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Ceremonies of Life And Death


Ceremonies of Life And Death
Photo Information
Copyright: Grzegorz Wieczorek (red45) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-09
Categories: Crustacia
Camera: Canon Powershot S2-IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-11-01 10:22
Viewed: 966
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Today is Halloween. But not in Poland my friends! Halloween is good for Americans. I love to watch horror movies and movies with Halloween motive, but I don't like to be convincing by media that Halloween is now Polish tradition and I should celebrate it.

This woodlice was one of few live creatures on cementary [except people of course]. It was running on granite plate on my Grandmothers tomb. Ceremonies of life and death. Flowers, candles, memories. And something so small and not important for human like this creature. But it is alive while many of famous or eminent people are dead. Cycle of Nature.

***

All Saints — All Souls Day, November 1st and 2nd
(Dzien Wszystkich Swietych - Dzien Zaduszny)

All Saints Day, November 1st, traditionally has been associated in Polish legend with ghosts and wayward souls. In ancient times, when death entered a peasant's house, all doors and windows were opened at the moment of passing. Mirrors were turned to the wall so that the soul would not be captured in the room. The last rite included a funeral banquet. The vigil lasted until the burial in order to protect the dead soul from evil spirits.

Later, these pagan customs were Christianized and people were encouraged to pray and light candles instead of conjuring up spirits. The candles were to symbolize the eternal light for which the soul yearns .

Today, All Saints - All Souls Day is celebrated in a very solemn manner in Poland. On both days, at twilight, the Poles make pilgrimages to their local cemeteries. The people decorate the graves with chrysanthemums, asters, and autumn flowers and place candles and votive lights. When the graves are decorated and countless flickering frame cast their haunting shadows amid the dusk, the mood is set for an outdoor service and prayers for departed souls.

http://www.pgsa.org/Traditions.htm#3
Runnerduck, annagrace, marhowie, wallhalla15, Luc, dew77, cedryk, pat has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To marhowie: Halloweenred45 1 11-01 13:26
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Critiques [Translate]

A great note Greg. I think your All Souls Day Celebration is a lovely one. I wish it were something we had here in UK.
A great image, the black granite makes for a dramatic bg. Great detail on the woodlice too. My only nit would be the central composition.
Thanks for posting.

Hi Grzegorz,
I'm smiling, your camera is realy a part of you?!? Also take it with you to the churchyard?
But it was worth, a good shot, I like the reflection on the dark granite. Also a very interesting animal, I've never seen before, thanks and bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Interesting note, and it would seem that our Halloween is taken from All Saints - All Souls Day. Good capture of the strange insect on the granite.

TFS,
Alli

Hey Greg, It seems we just keep buggin' each other hey ;-) For me, all Halloween really means is that I can watch that Freddy thing on cable for the 100th time :-) We don't really celebrate it either...Great shot my friend. Thank You.

Hello Greg, excellent capture. Great composition and nice sharp detail. Excellent POV and great note too. Very well done.

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 755 W: 31 N: 20] (5032)
  • [2005-11-01 15:47]

Cześć,
ale wypatrzyłeś robala i to w jakim miejscu! Widać, że zawsze masz aparat przy sobie. Bdb ostrość i naturalne kolory. Dobra robota.
Pozdr. Al.

Nice capture Greg,
Good colour, detail and sharpness.
Well composed and good exposure.
Thanks for posting. Sorry for the rushed critique, one of those busy nights!!

  • Great 
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 966 W: 52 N: 1694] (5184)
  • [2005-11-01 18:49]

Yes, All Saint's Day. I love this unique atmosphere, milions of candles burning in cementaries. I can even see the glow right now through my window... it comes from the cementary some 5 kilometers away. Plenty people, all families walking among the graves and talking about thoe that passed away. That's how the tradition and memory is passed to next generations...

Anyway, great shot - don't have to say more this day :-)

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1872 W: 304 N: 4301] (14733)
  • [2005-11-01 20:39]

Personal assessment of the photo: excellent.
Capacity of evocation in me: strong.
Strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete and very interesting.
Thank you very much Greg.

This is an interesting and informative note, Greg. I very much like the remembrance and honouring of passed loved ones in this way.

Also an interesting photo of a woodlice, with good details, and POV, BG.

Thank you for sharing this with us.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-11-02 2:23]

Hello Greg!
Wonderful capture.I liked sharpness,lighting,POV,details,your note and composition a lot.TFS...:-)

  •      
  • gerhardt Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1976 W: 259 N: 4103] (11585)
  • [2005-11-03 17:28]

It's a lovely shot!

Can't type much... can look and click though... sorry for the short comment.

PT.

  • Great 
  • pat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 87 W: 0 N: 125] (410)
  • [2005-11-09 16:03]

Beautiful capture, nice details and interesting contrast between animal and plain looking gravestone (even at this level). I enjoyed reading your comment very much. It also shows that automn is not the "end" of life, many insects continue to thrive under fallen leaves during most time of winter - some population even may peak. Thanks for sharing, Patrick

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