Seasonal events that lie ahead

Hallowe'en

Probably THE October event - originating more than 2,000 years ago with the Celtic Samhain, which celebrated the end of summer and the beginning of the Celtic new year on November 1.

The Celts also believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead dissolved, allowing the dead to return.

The Romans then incorporated this into Feralia - a late October day when they commemorated the passing of the dead - and a second day on which they honoured Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees.

By the 800s, Christianity had arrived and All Saints Day (November 1) was introduced by the Pope to remember before God all the saints who had died and the dead in the community.

Thus October 31 became known as All Hallows Eve (Hallowe'en). The traditional symbols, such as witches, pumpkins, candles and pranks appeared in America in the late 1800s.

November 5

Gunpowder, treason and plot! We've been burning effigies on bonfires ever since Guy Fawkes and friends failed in their attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

The plot was discovered in 1605 and the first effigies were burnt in 1606. However, they weren't supposed to be Guy but the Pope instead. They weren't called guys until 1806, two centuries later. Herefordshire just missed a direct involvement in the plot - with some of the fleeing Catholic conspirators being captured in over-the-border Worcestershire. Nowadays, fireworks are very much a part of the celebration which people are happy to refer to as Bonfire or Fireworks Night.

Remembrance Sunday

This year, on the weekend of November 11 and 12, nations across the world observe the annual act of remembering those who gave their lives for peace and freedom - originally in the First World War, later the Second World War and, today, those who have died in conflict while serving their country.

In Britain, the National Service of Remembrance is held at the Cenotaph, in London and is repeated at memorials across the country.

Harvest

From late September through October, "we plough the fields and scatter" rings out across the land as churches celebrate one of the oldest known festivals, which pre-dates Christianity.

Saxon farmers would offer the first cut cornsheaf to their gods of fertility in a bid to safeguard the next harvest. When the crops were in, a celebratory community supper would take place.

These would continue with Christianity, which brought in ceremonies for the beginning of the harvest too. Bells would be rung every day and a corn dolly made from the last sheaf would take pride of place at the feast and be kept until the next spring.

The last cart would also be gaily decorated and games and suppers be held to mark the end.

Celebrating harvest festivals in churches actually began in the 1840s when a vicar in Cornwall invited parishioners to a special thanksgiving. Today it's customary to decorate churches with homegrown produce and children bring baskets of fruit and vegetables to church which are later distributed to elderly and needy people. Schools also hold harvest festival assemblies.

St Andrew's Day

Scots around the world ring November 30 in their diaries, as it commemorates their national saint. The original Andrew is believed to have been the brother of Peter and also a fisherman who became one of Jesus's apostles.

Very little else is known but he is believed to have been crucified by the Romans on an X-shaped cross which became the inspiration for Scotland's flag. There are several versions of how the link with Scotland grew up but they generally involve the saint's bones being bought to a former Pictish settlement which became known as St Andrews and the religious capital of Scotland to where pilgrimages would be made in medieval times.