Productions

The story of Halloween took a darker turn in the Middle Ages with the splintering of the Catholic Church and the start of the Reformation. Luther’s refusal to recant his Ninety-Five Theses at the Diet of Worms resulted in his excommunication and the creation of the Protestant Church. Many of the elements of Halloween celebrations we enjoy today began as horrible tortures of women wrongly accused of practicing witchcraft.

The Western Roman Empire was a hostile environment for the early Christian Church until the conversion of Constantine and the Edict of Milan. With that guarantee of religious tolerance, however, the Church expanded rapidly throughout Europe and into what is now the UK and Ireland and encountered once more the Celtic celebrations of the dead. The way in which the Church adapted their customs and festivals to Christian celebrations makes up the next fascinating chapter in the story of Halloween.

It’s almost time for Halloween again. Where did the idea come from and why do we celebrate it on 31 October. It’s a fascinating story and we will tell you all about it over the next three weeks. Check back here on Sundays and Wednesdays to read the next installment.

The end of summer, the harvest, and the beginning of the long, dark, cold days of winter were terrifying times for ancient people. The ghosts of ancestors could return to the land of the living and no one could be sure of surviving until warmth and the sun returned again the following Spring. For people completely dependent on the whims of an unpredictable, natural world, they sought comfort in ceremonies and festivals. This is a bit of their story.

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare Directed by Conny Loder & John Yates, produced by Ken Lawler & Peter

Adapted by Tony Palermo Directed by Jim Nellis Produced by Viviana Ghiglione and Bernd Plank Synopsis It’s Christmas and that

Standing under the Milky Way, receiving its light as the purest of gifts, seems to capture the very essence of the Jewish Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah. Jodi Pfleghar provides a fascinating insight into the parallel celebration of the holiday season in her home.