This first story begins at my parents place on Halloween night in 1978. I was stuck doing a book report cause it was due the next day at school. I was sitting at the kitchen table writing away when my older bro came in to tell mom that he was going up to our Aunt's place to let off a bunch of fireworks. A weird feeling came over me like something was going to happen about my brother going up there. So I went downstairs to ask my bro if I could go with him and he said sure. I went upstairs and told my Mom I will bring my homework to Aunties place and do it up there. I grabbed my books and my bro and I got into his car and left. About half way to my Aunt's we were entering an intersection and this car that turned in front of us on the other side of the road came right at our car. My brother tried to swerve out of the way but it was too late. I screammed and said, "Oh my gawd!" and was preparing myself for the crash. The car hit and knocked our car in the front driver side. The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital. I ended up with a concusion, cut on my head and a banged up jaw and my brother got some stitches in his head. During the time in the hospital, my brother and I both thought that the other was dead. When I saw my brother I grabbed him and hugged him hard. "You thought I was dead, I thought you were dead!" We sat there hugging each other for a good 30 minutes. After we got out of the hospital and got home I told my brother about the weird feeling that had come over me when he told mom he was going to our Aunts place. We looked at each other and said "Freaky!!!"
The second story happened in the same area on Halloween night 1983 in the graveyard up the street from where I lived. A bunch of us decided to get together to party for Halloween. We were sitting there drinking, laughing, lighting off fireworks and trying to scary each other. My boyfriend and I were goofing around wrestling and by mistake rolled over top a grave. All of a sudden a fog started to roll in. It was so thick that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. We thought maybe a spirit got pissed off because we rolled over their grave. Then in the distance we saw 4 pairs of red glowing eyes and hearing low loud growling noises. We all freaked out, jumped up screamming and running towards the gate to the graveyard. It was sure a funny site seeing 10 people trying to run, stumbling over each other as we all tried to reach the gate first. But what we saw could never be explained. We got outside the gate, looked at each other and said, "Nay!" We all agreed that maybe someone had heard us partying and decided to scare us out of the graveyard. To this day there is no explanation of what happened that Halloween night and we never spoke of it again.
2. The name "witch" comes from Saxon term wica, meaning wise one.
3. "Lamb's wool" is the traditional drink of Halloween, made of roasted apples mashed in ale or milk.
4. Halloween marks the modern witches' New Year's Eve. It is a time spent celebrating death, fertility, and renewal.
5. Black cats are a symbol of Halloween because it was once believed that souls could travel back into the world of the living in the body of an animal - usually a black cat.
6. Before Christianity of Europe, females with special powers were revered as wise women. It wasn't until 1484 that Pope Innocent III sanctioned witch-hunting.
7. In Ireland, wealthy landlords used to distribute gifts of food to their poorer tenants at Halloween. When the potato crop failed, the Irish who moved to America in droves are thought to have introduced Halloween traditions to their new homeland.
8. In Mexico Halloween is known as Los Dias de los Muertos (the day of the dead). However, it isn't a time of sadness but one of great rejoicing. At this time of year the Monarch Butterflies, which have summered up north in the United States and Canada, return to Mexico. They are believed to bear the spirits of the dearly departed and are warmly welcomed home.
9. Halloween is believed to be the time when the dead and other demonic creatures rise to walk the earth once more.
10. "Trick or Treat" originated in Britian where it was first known as Mischief Night.
11. The Church attempted to Christianise the pagan festival of Halloween by adopting November 1 as All-Saints Day or All-Hallows Day - a time to remember those that have passed away.
12. The tradition of witches riding their brooms isn't just because they were the handiest flight objects available. The broomstick is symbolic of the magical powers of females since it is employed in the cleansing of ritual places.
13. In America children threaten "trick or treat" as they approach different doors. In Scotland adults demands more value for their sweets. Children are expected to perform a party piece - joke, song or story - before cashing in on the sweetie prize.
14. The ancient Celtic fire festival called "Samhain" (pronounced sow-in) is the origin of modern Halloween. This festival was the feast of the dead in Pagan and Christian times, marking the close of harvest and the initiation of the winter season.
15. In days gone by, people feared the coming of Halloween. They believed that the spirits who walked the earth on this day were capable of possessing their bodies. To discourage them, they darkened their houses to make them appear as cold and unwelcome as possible. Donning all manner of frightening dress they rowdily took to the streets in an attempt to scare off the spirits.
16. It is an old Halloween tradition for females an apple in front of a candlelit mirror. If an unbroken rind is achieved then the image of the future spouse is supposed to appear in the mirror.
17. "Hallow" is an old word meaning holy, whilst"e'en" is Scottish for evening.
18. In days gone by, bonfires were lit to scare off the supernatural creatures that struck fear into superstitious hearts.
Gathered outside Edinburgh's Witchery Restaurant in the shade of the city's castle is a crowd of assorted individuals well wrapped up for a ghostly tour into a past laden with tales of witchery, trickery, deceit and death. From a darkened, creepy close steps a tall man in a long black cape with a complexion that would make Dracula look like he'd been hitting the fake tan. With the help of his assistant, the Foule Clenger, the bedraggled group are quickly put at ease and introduced to tour host Adam Lyal. His ghostly pallor is understandable when he explains that he was executed in 1811 for his crimes as a highway robber. He has returned to the mortal world to share the secrets of Edinburgh's dark past by taking tourists and locals through the city's Old Town. The Witchery Tour, a nightly walk around the capital's scariest spots, takes a light-hearted look at the city's darker side - and a more suitable starting point than the Castlehill would be hard to imagine. This street was the premiere Scottish site for witch burning activity. Adam Lyal urges the group to come closer and explains Scotland's unique place in the history of witchcraft - over 4000 people died between 1479 and 1722 on charges of witchery, more than in any other country. Over 300 of this number died on Castlehill. Once accused, there wasn't much hope for the victims since torture was employed to try and extract a confession. If the suspect confessed, they were spared the torture - they were executed by hanging before being burnt at the stake. Torture took one of two forms. The suspected practitioner could be placed in a barrel with sharp sticks and swords then rolled down the Castlehill, with the barbed objects cutting bare flesh. or they got the thumbscrews - known as the 'pilliwinks'. Either the suspect confessed or their thumbs exploded first. As Adam casts a beady eye over the unruly mob watching with baited breath, he decides to accuse us of harbouring a witch. His eyes fall upon the accused (there is a little shouting from her friends) and she is dragged from the safety of the group to have her thumbs placed in the pilliwinks, which are tightened, to the delight of the chanting crowd. In the shadows of the castle on this dark, eerie night it's easy to imagine how mob mentality could take over. Mercifully, Adam decides to release the "witch" who returns to her giggling friends - the same ones who'd turned her in! It's time to move through Edinburgh's Old Town in search of more terrifying tales. The dark passages and cobbled streets are unchanged, setting the scene for the stories. As we move up an old Edinburgh close (the Scottish term for the passageway between tenement flats) Adam casually mentions that this one is reportedly haunted. On either side of the close, the buildings flanking the narrow passage stretch seven floors high, half the height they were in bygone times when they were the world's first skyscrapers. Nearly 250 people lived in these tiny areas. Living conditions were one of the main causes of the disease that killed half he population of Edinburgh - the plague. We gaze up in amazement, trying to imagine Edinburgh over three centuries ago with dwellings reaching 14 floors, when out of nowhere comes evil screeching and we are set upon by a witch. Much screaming and heart-clutching follows before everyone collapses with laughter, realising it's part of the tour. Adam then tells the tragic woman's tale, though with the old fishwife scratching her backside and trying to soak everyone with water, sympathy for her plight is in short supply! Agnes Fynnie's fate was a perfect example of the diabolical deeds carried out to purge the city of witchcraft. She was a cantankerous "old wifey" who lived in Cullen's Close earning a meagre living selling groceries. Her bad temper and habit of calling her wares, rousing residents from their slumbers, earned her an unpopular reputation. Eventually her enemies decided to get rid of the problem tenant by claiming she was a witch. A confession before the Court of Session was drawn from poor crabbit Agnes, and she was burnt at the stake in 1644.
Some of Edinburgh's most notorious criminals took the same route we now take - a chilling thought. Adam recounts the tale of the thieving Deacon Brodie whom many believe was the basis for Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Brodie was a respected member of Edinburgh society, rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous in his position on the Town Council. However, he had too much of a taste for the good life, enjoying women and gambling in vast quantities. This proved a strain on Brodie's purse and he decided to supplement his income by robbing his contemporaries. Initially he was beyond suspicion because of his position in the community, until his greed grew out of control and he took on some assistants. A bungled attempt to rob the Excise Office of Scotland on the 5th of March 1788 led to his demise. One of his criminal helpers was captured and soon spilled the beans on Brodie. He managed to escape to Holland for a short period until he sent home letters with the address of his hideout clearly printed on them. He was captured and executed in front of St Giles Church near to his own home, which is now known as Brodie's Close.
As we move along the Cowgate down darkened closes, an atmospheric edge is added by billowing smoke, which turns out to be a cunningly hidden dry ice machine. Nevertheless, it's an effective ploy and a veil of silence falls upon the expectant group. The group gathers closely around Adam as he recounts the dastardly deeds of two 19th century medical students, William Burke and William Hare - Edinburgh's famous body snatchers. Both were studying anatomy at the medical school, where demands for bodies were severely limited by the law's restriction of one body for dissection a year. An underhand scheme ran in which medical students received payment for procuring bodies of the departed. This practice became so prolific that watchtowers were built in the graveyards to prevent the recently buried from being exhumed. Burke and Hare took this dubious practice to the ruly criminal. They didn't bother finding the freshly dead - they simply killed those they thought wouldn't be missed. Eventually they were caught and Hare turned upon his accomplice, accusing him of the crimes while claiming his own innocence, which was eventually accepted, though he was forced to leave the city. Burke was hanged in Edinburgh's High Street in front of 25,000 people - over half of the city's population at the time - and his body was, ironically, given to the Medical School for dissection. As Adam tells us that Burke's skeleton can be seen to this day at the Medical School, out of the shadows springs a skeleton-like figure. But this group are now ghost experts and don't flinch - well, there are no screams this time. Still, as we go our separate ways there are more than a few worried faces.
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December; And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; --vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow-- sorrow for the lost Lenore-- For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore-- Nameless here for evermore. And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me--filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating "'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-- Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -- This it is and nothing more."
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, "Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you" -- here I opened wide the door; -- Darkness there and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word "Lenore!" This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word "Lenore!" Merely this and nothing more. Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. "Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore-- Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -- "'Tis the wind and nothing more!"
Open here I flung the shutter, When, with many a flirt and flutter In there stepped a stately Raven of the Saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mein of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door-- Perched upon my bust of Pallas just above my chamber door-- Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, "Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven, Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore-- Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!" Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning-- little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door-- Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as "Nevermore."
But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing farther then he uttered--not a feather then he fluttered-- Till I scarcely more than muttered "Other friends have flown before-- On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before." Then the bird said "Nevermore."
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken, "Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore-- Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore Of 'Never--nevermore.'"
But the Raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore-- What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore meant in croaking "Nevermore."
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er, She shall press, ah, nevermore!
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. "Wretch," I cried, "Thy God hath lent thee--by these angels he hath sent thee Respite--respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore, Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."
"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! prophet still, if bird or devil!-- Whether Tempest sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted-- On this home by Horror haunted--tell me truly, I implore-- Is there-- is there balm in Gilead?-- tell me-- tell me, I implore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."
"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting-- "Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken! --quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heat, and Take thy form from off my door!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."
And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted--nevermore!
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