Monday, November 01, 2010

Oidhche Shamhna, O'Reilly

Oidhche Shamhna is Irish Gaelic which I don't speak. (but would love to) It pretty much means Happy Halloween. :D It might not be my best, but it certainly is my first Halloween Story.



This year on Halloween the moon hung fat and bright over a little village somewhere in Ireland.


It was late, and the Mothers,  Fathers and Grandparents had finally managed to wrestle overexcited children into their beds. They extinguished lights, whispered a last "Good night, sweetums!" and went on with their plans for the rest of the evening.


Carved pumpkins and turnips shone with light from within, provided by candles or electrical, on windowsills; fence post's and garden paths. Some showed crudely carved grim faces, childish, lopsided grins, various spooky designs or whimsical cartoon figures, depending on the age, skill and personal taste of the carver.


On a night like this it was easy to believe in the magic the old Celts saw everywhere. Ireland was full of it, really. Sidhe, the wee folk; the old gods; the fabled kings; they all were very much alive in the songs and stories the Irish love so.


And believing or not, if one was out and about the moonlit Irish countryside tonight, they could not deny that it was very special night, the one that was called Oidhche Shamhna in the old Irish tongue. The old ones had believed that in this night, spirits would roam the land.


O'Reilly opened his door to let Mavourneen back in and get a spot of fresh air before turning in. He took a deep breath of the crisp autumn air and looked up at the moon.

"Well" he said to the little tabby, "I guess the old ones knew what they were talking aboot. 'Tis sure a special night."


He picked her up and turned to go back inside. He would put a dish of milk outside just as his grandparents had done.

Just to be on the safe side....


As he closed the door O'Reilly thought he'd heard someone say "Oidhche Shamhna!"

"As I wish ye." he answered, turning. Someone walked past the garden-fence, raising a hand in greeting. A tall man with long hair, a plaid wrapped around his shoulders against the November chill and a sword by his side. The old man had just figured it to be one of his neighbors dressed up for one of those silly parties, when seemingly out of nowhere a breeze blew and the figure vanished in mid-stride, right in a patch of light spilling from a window.....

A wide-eyed O'Reilly looked down at an equally wide-eyed little cat, as a chill went down his spine. Had they just.....? "Well" was all O'Reilly said.

A special night, for sure.


And remember, Legends do have a certain amount of truth in them.......