A Grove of Ashes and Aspens

Now Playing: Seasonspeech by Elvenking

Samhain is a particular favourite cross quarter for me. I tend to really enjoy autumn, the changing leaves and cooler temperatures a welcome change from the heat of summer.

This particular cross quarter was always just Halloween for me until I came to the pagan path, having been raised Christian and enjoying the day in the way many regular kids do, with trick or treating, costumes, and the like. (I still enjoy the costumes and candy aspect, even if that’s not my primary reason for wanting to celebrate anymore.) In the realm of costumes, that was always weird with the weather in Canada, since it is often getting cold enough to snow around this time of year, especially in the prairies.

This year was my third year helping run an event with my school’s pagans club. It was a craft night with a costume contest, and it was a fun evening. The following evening was spent with one of my partners, and we had a very tasty soup out of a Transylvanian cook book. (It was only appropriate, it being spooky season, after all.)

I did indulge my love of both dressing up in costume and being rather extra with what I have. My other partner and I dressed up as members of Elvenking (I was Damna (without the horns, as that would have been too much effort), and they were Jakob), with full makeup and everything. Having done the look, I can understand why people enjoy doing makeup. The entire look was very gender. (It also made me realise how much I actually want to do metal drag. That would be really fun.)