//------------------------------// // Halloween special: Halloween? // Story: The CMC's Adventures in Radiator Springs // by Timelordderpy //------------------------------// Greeting friend here take my hand, for this tale that I am about to tell will have you feeling unwell. Come with me and see, let’s take a peek, into the town of Radiator Springs. Folks up and down decorating the town lining streets with lights and buildings with things so chilling. Monsters and demons all around stalking the town, hiding under your bed a monster with eyes glowing red. A frightening creature “Is it the creeper?” with fingers of snakes that’s all it takes and spiders with a dark desire, crawling in hair so fair. A clown with a tear-away face, a flash gone in a trace. There’s a shadow in the moon of sorrow at night, fills you with fright. The wind blowing through your hair, you call out “who’s there?”.Something’s hiding in the corner you can’t help but wonder. Screams from nowhere, “Is someone there?” demons lurking in storefronts they’re on the hunt, behind windows “Look there’s a farrow, watching you through a mirror they think they’re clever. No one knows where but they’re out there, could that who be somewhere behind you… It’s the 1st of October and everyone’s decorating their homes and businesses for Halloween even adding a little extra spook to their clothes waiting till the 31st to really get into costume. Except for the girls who were confused about what all the decorations are for. Walking into Flo’s cafe the first thing they saw was Flo herself wearing a huge black pointed hat with webs and spiders all around the same can be said for the inside. Scootaloo went up to Doc and Lighting giving him a tap on the leg, looking down from his ladder he smile at the girls. At first she couldn’t help but stare at the...thing he was wearing on his head it was red and had two small horns on it. Putting that aside Lightning had climbed down from the ladder and was now standing in front of the girls. “What’s up girls do ya need something?” “Yeah what’s with all these weird decorations?” That got Doc’s attention, there was a pair of black goggles hanging around his neck, pushing his glasses back up his nose he looked over to Lightning both with confused and rather amused looks on their faces. “Um..not sure I gets ya Scoots all of this is for Halloween.” Still confused they asked “What’s Halloween?” “Oh no! Please don’t tell me you girls don’t have a Halloween in Equestria!” “Actually that exactly what we’re say’in.” Applebloom retorted with a bit of sass That got her a look from Doc and he stepped down from his ladder. “Alright girls sit down looks like it’s story time.” They all sat down at a table and Lightning began by telling them the basic customs of what people do on Halloween. Decorating everything with lights, ghost, bats etc. Carving pumpkins putting candles in and setting them outside. Dressing in costumes either simple, funny, cute, or scary, telling scary stories and of course everyone’s favorite going door to door demanding candy. “Trick or Treat! That’s what you say.” Finally getting it the girls’ faces enlightened with excitement “NIGHTMARE NIGHT!!!” “Nightmare Night?” now it’s the guys turn to be confused. Sweetie Belle perked up “Now it’s our turn to tell the story.” She explained about the similarities of their Halloween and Equestria’s Nightmare Night including an old silly tradition of having to leave candy by a statue. Good thing that Princess Luna herself made a few changes. And Sweetie Belle continued on explaining that their celebration was based off the legend of Nightmare Moon. Not knowing who Nightmare Moon was Applebloom said that she was Princess Luna one of the four princesses of Equestria... “Hold on!” all four turned to Lightning “Can you girls wait for a minute? I want everyone to hear this.” The girls nodded and Lightning went to tell the others. Minutes later everyone was back in Flo’s cafe, she’d even allowed Bulk inside knowing he probably didn’t understand her as well as Fluttershy did her animals she still wanted him to hear the story too. Everyone was seated waiting hear the story and the girls together told them the tale of Nightmare Moon… “Ok” “The legend goes…” “Once upon a time in the magical land of Equestria. There were two megal sister who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn. The younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus the two sisters maintain balance for their kingdom and their subjects all the different types of ponies. But as time went on the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth. But shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One faithful day the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her. But the bitterness in the young ones heart had transformed into a wicked mare of darkness. Nightmare Moon! She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponyville. The Elements of harmony! Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony she defeated her younger sister. And banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both sun and moon. And harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since.” Everyone were astonished! Never have they ever heard a story like that. “Dad gum” “That was incredible!” “Amazing” “It was so beautiful” “Meravigliosa! Marvelous!” “Si’ Si’!” The girls started to blush a little as everyone went on “Aw shucks that’s real nice ya.” Scootaloo was the one to get back on topic “Alright now your turn to tell us the story about Halloween.” Doc paused for a moment thinking on how he should explain their holiday in a way the girls did theirs… Got it! He cleared his throat.. “Halloween. Once know as All Hallows’ Eve. It is believed that this celebration originated in the British Isles. From the Celtic celebration of Samhain. A festival where people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming spirits. Halloween is the evening before the christian’s holy days of All Hallow’s Day on the 1st of November and All Soul’s Day on the 2nd. Thus giving Halloween the 31st of October and the name All Hallows’ Eve. Over time Halloween evolved into a more community-based event. It wasn’t until a mass Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century that Halloween became a major holiday in North America. Confined to the immigrant communities during that time it was gradually incorporated into mainstream society. By the first decade of the 20th century it was being celebrated coast to coast in all social, racial, and religious background. Now as for legends and other traditions revolving around Halloween let’s say witches. Their legend originated from a priest who during All Hallows’ Eve was walking by a country road. When at the top of a hill he spotted bonfires burning. And there were people in costumes holding shafts and torches dancing around the fire. With the moon as a backdrop to the fires the people appeared to be flying in the air. Fearing that they were witches the priest hurried to warn the village. Halloween’s two most favored traditions are Trick or Treating and making Jack-O-Lanterns. Well their two origins are connected in a way. In medieval times one popular All Souls' Day practice was the making of "soul cakes," a simple bread dessert with a current topping. In a custom called "souling," children would go door-to-door begging for the cakes. Very much like modern day trick-or-treaters. For every cake the children collected they would have to say a prayer for the dead relatives of the person who gave it to them. These prayers help the relatives find their way out of purgatory and into heaven. The children even sang a soul cake song similar to the lines of the modern "Trick-or-treat, trick-or-treat, give me something sweet to eat."  Dressing up as ghosts originated from the ancient Celtic. A tradition where townspeople would disguise themselves as demons and spirits. The Celts believed that in doing this may allow them to escape the notice of the real spirits wandering the streets. As part of the Samhain celebration Celts would bring home an ember from the communal bonfire at the end of the night. They were carried in hollowed-out turnips. Creating a lantern similar to modern day Jack-O-Lanterns. This was the result of a very popular character in Irish folk tale. Stingy Jack was a famous cheapskate who on several occasions avoided losing his soul to the devil. He’d done so by tricking him more than once and mostly on All Hallows’ Eve. According the story he had convinced the devil to climb up a tree for some apples. Then in order to trap him Jack cut crosses all over the tree trunks leaving him trapped up there. The devil promised to leave Jack alone forever if he would allow him to climb down. He agreed and when Jack died he was turned away from heaven due to his past sins. But in honoring their deal the devil did not accept him either. As he left the gates of Hell the devil threw him a burning ember to light his way. And he placed that ember in a hollowed-out turnip. Legend says on All Hallows’ Eve you can still see Jack’s spirit wandering in the darkness carry that same turnip lantern." That whole story had earned Doc a round of applause from everyone. “Wow Doc that was an awesome story.” “Thank you Scootaloo.” “Well girls you all what we have to do now.” they nodded and Sweetie Belle hopped off the chair Bulk right at her feet wagging his tail furiously. “We need to start picking out our costumes!” and all three girls along with Bulk raced out the cafe, Lightning shouted back at them. “You’ve got 30 days till then what’s the rush?!” and Applebloom shouted back in response “Ya know what they say! The early bird gets the worm!” then Scootaloo added “Or better yet. Early costumes are always the MOST AWESOME!” That in result caused everyone in the room to burst out laughing.