As I write this Halloween is tomorrow and it occurred to me that I did not know enough about why we now celebrate the day. I started Google and other searches but found too much to be condensed into my allotted space until I found just what was needed in the Old Farmer’s Almanac. It’s informative, concise and so, it follows below.

Why is it called “Halloween”?

As with many holidays, Halloween is rooted in our agricultural past, marking the end of harvest time and the beginning of the new year.

The origin of Halloween and many of its customs can be traced to Samhain, an ancient pagan Celtic festival that is Gaelic for “summer’s end,” a day to bid good-bye to warmth and light. The ancient Celts believed that the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was at its thinnest during Samhain, thereby making it the ideal time to communicate with the deceased and to divine the future.

Following the triumph of the Roman Empire over Celt-occupied lands in the 1st century A.D., the Romans combined many of the Celtic traditions, including Samhain, with their own. This day evolved into All Hallows’ Day or Allhallowmas, hallow meaning to sanctify.

Years later, the Roman Catholic Church designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day, in honor of all Catholic saints. It was celebrated with a mass, bonfires, and people costumed as angels and saints parading through the villages. November 2 brings All Souls’ Day, a holy day set aside for honoring the dead and departed.

Just as November 1 was once called All Hallows’ Day, October 31 was called All Hallows’ Eve. Over time, All Hallows’ Eve was shortened to Halloween!

Since then candy seems to be the go between – let’s hope you have enough!

If you were in attendance to hear Dr. “Nick” Bellantoni speak at The Woodstock Academy recently you were more than pleased and had a chance to buy his new book, his first, THE LONG JOURNEY’S HOME. Dr. Bellantoni is Emeritus State Archaeologist and has delighted audiences for many years with talks. His book tells of a Hawaiian, Henry Opukahaia and a Lakota Indian who had roots here in Connecticut.

Henry Opukahaia was orphaned at age 10 after witnessing the killing of his parents and younger brother due to tribal warfare. He boarded a ship leaving Hawaii, eventually living in New Haven with the ship’s captain. Sitting on the steps of Yale College complaining that “no one gives me learning,” he was taken in by none other than Yale’s President, Dr. Timothy White.

Henry’s embrace of Christianity led to his enrollment in the Foreign Mission School located across the street from from the Congregational Church in Cornwall, CT. He planned to return to Hawaii to preach but he succumbed to Typhus Fever at the age of 26 in 1818. He is credited with being responsible for Hawaii’s conversion to Christianity.

Through help by Dr. Bellantoni, Henry’s family in July of 1993 took him home for interment in the graveyard at Kahikolu Church, established by missionaries. The third Sunday in February is a day of commemoration in honor of its first Christian, Obookiah “Henry” Opukahaia. The family erected a plaque at the Cornwall, CT grave site expressing appreciation for all who loved and cared for him throughout the years.

Albert Afraid of Hawk was born in 1879 the third son of Emil Afraid of Hawk and his wife known as White Mountain, on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, a member of the Lakota tribe.

Albert’s oldest brother Richard, was forced to camp at Wounded Knee Creek by the U. S. Army Cavalry on the evening of December 28, 1890. The following morning the infamous massacre of men, women and children, took place. Richard was one of the survivors along with young Albert.

Before long Albert became a member of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show. Before leaving with the group he was present at the American Indian Congress in Omaha, Nebraska, and many photographs were taken of him which we have today.

While traveling the East Coast with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and while crossing through Connecticut many of the cast became ill with what was then considered food poisoning. After completing a show in Danbury, Albert was too ill to perform and ended up in Danbury Hospital. Suffering from botulism. It was determined that canned corn was responsible for the sickness. In the July 2nd issue of the NEW HAVEN REGISTER a headline read “He Fell Victim To Modern Civilization. Canned Corn Killed him.”

Albert’s remains lay in an unmarked grave until grave site records were discovered with the help of Dr. Bellantoni, in 2008. Removal of his remains took place in 2012 and he was reburied with Lakota honors on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, September 2012.

In case you were wondering if Albert was afraid of hawks, the answer is no. His name spoke to his bravery like a hawk and all should be afraid of hm.

A Great Women of the American Revolution

It wasn’t that long ago when most women were expected to look for a husband, stay home and take care of their parents, or pursue the few careers available for example work as a governess or a lady’s maid.

I find the woman I have written about very interesting because most have had a difficult time and yet they managed to achieve their goals.

Her maiden name was Faith Robinson and she was married at the age of seventeen and became the mother of six children all whom were significant contributors and also supported the the American Revolution. She is directly related to John and Priscilla Alden.

She married Jonathan Trumbull on December 9, 1735. Trumbull and his family were placed among the leaders of Connecticut society during that time frame. He served as Governor of the Colony of Connecticut 1769-1776 and continued as Governor from 1776-1784.

He was called the “patriot governor” being the only colonial governor supporting the American Revolution. Two of their sons, Joseph, and David, were instrumental in supplying the continental armies and French forces.

Her son John is known for his paintings of the war. His most famous is the “Declaration of Independence” which today has been published in scores of history books and many historic writings. The painting depicts the countries founders signing the document. While researching the family I discovered that he did not get along with his father and left the homestead to study art in Europe. It certainly paid off for him in later years as his paintings are well known.

Faith Robinson Trumbull, aided suffering patriots with generous contributions and inspired other women to join the war effort. She was as much a patriot as her husband and children. Faith died May 29, 1780 and is buried in “Old Cemetery” in Lebanon, also called Trumbull Cemetery where a suitable plaque is erected by the Faith Trumbull Chapter DAR in 1993.

Off the southern end of the city of Newport, RI is a small island once named Lime Rock but now is named Ida Lewis Rock with a lighthouse by the same name. This all came about once Ida Lewis’s father took the position of Lighthouse Keeper. What is so unusual is for years he would have to row approximately 100 yards from shore to the lighthouse to attend to keeping the the illumination equipment running and other duties.

Over the years his daughter Ida would row him out to the island and pick him up when chores were done. Through the years she gained a reputation for her rowing and racing abilities. When finally an attached house was added to the lighthouse the family moved there and she had the job of rowing her siblings to to the mainland to attend school Ida made two trips per day almost every day.

As the story continues, her father died and the authorities appointed her mother as Keeper. Young Ida assisted her mother and in 1878, when her mother became ill she was given the job. Such a career might appear boring to some as the main duty was assuring that the lighting worked but that is not so.

In her 54 years running the lighthouse she has been credited with saving as many as 25 lives. Documented records show a confirmed 18 and she received numerous awards for her heroic efforts. She made her last rescue at the age of 63. Those saved would be from sinking ships and fisherman when sudden storms would flare up.

She not only is a recognized woman keeper but was reported to be the highest paid in that field.

It was in 1924 that Rhode Island Officials changed the name Lime Rock to Ida Lewis Rock and rechristened the lighthouse the Ida Lewis Light House honoring the woman who devoted her life in that service.