Pillars- Oleg Schupliak; 2018
Source: shupliak.art
the-october-country reblogged
cmbellarose-deactivated20231029
the-october-country reblogged
Source: oneletterwords.com
the-october-country reblogged
St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Missouri, December 30, 1931
the-october-country reblogged
The Decatur Herald, Illinois, January 26, 1935
[image text: Autumn bonfires arouse in me an almost unbearable nostalgia - I don’t know for what. I love that scent, but it is always very close to tears, and I am no willing weeper.]
In the Howling Forest by Chuck Groenink Via Flickr: Here's my first illustration for The Neverending Story. Read more and see the new version over on Picture Book Report: picturebookreport.com/2010/05/19/the-neverending-story-pa...
Source: Flickr / groene_inkt
the-october-country reblogged
Root of the Problem 9x12
Such a bad place to set up camp…
(wanted the tree to be a bit more menacing than it came out) : Original #forsale $85 : Support on #Patreon for full size images and see new pieces at patreon.com/misterwillow (link in profile). : #art #illustration #misterwillow #penandink #blackandwhite #Inktober #Drawlloween #tree #forestgod #forestspirit #campers #fire #flame #forest #trees #camp #tent #night #darkness #lightandshadow #horror
the-october-country reblogged
Source: oneletterwords.com
The Burning of the Leaves
Now is the time for the burning of the leaves, They go to the fire; the nostrils prick with smoke Wandering slowly into the weeping mist. Brittle and blotched, ragged and rotten sheaves! A flame seizes the smoldering ruin, and bites On stubborn stalks that crackle as they resist. The last hollyhock’s fallen tower is dust: All the spices of June are a bitter reek, All the extravagant riches spent and mean. All burns! the reddest rose is a ghost. Spark whirl up, to expire in the mist: the wild Fingers of fire are making corruption clean. Now is the time for stripping the spirit bare, Time for the burning of days ended and done, Idle solace of things that have gone before, Rootless hope and fruitless desire are there: Let them go to the fire with never a look behind. That world that was ours is a world that is ours no more. They will come again, the leaf and the flower, to arise From squalor of rottenness into the old splendor, And magical scents to a wondering memory bring; The same glory, to shine upon different eyes. Earth cares for her own ruins, naught for ours. Nothing is certain, only the certain spring.
the-october-country reblogged
An illustration of Queen Victoria taking part in Halloween celebrations at Balmoral, her residence in Scotland, and another illustration of the festivities that took place on the estate. Queen Victoria particularly enjoyed the traditions of Halloween and wrote about the occasion in her diary on October 31st 1867:
'We had an opportunity of again seeing the celebration of Halloween, and even of taking part in it. We had been driving, but we hurried back to be in time for the celebration. Close to Donald Stewart's house we were met by two gillies [a Scots term for a man or boy who assisted on hunting expeditions] bearing torches. Louise [Victoria's fourth daughter] got out and took one, walking by the side of the carriage, and looking like one of the witches in Macbeth. As we approached Balmoral, the keepers and their wives and children, the gillies and other people met us, all with torches; Brown [John Brown, the Queen’s personal servant and companion] also carrying one. We got out at the house, where Leopold [Victoria’s fourth son] joined us, and a torch was given to him. We walked around the whole house, preceded by Ross [Pipe Major William Ross, the Queen’s Piper] playing the pipes, going down the steps of the terrace. Louise and Leopold went first, then came Janie Ely [Lady of the Bedchamber] and I, followed by every one carrying torches, which had a very pretty effect. After this a bonfire was made of all the torches, close to the house, and they danced reels whilst Ross played the pipes.’
Source: victorianfanguide
the-october-country reblogged
Bizarre Victorian fact of the day...
In 19th century Britain, Halloween was celebrated differently from region to region. More religious communities, particularly Northern areas with a traditionally Catholic population, focused their activities on remembering departed relatives in accordance with the Christian All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day. Other more superstitious regions, particularly rural areas, were more concerned with the supernatural forces associated with ancient festivals, such as the Celtic Samhain, and their own local legends.
However both types of celebration shared an emphasis on fire. On Halloween night some Catholic families (who had been discouraged from openly practicing their religion since the 16th century) would travel to remote hills where one person would hold up a bunch of burning straw on the end of a pitchfork. The others knelt in a circle around them and prayed for their relatives in purgatory until the flames burnt out. Other rural communities would gather in their fields and walk around the perimeter with a burning branch to ward off witches and bad luck. Bonfires were also popular and youngsters would lay down as close to the fire as they could to let the smoke wash over them as it was thought to possess protective powers.
Queen Victoria witnessed Halloween celebrations of this kind on one of her many visits to Scotland. In her diary on 31st October 1866 she wrote “While we were at Mrs Grant’s we saw the commencement of the keeping of Halloween. All the children came out with burning torches, shouting and jumping…When we drove home [to Balmoral] we saw all the gillies [Scottish men and boys who acted as attendants on hunting trips] coming along with burning torches, and torches and bonfires appeared also on the opposite side of the water. We went upstairs to look at it from the windows, from whence it had a very pretty effect.”
Source: victorianfanguide
ofthefaerieandfaun
Source: Flickr / finn_lily