Lili's Lair

 Halloween, also known as Samhain wasn't always, the freaky, fun, Hollywood monster filled spooky holiday we all love. No, it was a serious time of year, one for observing the last of the harvest days,  as well as remembering our dead ancestors.  It is a holiday celebrated on the eve of All Saints' Day, the first of November, and is widely recognized for its mysterious and festive atmosphere. Originating from ancient Celtic traditions, this holiday has evolved over time to become a beloved celebration marked by unique customs and traditions.  Halloween traces its roots back to the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain, as I mentioned. Celebrated by the Celts over 2,000 years ago, this festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was believed that on this night, the boundary between the living and the dead blurred, allowing spirits to roam freely on Earth. With the advent of Christianity, the Catholic Church sought to incorporate p...

 Scarecrows. I hate them! Few things freak me out in this world, but these creepy abominations do. Way before there were movies or tv shows made about them, their presence put me at unease. Truthfully, it shouldn't have. After all they were created as a protection to keep birds from eating crops. However, having grown up all, ancient Irish druid/pagan witch. In my mind, they represent poppets, and of course the wicker man. To me, they just aren't "right". Laugh all you wish, but I dare you to go into a field, or orchard at night, where one of these twisted effigies of a person hangs. Stay near it for a bit and then tell me it didn't, at the very least make you uncomfortable. Think about this darklings. "If scarecrows weren't so creepy,  why are there so many movies, tv shows, books, and art dedicated to their darker side?" So, where did these sinister scarecrows get their start minions. There are conflicting historical facts about the actual when, ...

 Haunted attractions have long fascinated and intrigued people, drawing them into a realm where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs. These spine-chilling experiences, often found in amusement parks, abandoned buildings, or specially designed locations, have become a popular form of entertainment worldwide. Let's delve into the captivating history of haunted attractions and explore some of the eerie and unexplained occurrences that have taken place within them. The concept of haunted attractions can be traced back centuries, with roots in ancient folklore and superstitions. In medieval Europe, plays and performances centered around ghostly encounters and macabre tales were a common form of entertainment. These early renditions laid the groundwork for the haunted attractions we know today. The modern-day haunted house emerged in the 19th century when phantasmal entertainment took a new form. The infamous Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London began incorporating eerie e...

 Friday the 13th. A very auspicious day, unless of course you suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia or triskaidekaphobia. The latter being fear of the number 13, and the former being fear of Friday the 13th in particular. The history of this fear is interesting and worthy of taking a look at. Did you know fear of Friday the 13th cost Americans approximately 800 million dollars a year annually in lost work time, missed travel opportunities, and, loss in revenue because people will not get married on Friday the 13th. Why are some people so distraught over the number 13 and Friday the 13th? To try and figure that out we have to go back into ancient history, around 3000 BCE, to the Sumerians. Back then Sumerians used base 60 mathematics called sexagesimal that had 12 factors. 12 thus became the perfect number in their vast empire of the ancient world. This became a numerical system based on 12. 2-12 hour periods in a 24 hour day, 12 months in their calendar (which we still use as a ...