tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post663265679077806691..comments2023-10-12T02:21:40.102-07:00Comments on English Historical Fiction Authors: The Truth About Halloween and Tudor EnglandDebra Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-65077833096719268152016-10-29T02:22:47.758-07:002016-10-29T02:22:47.758-07:00A most entertaining article! These traditions are ...A most entertaining article! These traditions are widespread. The Aztecs had their own festival of the dead, at the same time, only it went for two weeks. When they converted to Christianity, and wanted to keep up the tradition, the Spanish missionaries talked them into cutting it back to two days, hence the Mexican Days of the Dead. :) Really, a lot of pagan traditions have hung on because Christian missionaries tried to get converts by saying, " Look, it isn't all that different, you can go right on celebrating this or that festival, we'll just change it a bit." Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-84017904779443935312015-10-26T02:35:21.052-07:002015-10-26T02:35:21.052-07:00So interesting - soul cakes are still made in the ...So interesting - soul cakes are still made in the North of England and I remember being told as a child that a special one was made for the sin eater at a funeral who would then literally consume the deceased sins. This was in the 1970s so myths persist!Catherine Hokinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16251036106757891834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-88454860755807892522013-10-28T20:36:21.781-07:002013-10-28T20:36:21.781-07:00Thank you for this fabulous article, Nancy, which ...Thank you for this fabulous article, Nancy, which I am linking to on my blog. I cannot wait for your next book and I know others are looking forward to it as well. You are right that in Medieval times astrology was considered a science and was used in healing and gardening rather than as a means of divination. I just wanted to add that although what might be described as "folk magic" or "white magic" was sometimes tolerated in the Middle Ages, often as part of a larger healing ritual or warding off the evil eye and such things, black magic was always frowned upon. Let us remember that poor St. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake because her enemies accused her of being a witch and thus being in league with Satan. And Queen Elizabeth Woodville's mother was arrested on charges on witchcraft (although she was acquitted) because witchcraft and divination were capital offenses in most medieval countries. Thanks again for the great article! Irish nuns DO rule the world!! ;-)elena maria vidalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129629173535139807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-89595846807900626932011-10-31T03:25:06.250-07:002011-10-31T03:25:06.250-07:00Peter:
Scary Irish nuns rule the world!
Thanks for...Peter:<br />Scary Irish nuns rule the world!<br />Thanks for the sin eaters link.Nancy Bilyeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03081147714919653976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-1862603386668741872011-10-29T15:30:33.857-07:002011-10-29T15:30:33.857-07:00Fun stuff. Brought back memories of some scary Iri...Fun stuff. Brought back memories of some scary Irish nuns of my youth. I also remembered sin eaters. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin-eater<br />PeterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-65683144869338650402011-10-28T14:49:04.715-07:002011-10-28T14:49:04.715-07:00Thank you Sophia and George!Thank you Sophia and George!Nancy Bilyeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03081147714919653976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-8889815003031933282011-10-28T13:21:54.764-07:002011-10-28T13:21:54.764-07:00Fun post. It made me think of all the ghosts haunt...Fun post. It made me think of all the ghosts haunting Hamptoin Court Palace.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12019450793013285292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-91433548114967558882011-10-28T13:17:28.539-07:002011-10-28T13:17:28.539-07:00I always enjoy a historical perspective of Hallowe...I always enjoy a historical perspective of Halloween. The soul cakes are new to me too.<br />Congratulations on your upcoming book release.Sophia Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01389029835067242765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-64045181407477596462011-10-28T11:15:51.249-07:002011-10-28T11:15:51.249-07:00Thank you, Linda. I love Arizona!
Katherine, hmmm,...Thank you, Linda. I love Arizona!<br />Katherine, hmmm, you've got me thinking that I should try to attend a service like that. So fascinating.Nancy Bilyeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03081147714919653976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-80312276923971099662011-10-28T10:40:02.503-07:002011-10-28T10:40:02.503-07:00Thank you, Nancy, for enriching my Halloween.
An...Thank you, Nancy, for enriching my Halloween. <br /><br />Another, surprising enrichment has come my way, quite in line with these survivals you write about. I'm supposed to attend (if i'm not snowed in here in Pennsylvania) a Dios de los Muertos march and service at St. Marks Church in New York City. The march is from Union Square to the church on 10th St. and 2nd. Ave. Apparently people are making votive objects for their own dead and carrying these folk-art votives to the church for blessing, after the manner of the Mexican festival. i had no idea this was going on till a friend, a few days ago, invited me to attend.Katherine Ashehttp://www.simon-de-montfort.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-62670443210555976822011-10-28T08:58:13.178-07:002011-10-28T08:58:13.178-07:00Lovin' those soul cakes and Tudor traditions! ...Lovin' those soul cakes and Tudor traditions! <br /><br />I'm down here in Tucson for a few months where Dia de los Muertos is the way to celebrate Halloween. Love the history of different cultures... Best of luck on your upcoming book release! The Crown sounds like a royally good read!linda collisonhttp://www.lindacollison.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-70458524446487420262011-10-28T07:37:37.591-07:002011-10-28T07:37:37.591-07:00thank you Tess. I can send you a recipe for soul c...thank you Tess. I can send you a recipe for soul cakes if you want. I found it while doing my research. Haven't tried it but it looks good. :)Nancy Bilyeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03081147714919653976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-4669451467663638712011-10-28T07:33:25.373-07:002011-10-28T07:33:25.373-07:00I'm a catholic and born on All Soul's Day....I'm a catholic and born on All Soul's Day...so I learned a lot of this growing up, but not all of it--I knew nothing about the soul cakes. Thanks so much for the lesson! Just a great post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-39934280484345141982011-10-28T04:39:42.858-07:002011-10-28T04:39:42.858-07:00Thank you Tim!
And thanks very much Theresa. I'...Thank you Tim!<br />And thanks very much Theresa. I'm very interested in how the late medieval Catholic church co-existed with magic. A certain tolerance took place then that people don't associate with Catholicism today, i think.Nancy Bilyeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03081147714919653976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-50637000367480247122011-10-28T04:07:53.061-07:002011-10-28T04:07:53.061-07:00I did not know ANY of this before now, and I thank...I did not know ANY of this before now, and I thank you for enlightening me. Seems like there might have been a time I could have actually been a Catholic...<br /><br />Lovely writing, too!<br /><br />All the best wishes for the success of your first book. Can't wait to read it!Theresa Definonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-86610296562395440282011-10-28T04:00:29.376-07:002011-10-28T04:00:29.376-07:00Fun and informative. Thanks, Nancy.Fun and informative. Thanks, Nancy.Tim Queeneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09338935318384628270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-41247456225493669022011-10-28T03:41:47.154-07:002011-10-28T03:41:47.154-07:00The Truth About Halloween and Tudor England
By Nan...The Truth About Halloween and Tudor England<br />By Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Crown, a thriller set in 1537-1538 England for sharing this entertaining and informative overview of Halloween.Teresa Thomas Bohannonhttp://www.myladyweb.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-54680306977804836662011-10-27T20:59:42.497-07:002011-10-27T20:59:42.497-07:00thank you Natalie!!thank you Natalie!!Nancy Bilyeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03081147714919653976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-74614381158559696922011-10-27T20:51:43.922-07:002011-10-27T20:51:43.922-07:00What a great post Nancy! Thank you for sharing :)What a great post Nancy! Thank you for sharing :)Nataliehttp://www.onthetudortrail.comnoreply@blogger.com