her True Blue cigarettes, enjoying both after a long day's work. She worked right up until the day she died. Bridgette is sorely missed but her spirit lives on in my life.
Patricia Kerrigan
July 5, 1924 - September 30, 2021
Patricia, better known as "Miss Pat", was an amazing and interesting woman and lived a very long and happy life, passing at the age of 97. I had the honor of knowing her through her daughter, who is my boss and friend of over 20 years. She immediately became an honorary grandmother to my family, sending us cards at the holidays, delighting in the birth of my niece and the pictures I shared with her, and often sitting with us at gatherings, telling stories of her life and family. She found it quite amusing that she knew an actual witch and would lower her voice to discuss my witchy ways in an almost conspiratorial manner. She had a hearty laugh and a sinister giggle, something I still hear in my head when I think of her. I learned shortly before she passed that she had been an actress, performing in plays as a young girl and woman. This explained so much about her and her dramatic retellings of family lore. Miss Pat took a real liking to my husband, and her daughter and I referred to him as "her boyfriend". I hope Miss Pat knew what a lasting impression she made upon him. Another fiercely independent woman, she continued to drive until last December and lived on her own until June of this year, defeating the limits of her age spectacularly. Miss Pat was a legend and will live on as such in my heart.
River Eno's Tribute:
Adam, you're not forgotten. Maybe it's time we see each other again.
Alexis Kennedy's Tribute:
Henry Bradbury Coons III
(December 14,1938-July 13, 2021)
To the man who gave some other man's child a name at a time when there was no abortion option, and to be a 'bastard' was a terrible thing: Thank you. While I did not keep your name, and when I had it, I didn't know how valuable it was, when I did, I'm very glad I could discuss it with you and thank you in person. You had one of the kindest hearts of anyone I've ever known. I wish you really had been my father. I loved you dearly, and I am so glad you had a chosen family to see you through to the other side. I know they plan to scatter your ashes in a local forest, there. You'll love that. Thank for all that you have been to me, and for being you. May your next journey bring you peace and joy and good health in abundance!
Our Grand Prize Giveaway!
The following items will be sent to our grand prize winner:
All items sourced from the earth.
Tarot Reading (your choice) from Alexis Kennedy at Bone Songs
Tarot reading value: $125
This is a 1 year reading that comes with a 6-month checkup reading.
Also: Samhain Traditions: 13 Simple & Affordable Halloween Spells & Rituals for the Witches’ New Year Paperback: Value $12
Pint of Honey from her personal hives by Jayme Conner- $40 value
"Ogham is a
medieval alphabet used in Ireland
in the early Irish language and later in the ‘old’ Irish language. Each Ogham
is represented by a tree and carries its own special meaning which is used when
practising divination. These Ogham
have been lovingly hand crafted from responsibly sourced wooden slices acrylic
paints and have been sealed to ensure they last a long time."
Value: $65
Grand prize total value: $444!
Note: where it says U.S. only, that means the vendor cannot ship to Canada
U.S. Residents:
Your entries have already been calculated.
Canadian Residents:
Your entries have already been calculated.
If you have participated in the giveaways over the past 12 days, you'll receive an entry for each of the comments you've made that are relevant to the giveaways.
Our sponsor will announce the grand prize winner at 12pm EDT today, on the Sirens Life Facebook page . Winner has 36 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond in time, there will be another drawing on November 3.
Note: each of the vendors will ship or reach out via email to the winner, after the winner has confirmed receipt from the sponsor. Each vendor will have three business days (after Nov 1) to send out their prizes or reach out to schedule any readings. If the winner is a Canadian resident, a second winner in the U.S. will be chosen for US only prizes.
May the blessings of Samhain be upon you all!
See you on December 17 for our 5 days of Yule Celebration!
