Journal

Hallowtide, is a period of three days that honors the death of the abundant harvest season and honors the dead. Pumpkins, squash and root vegetables are the final living things to be cleared out of the garden, before the ground freezes. In honoring the dying nature, it must have seemed a rather appropriate time to honor death and the dead in many other respects. So for three days there are a series of days for feasting and honoring our kindred dead: All Hallows' Eve or Halloween (October 31), All Saints (November 1), and All Souls (November 2). 

Have you ever poured your creative energy into something big and bold and then been told to wait? Perhaps you, like me, have come to realize that this is actually the story of life. We learn to read and then pick up a book too lofty. We learn to drive and then realize that we don’t have any money or permission for a road trip. We come to learn that our most soul-stretching and heartfelt endeavors often take time, lots of time, and they are always worth it.

So it is with Blickenstaff’s Traditions. In the spirit of transparency and guessing you are interested in our beginnings; I hope to breathe new life into a project I am now realizing truly laid the groundwork for what would become Heirloom Art Co.

It seems everywhere I go lately, homes are being built or remodeled. With all the change and movement, I feel an eagerness to reach out. So with new neighbors and new friends, we want to talk about the art of housewarming. Whether it's an old friend moving into a new apartment, a college freshman moving into the dorms, a new stranger in the neighborhood, or a friend moving into their dream home, we want to offer them goodwill for their new home.

Grains are among the first crops to be harvested, so we will begin with a few of the traditions of grain harvesting. Wheat and corn are often harvested during the hot days of July. Hay is cut and left drying in bales over the fields. The folk traditions of yore celebrated this day with baking new loafs of bread from the fresh harvest, dancing, feasting, and even bale-jumping sport. 

The ancients were very aware of the sun, stars, and shifts in the earth's movements. Their lives and agrarian livelihoods were highly dependent upon their ability to understand the land, sun, and skies. As such, they created a calendar of sorts to mark each season with action and celebration. Eventually, with the rise of Christendom, these festival days also took on religious meaning.