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Halloween’s celebration of mingling with the dead has roots in ancient Celtic celebrations of Samhain

THE CONVERSATION — As Halloween approaches, people get ready to celebrate the spooky, the scary and the haunted. Ghosts, zombies, skeletons and witches are prominently displayed in yards, windows, stores and community spaces. Festivities center around the realm of the dead, and some believe that the dead might actually mingle with the living on the night of Halloween. Scholars have often noted how these modern-day celebrations of Halloween have origins in Samhain, a festival celebrated by ancient Celtic cultures. In contemporary Irish Gaelic, Halloween is still known as Oíche ...

Local church briefs

Jewels for Jesus JERSEY SHORE — The first-ever “Jewels for Jesus” event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church, 235 S. Main St., Jersey Shore. We have new and gently used costume and fine jewelry priced to sell. Items include but not limited to earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pins, etc. Jewelry will be nicely presented, boxed and bagged. This is the perfect event to get your holiday shopping done. Vendors are welcome. Parking in rear of church. Sale will be held in Fellowship Hall. For more information, please call ...

‘Peace! Be still!’

“And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you?so afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even ...

Church gives away winter clothes

BEECH CREEK — The Laurel Run United Methodist Church hosted its clothing drive on Saturday, Oct 15. Pastor Paula Smith was in attendance to run the event with help from Tammy Bechdel and Tasha Leitch. It officially opened to the public at 8 a.m. and received a “surprising amount of ...

Local church briefs

Pork and sauerkraut dinner JERSEY SHORE — St. Luke Catholic Church, 118 Kendall Ave., Jersey Shore, will hold a pork and sauerkraut dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The meal consists of pork, sauerkraut, knockwurst, mashed potatoes, dumplings, apple sauce, bread, dessert, coffee and tea. Take out is available and the cost is $12 for adults; $6 for children 5 to 12; and children four and under eat free. Bus trip BLANCHARD — Blanchard Church of Christ is taking two charter buses to the Bible Museum in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 25. Thirty seats are currently ...

Crystal clear vision

Swarovski. I’m not sure how much that name means to you, if it means anything at all. Some of you may know nothing about Swarovski. For most women, when they hear this phrase will conjure up images of jewelry, watches and crystal decorations. This is, in fact, the first website that ...