Sounds for Samhain

It's the greatest time of year again! Autumn, the season that brings us Samhain, later dubbed Hallowe'en and Halloween. The Celtic origins of Halloween are not often studied or discussed by the masses, but it is important and interesting history. Delving into the topic and celebrating the part of my ancestry traced back to the Irish and Celts, I decided to share some fun things including favorite witches and vampires and items of information that will, hopefully, encourage and inspire readers to study Celtic and Irish history as well as the history of ancient peoples who lived in western Europe and originated traditions people take for granted and only recognize as commercialized party days today.

The origins of Halloween have been traced to Rathcroghan, a former Celtic center that is now buried beneath farmland in County Roscommon in Ireland. One specific point still known and in existence today is Oweynagat cave, said to be the entrance to the other world sometimes known as Tír na nÓg. It is the land of demons, ghouls, fairies, and leprechauns. Also, it may be the realm of the dead...or undead. The Samhain festival is held at the end of October. During Samhain, fires were traditionally built on hilltops to protect people from the demons set free while the veil between the Earthly realm and the other world was lifted. People also disguised themselves as ghouls and carved turnips in efforts to protect themselves. This article is a good starting point for education about the history of Halloween, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/inside-irelands-gate-to-hell-that-birthed-halloween

Before we get to the playlist, I want to share a few October recommendations and random items.

There is no dark side of the Moon! Truly!

I recommend these titles for October reading:

Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley;

Dracula by Bram Stoker;

Grimm's Fairy Tales. Note how macabre they are and tell me why we call them Children's Fables?

Edgar Allan Poe, everything by Poe.

And, add some Shakespeare to the list. "Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn, and cauldron bubble..."

October shows on my recommendations list include The Munsters (the antics of 1313 Mockingbird Lane are worth a stormy day binge), Bewitched, Charmed, The Addams Family, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, True Blood, Once Upon a Time, and Grimm.

A must-watch movie on my list for the season is Corpse Bride. The Wizard of Oz is a good scary one for a dark October night, too. Don't forget The Lost Boys, either.

Of course, a marathon including the Universal monster movies, especially Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Mummy (1932), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), The Wolf Man (1941), and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) is a necessary component of a complete Samhain and Halloween season.

My favorite witches list includes Samantha (Bewitched), Piper, Pru, Phoebe, and Paige Halliwell (The Charmed Ones), Hermione (Harry Potter), Molly and Ginny Weasley (Harry Potter), Bellatrix Lestrange (Harry Potter), Regina (Once Upon a Time), and Witchiepoo.

My favorite vampires list includes the iconic Count Dracula as portrayed by Bela Lugosi, Selene (Underworld), Count von Count from Sesame Street, and Jessica, Pam, Bill, and Eric (True Blood).

A tip o' the hat to all the fairies, especially Sookie and Tinkerbell.

I must recognize Elvira and Sammy Terry for their contributions to the magic of October, monsters and mischief, and the Halloween season.

Lastly, a moment of remembrance for all those lost during the many witch trials that reveal the true sources of evil in human society.

Now, my undead playlist that will continue to grow in this realm or another. Link to my Sounds of Samhain:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9kbnr4GYj1JGwuLAQ-BixTxvdfNoNSRD

The 2021 playlist:

Monster Mash (Basil Rathbone)

The Munsters theme

Monster's Holiday (Buck Owens)

Witchy Woman (Eagles)

Werewolves of London (Warren Zevon)

Ghostbusters theme (Ray Parker Jr.)

Don't Fear the Reaper (Blue Oyster Cult)

Night Songs (Cinderella)

Shot in the Dark (Ozzy)

Rocky Horror Time Warp

Hedwig's Theme from Harry Potter

Little Red Riding Hood (Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs)

The Candy Man (Sammy Davis Jr.)

The Witch Doctor (David Seville)

Bark at the Moon (Ozzy)

Feed my Frankenstein (Alice Cooper)

Charmed theme

Bewitched theme

Corpse Bride theme

Ride of the Valkyries

The Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin)

Phantom of the Opera overture

Hells Bells (AC/DC)

Abra Cadabra (Steve Miller Band)

Superstition (Stevie Wonder)

Zombie (The Cranberries)

Runnin' with the Devil (Van Halen)

Shout at the Devil (Motley Crue)

She Wolf (Shakira)

I Want Candy (Bow Wow Wow)

Wizard of Oz sound bites

The Purple People Eater (Sheb Wooley)

Wooly Bully (Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs)

Season of the Witch (Donovan)

Hungry like the Wolf (Duran Duran)

Spooky (Dusty Springfield)

Demons (Imagine Dragons)

Skeleton in the Closet (Louis Armstrong)

Airship Pirates (Abney Park)

Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves (Cher)

People are Strange (Echo and the Bunnymen)

Bad Things (David Ball) aka True Blood theme

Flirtin' with Disaster (Molly Hatchet)

Dead Man's Curve (Jan and Dean)

Dreamin' (KISS)

Lunatic Fringe (Red Rider)

Ghost Riders in the Sky (Burl Ives)

You can do Magic (America)

Magic Man (Heart)

Bullet with Butterfly Wings (Smashing Pumpkins)

Black Magic Woman (Fleetwood Mac or Santana cover)

And the end with Wolfman Jack.

"And ye harm none, do what ye will."