Awaken NH Spirits

All Hallow's Eve

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:45:26 +0000

All Hallow's Eve
by Mike Nichols

Halloween.
Sly does it. Tiptoe catspaws. Slide and creep.
But why? What for? How? Who? When! Where did it all begin?
?You don?t know, do you?? asks Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud climbing out of the pile of leaves under the Halloween Tree. ?You don?t really know!?
?Ray Bradbury, The Halloween Tree

Samhain. All Hallows. All Hallow?s Eve. Hallow E?en. Halloween. The most magical night of the year. Exactly opposite Beltane on the wheel of the year, Halloween is Beltane?s dark twin. A night of glowing jack-o?-lanterns, bobbing for apples, tricks or treats, and dressing in costume. A night of ghost stories and s?ances, tarot card readings and scrying with mirrors. A night of power, when the veil that separates our world from the Otherworld is at its thinnest. A ?spirit night?, as they say in Wales.

All Hallow?s Eve is the eve of All Hallow?s Day (November 1). And for once, even popular tradition remembers that the eve is more important than the day itself, the traditional celebration focusing on October 31, beginning at sundown. And this seems only fitting for the great Celtic New Year?s festival. Not that the holiday was Celtic only. In fact, it is startling how many ancient and unconnected cultures (the Egyptians and pre-Spanish Mexicans, for example) celebrated this as a festival of the dead. But the majority of our modern traditions can be traced to the British Isles.

The Celts called it Samhain, which means ?summer?s end?, according to their ancient twofold division of the year, when summer ran from Beltane to Samhain and winter ran from Samhain to Beltane. (Some modern covens echo this structure by letting the high priest ?rule? the coven beginning on Samhain, with rulership returned to the high priestess at Beltane.) According to the later fourfold division of the year, Samhain is seen as ?autumn?s end? and the beginning of winter. Samhain is pronounced (depending on where you?re from) as ?sow-in? (in Ireland), or ?sow-een? (in Wales), or ?sav-en? (in Scotland), or (inevitably) ?sam-hane? (in the U.S., where we don?t speak Gaelic).

Not only is Samhain the end of autumn; it is also, more importantly, the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. Celtic New Year?s Eve, when the new year begins with the onset of the dark phase of the year, just as the new day begins at sundown. There are many representations of Celtic Gods with two faces, and it surely must have been one of them who held sway over Samhain. Like his Roman counterpart Janus, he would straddle the threshold, one face turned toward the past, in commemoration of those who died during the last year, and one face gazing hopefully toward the future, mystic eyes attempting to pierce the veil and divine what the coming year holds. These two themes, celebrating the dead and divining the future, are inexorably intertwined in Samhain, as they are likely to be in any New Year?s celebration.

As a feast of the dead, this was the one night when the dead could, if they wished, return to the land of the living, to celebrate with their family, tribe, or clan. And so the great burial mounds of Ireland (sidhe mounds) were opened up, with lighted torches lining the walls, so the dead could find their way. Extra places were set at the table and food set out for any who had died that year. And there are many stories that tell of Irish heroes making raids on the Underworld while the gates of faery stood open, though all must return to their appointed places by cockcrow.

As a feast of divination, this was the night par excellence for peering into the future. The reason for this has to do with the Celtic view of time. In a culture that uses a linear concept of time, like our modern one, New Year?s Eve is simply a milestone on a very long road that stretches in a straight line from birth to death. Thus, the New Year?s festival is a part of time. The ancient Celtic view of time, however, is cyclical. And in this framework, New Year?s Eve represents a point outside of time, when the natural order of the universe dissolves back into primordial chaos, preparatory to reestablishing itself in a new order. Thus, Samhain is a night that exists outside of time and, hence, it may be used to view any other point in time. At no other holiday is a tarot card reading, crystal reading, or tealeaf reading so likely to succeed.

The Christian religion, with its emphasis on the ?historical? Christ and his act of Redemption 2000 years ago, is forced into a linear view of time, where seeing the future is an illogical proposition. In fact, from the Christian perspective, any attempt to do so is seen as inherently evil. This did not keep the medieval church from co-opting Samhain?s other motif, commemoration of the dead. To the church, however, it could never be a feast for all the dead, but only the blessed dead, all those hallowed (made holy) by obedience to God?thus, All Hallow?s, or Hallowmas, later All Saints and All Souls.

There are so many types of divination that are traditional to Hallowstide, it is possible to mention only a few. Girls were told to place hazelnuts along the front of the firegrate, each one to symbolize one of her suitors. She could then divine her future husband by chanting, ?If you love me, pop and fly; if you hate me, burn and die.? Several methods used the apple, that most popular of Halloween fruits. You should slice an apple through the equator (to reveal the five-pointed star within) and then eat it by candlelight before a mirror. Your future spouse will then appear over your shoulder. Or, peel an apple, making sure the peeling comes off in one long strand, reciting, ?I pare this apple round and round again; / My sweetheart?s name to flourish on the plain: / I fling the unbroken paring o?er my head, / My sweetheart?s letter on the ground to read.? Or, you might set a snail to crawl through the ashes of your hearth. The considerate little creature will then spell out the initial letter as it moves.

Perhaps the most famous icon of the holiday is the jack-o?- lantern. Various authorities attribute it to either Scottish or Irish origin. However, it seems clear that it was used as a lantern by people who traveled the road this night, the scary face to frighten away spirits or faeries who might otherwise lead one astray. Set on porches and in windows, they cast the same spell of protection over the household. (The American pumpkin seems to have forever superseded the European gourd as the jack-o?- lantern of choice.) Bobbing for apples may well represent the remnants of a Pagan ?baptism? rite called a seining, according to some writers. The water-filled tub is a latter-day Cauldron of Regeneration, into which the novice?s head is immersed. The fact that the participant in this folk game was usually blindfolded with hands tied behind the back also puts one in mind of a traditional Craft initiation ceremony.

The custom of dressing in costume and ?trick-or-treating? is of Celtic origin, with survivals particularly strong in Scotland. However, there are some important differences from the modern version. In the first place, the custom was not relegated to children, but was actively indulged in by adults as well. Also, the ?treat? that was required was often one of spirits (the liquid variety). This has recently been revived by college students who go ?trick-or-drinking?. And in ancient times, the roving bands would sing seasonal carols from house-to-house, making the tradition very similar to Yuletide wassailing. In fact, the custom known as caroling, now connected exclusively with Midwinter, was once practiced at all the major holidays. Finally, in Scotland at least, the tradition of dressing in costume consisted almost exclusively of cross-dressing (i.e., men dressing as women, and women as men). It seems as though ancient societies provided an opportunity for people to ?try on? the role of the opposite gender for one night of the year. (Although in Scotland, this is admittedly less dramatic?but more confusing?since men were in the habit of wearing skirtlike kilts anyway. Oh well...)

To Witches, Halloween is one of the four High Holidays, or Greater Sabbats, or cross-quarter days. Because it is the most important holiday of the year, it is sometimes called ?The Great Sabbat?. It is an ironic fact that the newer, self-created covens tend to use the older name of the holiday, Samhain, which they have discovered through modern research. While the older hereditary and traditional covens often use the newer name, Halloween, which has been handed down through oral tradition within their coven. (This often holds true for the names of the other holidays, as well. One may often get an indication of a coven?s antiquity by noting what names it uses for the holidays.)

With such an important holiday, Witches often hold two distinct celebrations. First, a large Halloween party for non- Craft friends, often held on the previous weekend. And second, a coven ritual held on Halloween night itself, late enough so as not to be interrupted by trick-or-treaters. If the rituals are performed properly, there is often the feeling of invisible friends taking part in the rites. Another date that may be utilized in planning celebrations is the actual cross-quarter day, or Old Halloween, or Halloween O.S. (Old Style). This occurs when the sun has reached fifteen degrees Scorpio, an astrological ?power point? symbolized by the Eagle. The celebration would begin at sunset. Interestingly, this date (Old Halloween) was also appropriated by the church as the holiday of Martinmas.
Of all the Witchcraft holidays, Halloween is the only one that still boasts anything near to popular celebration. Even though it is typically relegated to children (and the young-atheart) and observed as an evening affair only, many of its traditions are firmly rooted in Paganism. Incidentally, some schools have recently attempted to abolish Halloween parties on the grounds that it violates the separation of state and religion. Speaking as a Pagan, I would be saddened by the success of this move, but as a supporter of the concept of religion-free public education, I fear I must concede the point. Nonetheless, it seems only right that there should be one night of the year when our minds are turned toward thoughts of the supernatural. A night when both Pagans and non-Pagans may ponder the mysteries of the Otherworld and its inhabitants. And if you are one of them, may all your jack-o?-lanterns burn bright on this All Hallow?s Eve.

Haunted Places in NH

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:13:11 +0000

Alton Town Hall

Alton, NH
Heavy footsteps walking around, furniture moving on its own, doors open mysteriously, and voices heard when no one is in the building.

Margaritas Mexican Restaurant

1 Bicentennial Square
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 224-2821
A mischievous ghost named George who moves people's chairs, drinks their beverages, and throws food.

Siam Orchid Thai Restaurant

158 N Main
Concord, NH
The drinking glasses move across the table and mysterious voices can be heard in the dining room and kitchen. The people living above the restaurant sometimes hear things after the restaurant has closed for the evening.

Bedard Haunting

Dover, NH
There have been strange scratching sounds in the attic, doors closing, elderly gentleman seen momentarily staring into the living room from outside the window or sitting in a wheelchair in an unused bedroom.

Dover Mills

Dover, NH
Former site of a mill that partially burned down. Strange lights coming from upper level rooms. You can hear machines running and turning on and off. There are also lights on in the basement even though it's blocked off.

University of New Hampshire

Smith Hall
Durham, NH
A mysterious female figure roams the halls and visits residents in the middle of the night.

Toll Hill

Eaton Center, NH
An old farmhouse on top of this hill is haunted by the ghost of a horse who sought shelter in the abandoned building during a blizzard and became trapped and died. The horse is reportedly still trying to escape.

Philbrick House

East Kingston, NH
Unexplainable loud noises, lights behind closed doors in vacant rooms, and antique clocks mysteriously working.

Haunted Lake

Francestown, NH
During the early to mid- 1700s, two men decided to camp out while travelling to Hillsborough. The men had a fight and one buried the other along the shore of the lake. Reports of mysterious loud moans and shrieks.

Kimball Castle

Gilford, NH
Reports of doors locking and unlocking by themselves, things disappearing, books being pulled off shelves, and plants being knocked over.

Temperance Tavern

Gilmanton, NH
Reports of doors locking and unlocking by themselves, things disappearing, books being pulled off shelves, and plants being knocked over.

Goffstown Historical Society

Goffstown, NH
Lights mysteriously turn on and off by themselves. Strange lights have been reported by neighbors along with a human silhouette in the second floor windows.

Meetinghouse Green Memorial Park

Hampton, NH
Haunted by the ghost of Goody Cole who is the state's only woman to be convicted of witchcraft. The figure is a shabby, sad, bent over old lady.

Marston House

Hampton, NH
Haunted by an 11-year-old boy named Valentine Marston who was accidentally shot in 1890 while hunting. This harmless ghost is known to wear a sailor suit.

Moulton House

Hampton, NH
Original owner General Johnathan Moulton's wife Abigail haunts the house. He was also reported to have sold his soul to the devil.

Notchland Inn

Route 302
Hart's Location, NH
Inhabited by an unknown, but so far harmless, spirit.

The Henniker House

Henniker, NH
You may be allowed to visit the house, please contact the Chamber of Commerce in Henniker, New Hampshire, for more information. The ghost of "Ocean-Born" Mary Wallace supposedly visits this house every Halloween in a horse drawn coach. Some say she's always there haunting it on a permanent basis.

Pine Hill Road Cemetery

Hollis, NH
A family who was murdered in the late 1800s haunts this cemetery. One of the family's young boys sometimes stands in the road trying to flag people down for help.

Blaser's Fireside Tavern

Main Street
Hopkinton, NH
Reports of the ghost of a balding man wearing a checkered coat, striped pants,and spats. He is believe to be Frank Mills, who committed suicide in the building. There has also been footsteps in empty rooms, male voices when their shouldn't be, candles lit after being put out, and chairs being tossed.

Keene State College

Huntress Hall
Keene, NH
Harriet Huntress is said to roam the attic and fourth floor of the building in her wheelchair. The wheelchair is still in the attic.

Colonial Theater

Laconia, NH
Footsteps heard and lights go on and off, and doors open and close when no one's around. Visitors get a strange feeling that they should leave as soon as possible. A figure of a man has been seen.

Bob Shaw's Italian Sandwich Shop

(formerly Psaris Bistro)
915 Elm Street
Manchester, NH
Unexplained noises, names being called when no one's there, shadows move across mirrors, and other minor ghostly activity.

Hesser College

Manchester, NH
A young boy bounces his ball around the third and fourth floors and, upon investigation, the boy disappears and the bouncing ball sound vanishes. There are also reports of the sound of a wet finger running down the windows and eerie blue eyes peering in. Legend states that a young girl died of hypothermia and attempted to write help on the window.

Nutmeg Inn

Meredith, NH
Owners' daughter reported that she had a feeling she was not welcome in room number 4. Presence felt while playing musical instruments. Photos that have been taken at the inn showed ghostly shapes in them.

The Common Man (formerly Hannah Jack Tavern)

Merrimack, NH
Reports of strange noises and figures walking past doorways.

Burns House

Milford, NH
A young girl is seen in the upstairs window of this house that's been abandoned for years.

Country Tavern

452 Amherst Street
Nashua, NH
Elizabeth Ford was murdered by her husband when he came back after ten months to find her pregnant. He buried his wife and the baby on the grounds and Elizabeth now spends her time looking for the child. So far she is just a harmless, mischievous ghost.

Gibson Road Cemetery

Nashua, NH
Sightings of ghostly shapes have been reported. Walk from the front entrance to the middle feels like you're wading in water. A feeling of being pushed back from the cemetery when approached from across the street. Voices from the back, right-hand corner of the cemetery can be heard. A black hooded figure has been seen on several occasions.

Indian Rock Road

Nashua, NH
When walking along Indian Rock Road, travelers experience cold spots and the intense feeling of being watched by some malevolent force.

Colby-Sawyer College

Colgate building
New London, NH
A mysterious male figure with a hat sometimes is seen leaning over a railing or walking around the tower. He then disappears into thin air.

Colby-Sawyer College

Academy building
New London, NH
Doors open and close on their own and water faucets mysteriously turn on an off when no one's using them.

Colby-Sawyer College

Library
New London, NH
Ghost with an interest in history rearranges books and looks through history books.

MacDowell Colony

Peterborough, NH
Former residents of the colony, including Elinor Wylie and Edward Arlington Robinson, are said to inhabit the colony.

Chase Home

Portsmouth, NH
A former children's home. A young girl who hung herself in her room appears in the hallway late at night and when she is approached she runs down the hall and disappears. A young girl screams late at night. Footsteps can be heard moving toward the stairs on the third floor which used to house the resident counselors. Locked doors are mysteriously unlocked and opened.

Isles of Shoals

Portsmouth, NH
There have been numerous reports of ghostly sightings on 9 of the islands.

Boon Island Lighthouse
Reports of the lighthouse being haunted by an unknown ghost. Activity includes footsteps on stairs when no one's there and doors opening and closing on their own.
Boon Island
A sad lady in white roams the island
The Isidore
The ghost of ship that wrecked around the islands in 1843. Usually seen from Rye and Portsmouth
Starr Island
Home to Betty Moody's cave. She hid with her child to avoid an Indian attack and smothered him to avoid being discovered. You can hear her cries just before a storm hits.

Point of Graves Burial Ground

Portsmouth, NH
Small graveyard that holds the remains of some of Portsmouth's most prominent historical figures. Visitors hear footsteps behind them when no one is there and a vault on the most western side has an odd glow when looked at on film.

Portsmouth Music Hall

Portsmouth, NH
A resident ghost of unknown origin is said to block the view of some patrons and shuffles from place to place. Noises often heard outside the lobby box office.

Rockingham Hotel

Portsmouth, NH
Spirit of a woman who smells of the sea. The figure is also know to have peered into the windows of the Purcell House, now the John Paul Jones House Museum. There's also theories that the ghost is somehow connected to John Paul Jones who is also know to haunt the area.

Sheafe Street Inn

Portsmouth, NH
Reports of alcoholic beverage bottles smashed when left in one particular room, open windows found shut upon returning to the room, out of place cooking utensils neatly put back when the cook turns away. Ghost of a horseman has also been reported.

Sise Inn

40 Court Street
Portsmouth, NH
A male and female ghost inhabit this inn. One or both likes the area in and around Suite 204. They play with the ice machine and lock and unlock doors.

Bow Lake

Strafford, NH
Reports of screams, moans, cries for help, and the calling of people's names. Visitors to this area have also witnessed bright lights coming from the woods, strange objects and shadows, and sunshine in the middle of the night.

Merrill House

corner of Frying Pan Lane and Bunker Hill Avenue
Stratham, NH
Inhabited by Annie Merrill who committed suicide after being jilted by the man who was engaged to her. Reports of doors opening and closing.

Mizpah Hut

White Mountains
One of the Appalachian Mountain Club huts. A child's voice heard calling out for her mother. An apparition of a young girl, standing in the first floor area.

Admiral Hawly's House

Whitefield, NH
This house is not open for public viewing. The ghost of Admiral Hawly inhabits the upstairs club room.

Blue Lady

Vale Cemetery Wilton, NH
Blue lights rise from one particular grave and then sink back into the ground.