October 30- Nov 05 is the 44th week of the Gregorian calendar. Within this week we have the Solar Term of Frost Descent, the micro-seasons of “Light Rain Showers”(Oct 28 – Nov 01) and “The Maple and the Ivy Turn Yellow (Nov 02 – Nov 07), along with the celebrations of Samhain, Dia de los Muertos, and Halloween. The haiku for this week came from Basho, Izen, Issa, Reichhold, and Kerouac.
The 24 Solar Terms – Frost Descent
The 24 solar terms were created by farmers in ancient China (206 BCE and 24 CE) to help guide their agricultural activities. Each solar term is 15 days long and is based on the climate around the city Xi’an, which was the capital of the Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE). (2)
Frost Descent (Oct 24 – Nov 07) is the 18th Solar Term of the year. It is also the last solar term of the season of autumn. An alternative translation of this season is First Frost.(3)
Foods associated with this time of year are persimmons, apples, pears, and chestnuts.(4)
The 72 Seasons
The 72-season calendar was established in 1685 by Japanese astronomer Shibukawa Shunkai. Each season lasts for about 5 days and offers “a poetic journey through the Japanese year in which the land awakens and blooms with life and activity before returning to slumber.”(5)
This week contains the micro-seasons of “Light Rain Showers”(Oct 28 – Nov 01) and “The Maple and the Ivy Turn Yellow” (Nov 02 – Nov 07).
“The Maple and the Ivy Turn Yellow” is considered the last micro-season of autumn. This season notices that the leaves have transitioned from their summer greens to the yellows, oranges, and browns of autumn. You can read more about this season here.
Astronomical Season
November 05, the last day of week 44, is 43 days past the autumn equinox (Sept 23, 2023) and 46 days until the winter solstice (December 21) in the Northern Hemisphere. This means we are in the astronomical season of autumn, and there are about 135 days until spring and the vernal equinox (Mar 19, 2024).
Samhain
Samhain (pronounced SAH-win or SOW-in in English) is a Gaelic festival that marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It is traditionally celebrated from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1. Samhain, along with Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh, is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals.
Samhain is seen as a time when the boundaries between the physical and spiritual world are the thinnest. It is believed that during this time the spirits of the dead revisit their earthly homes. Those who celebrate Samhain engage in various activities that either provide protection from malevolent spirits or honor their ancestors. Some of these activities are:
- lighting bonfires to symbolize protection and purification,
- wearing costumes and masks to disguise oneself from wandering spirits,
- carving turnips or pumpkins into lanterns (nowadays, the famous Jack-o’-lanterns),
- feasting on seasonal foods like apples and nuts, and
- participating in communal dances and storytelling sessions that honor the ancestors.(5)
Día de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead”, is a celebration of life and death held on November 1 and November 2.
The roots of this tradition go back thousands of years to “the Aztecs and other Nahua people living in what is now central Mexico.”(6)
Much like during Samhain, on the Day of the Dead, it is believed that the border between our world and the spirit world dissolves, and the souls of those passed return to the world of the living to visit their loved ones. The spirits of children who have passed are said to be able to return at midnight on October 31st, while adult spirits can do the same on November 2.
Those who celebrate the Day of the Dead “treat the deceased as honored guests in their celebrations, and leave the deceased’s favorite foods and other offerings at gravesites or on the ofrendas built in their homes.”(6)
An ofrenda is a traditional home altar used during Day of the Dead celebrations. You can read more about the ofrenda here.
Halloween
Halloween, which is celebrated on October 31st, has its origins in the Christian celebrations of All Souls Day and All Hallows Eve, along with incorporating parts of Samhain. The authors at the History Channel provide this concise explanation of the evolution of Halloween.
“The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.”(7)
It took a while for Halloween to develop into the tradition it is today. In fact, Halloween wasn’t widely celebrated in the United States until the mid-1900s.
Seasonal Haiku
In The Five Hundred Essential Japanese Season Words as selected by Kenkichi Yamamoto, the autumn kigo that seem most relevant for this week are “lantern”, “scarecrow”, and “autumn contemplation”. These kigo are found in the Humanity section of this list.
In A Dictionary of Haiku, Jane Reichhold lists many potential kigo for this week. “All Saints Day”, “black cat”, “ghosts”. “Halloween”, “haunted houses”, and “jack-o-lanterns” are all potential kigo found in the Occasions section of her dictionary.
With all this in mind, let’s read some haiku.
Basho
I would like to use that scarecrow’s tattered clothes in this midnight frost (translated by Sam Hamill)
this jewel his soul will return to Black Feather Mountain the moon of sacred law (translated by Jane Reichhold)
Waking in the night; the lamp is low, the oil freezing. (tranlsated by Robert Hass)
Izen
I’ve just got to know the scarecrow and now we part (retrieved from Haiku Enlightenment, G. Rosenstock)
Issa
a rush of red leaves blown against him... scarecrow (translated by David. G Lanoue)
holding a lantern tidying up... evening cool (translated by David. G Lanoue)
Jane Reichhold
light from the pumpkin's grin a full moon
no one home
yet a face grins on the porch
Halloween
going into dark times
children dressed as grown-ups
begging
Jack Kerouac
Cat eating fish heads - All those eyes In the starlight
This one may not really fit with the season, but I couldn’t resist!
Haiku invitation
This week’s haiku invitation is to write a haiku or senryu referencing the celebrations of Samhain, the Day of the Dead, or Halloween.
Share your haiku in the comments below, or post on your own page and link back to this post. I can’t wait to read what you write!
You can support this newsletter work by donating at “Buy Me a Coffee” or shopping at our bookstore.
Thank You!
About the Haiku
Basho’s haiku were retrieved from “Matsuo Bashō’s haiku poems in romanized Japanese with English translations” Editor: Gábor Terebess. Issa’s haiku were retrieved from David G. Lanoue’s Haiku Guy. Jane Reichhold’s haiku were retrieved from Dictionary of Haiku. Jack Kerouac’s haiku were retrieved from Book of Haikus. Izen’s haiku was retrieved from Haiku Enlightenment: New Expanded Edition; Gabriel Rosenstock.
References
SeasonWords.com 
As always, or so it seems, I am grateful for your blog this morning and the accompanying prompt. And thanks for including the Kerouac quote. I have bought his book and will get to it maybe early next year. Anyway, here is my contribution:
after halloween
eating butterfinger bites
left-over treats
Peace,
LaMon
LaMon, I haven’t given out candy in years…
But I do remember eating leftovers 🙂
We also haven’t given out any candy in several years. We don’t even turn on our porch light anymore. But my sweet wife bought a bag of Butterfinger Bites “just in case” because she likes them 🙂
Lucky you! 🙂 The only time our porch light is out is between 6 – 8 on Halloween night.
I found a store that has bin candy…. Ten cents a piece. I buy a dollor or two and keep the bag in my car to treat myself when I run errands.
I buy a “just in case” bad of candy every year too and we haven’t had a trick-or-treater in 18 years!
Hi LaMon, I am glad that you like the Kerouac haiku. He has several about cats that I really enjoy. Thanks for sharing the great haiku. Butterfingers are my favorite.
Enjoy the butterfinger bites, LaMon. I know we have too many left-over treats at our home, too. They won’t go to waste, but maybe to waist! ~Nan
This is great!
The days of the dead
reverberate ongoing
my heart is heavy.
Sunra,
As we get older there are more memories of loved ones past…
I try to let go of disappointments to remember the best of them.
A light heart allows for good health. May your memories be for blessings…
Jules, how can one have a light heart with what’s happening in the world? It’s not wrong to grieve and deplore it. When it’s happening in the present, it’s not a memory. Still, I thank you for your well-meaning words.
The more light we can spread, perhaps we can diminish some of the darkness. So much prejudice is harmful, to that I agree.
When one fears for their faith or lack of it, or fears because of their skin or orientation – it is indeed very dishartening – our parents lived through, we lived through it, our children live with it daily. One must remember to look at all the facts. Humans seem to forget the dark history when they consider or do not consider the needs of all. Concerning all the warring – I believe that most of the worlds countries’ leaders ( or lack of leadership really) are to blame.
The challenge of peace is to protect the innocent, of which there are multitudes – unfortunately everywhere. May we continue to strive for peace, even just one prayer at a time.
Hi Sunra, thank for contributing to this week’s conversation. You words leave an impact.
Thank you, Mark.
I understand your feelings with your haiku, Sunra. It’s always difficult to remember those who have passed and not be sad. May your memories be good ones. ~Nan
Hi Sunra:
This is a beautiful yet poignant poem, somethings we need to think about. Thanks.
I really enjoyed this celebration of the current season, Mark, thanks so much.
Hi Jet, Thanks for the kind words and your ongoing support. I hope all is well.
Hi, Mark – I’m not big on many holidays, these days – so I went with what I know… not quite nature, more unnatural?, I did a series – I did use some kigo 😉 The first one is here the rest at the link. (I also like the Jack Kerouac verse.)
Frosted Hearts
lights out at
the village fete
cold body
Dark web mistress dressed with straw, displayed in the shop window.
© JP/dh/ Jules
A very creative offering this week blending the prompts and the Midsomer Murders show. I am glad that you enjoyed the Kerouac haiku!
I think cats eyes in the night, eating fish heads – a very ‘Salem’ vibe 😉
Hi Jules, this is a very spooky and interesting verse…it makes you want to know more:)
In general, “bad guys and gals dress up” – but they always leave clues for the police 😀
I did get to watch part 2 and the mystery always ends with a caputred fellon.
🙂
Mark, in the spirit of the old world:
Darkness grows —
An ending, a beginning,
And renewal.
Hi Ashley, Thanks for writing a piece that honors the traditions of Samhain! Well done! Good to hear from you and I hope all is well.
Ashley, your haiku is quite profound and in the end, positive and hopeful.
~Nan
Thank you, Nan. 🙏
I like this poem, Ashley…there is a lot of mystery to it as well.
Thank you, Maddy 🙋♂️
🙂
Thank you, Maddy, for your wonderful comment. 🙋♂️
Hi Mark. here is my response to this week’s reference prompt – ‘Samhain, Day of the Dead, Halloween’.
Happy Samhain Celebrations Everyone.
Hi Goff, Thanks so much for adding to this week’s conversation. I really like the painting you found to go with your senryu.
Great day of the dead haiku, and the graphics, outstanding, Goff.
I really like this poem Geoff. It is very thought provoking:)
Hi Mark and fellow poets, hope you are having a nice day. Thank-you Mark for another wonderful blog with great information about Samhain and poems from the masters …some of these are quite spooky and chilling!
Hi Mark, what a wonderful blog you’ve created! Thank you for sharing! I posted a poem inspired by the prompt, here: https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/101461803/posts/4972305922
Hi Lia, Thanks for the kind words and I am glad that you for sharing you poems!
Hi Lia:
These are very lovely and uplifting poems for Samhain.
Thank you so much, Maddy!
🙂
Slight discrepancy in the Dia de Los Muertos info, but it is only celebrated Nov. 1st and Nov. 2nd. 2 different days (despite the name). One is for the children who have died, and the other is for the adults. I spent many years making ofrendas (altars) with my students and having my Mexican friend give presentations on the topic. It is widely celebrated in L.A. County.
welcoming the dead
a path of marigold
petals
day of the dead
a tequila shot on
the ofrenda
I love these poems Eavonka… “a path of marigold petals” is beautiful and heart warming…my favorite!
… favorite haiku! The second poem is very engaging…the last line–a surprise twist!
Thanks, Maddy, my friend always makes a marigold petal path to lead the dead to his ofrenda. Marigolds are an essential part of the festivities.
Such wonderful traditions, Eavonka!
These are marvelous, Eavonka. I love that you wrote about Day of the Dead with such veracity. Well done. ~Nan
Thank you, Nan. It is a really special holiday that I have been privileged to enjoy for the last 20 years.
Hi Eavonka, Thanks for the correction on the dates. I’ll make those changes. I also appreciate you adding a little more context to Dia de Los Muertos, very helpful.
As for the haiku, I think the second haiku is my favorite of your pair. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Mark. I get overly enthusiastic about this holiday.
🙂
Hi Mark: This is what I have so far, so many Japaneses maple trees in our area …leaves the same color as in Issa’s great poem.
maple tree
I cover at night with burlap
your finest red dress
Great ‘ku, Madeleine. I love the color of Japanese maples, and that is such an apt description as the finest red dress.
Awww! Thanks, Nan!
Maddy –
Silver maples turn yellow. The red maples I think are the ones tapped for syrup!
Jules, this is such lovely news…I had assumed that the Japanese Maple Tree was only ornamental and not able to produce syrup! I read that the sugar maple tree is best for producing syrup. They do have maple sugar farms here in California, but I understand that Mark’s state of Vermont has the best maple trees for syrup, in the country!
Oh, I don’t think Japenese maples make syrup. Sugar maple trees leaves turn red. Real maple syrup is thin. Not that thick fake stuff. And a little goes a long way 🙂 Hubby made me some eggfried toast that I used some ‘real’ syrup on this this week – Yum!
Yes! We have lots of sugar maples and lots of small sugar, and large sugar houses, doting the landscape. My neighbor still collects sap in buckets and uses his draft horse to pull a sled with a collection tank through the woods.
Delightful, Mark! I saw glad you mentioned this!
*so glad you mentioned this
I was happily surprised to discover last week that every maple tree produces syrup, including the Japanese maple. Although the Japanese maple and some other trees are not capable of producing as much syrup as the sugar maples:)
I am working on a response to your wonderful prompt between errands.
I really like Jack Kerouac’s poem about the cat’s “star light.” I am impressed with Jane Reichhold’s Halloween poem… Issa’s “rush of red leaves” inspires me.
I agree with you, Madeleine, Kerouac’s made me smile, and I’m glad that Mark included it with the others.
🙂
When my children were young our neighbors would accompany us, one Halloween
trick o’ treating down the hill
bare trees towering
along the walk
we decide to go home
and watch scary movies
You (and your children) are braver than I am. I hate scary movies, Maddy. A nice tanka though. I can see those skeletal trees.
~Nan
Thanks, Nan. On many of those annual treks, I wanted to go home, once we started:)
I can certainly understand that. I think I enjoyed getting back home and giving out treats better than going to houses.
🙂
Yeah, me, too:). Talking with neighborhood children you haven’t seen for a while, asking about their costumes and meeting new families and “arrivals”…is lovely.
The scariest we watched on Halloween eve was “Mummy I” …a well worn dvd!
Hi Maddy, a couple of great offerings for this week! I haven’t written very many tanka in my time, so I appreciate your example. I am a fan of scary movies and watching them is definitely a Halloween tradition.
Thanks Mark! I appreciate the feedback:) I love tanka because of the possibilities… more room for lines and thoughts and especially because of the twists. (…There is so much I need to learn:)
That’s great, Mark:) Yeah, Halloween traditions are wonderful! Watching films like “Mummy I” and “Signs” our favorites with the family is great fun! Hope you are having a lovely Saturday!
Another informative post, Mark. Thanks, especially, for the pronunciation of Samhain. I don’t think I would have ever said it that way, but now I will. Here are a couple haiku:
All Hallow’s Eve
my grandson dresses up
as a chemist
~Nancy Brady, 2023
Published in Scarlet Dragonfly’s Special Halloween issue
Day of the Dead…
remembering all
who are gone
~Nancy Brady, 2023
Aww, I love that your grandson is following in your footsteps, Nan. I mean, if that poem was autobiographical.
Indeed it is. I have a photo of him wearing his periodic table t-shirt, jeans, a lab coat, and carrying a “briefcase.” And a pair of “molecule” glasses (probably an old pair of his mother’s). It’s sitting on a shelf just a few feet away, and it makes me smile every time I look at it. If I had a jpg of it, I could make a photo haiga of it. ~Nan
Sounds absolutely adorable!
I think he looks adorable, but I am prejudiced (and rightly so)!
I agree with Eavonka! I love it too that he is following in his grandmother’s footsteps:)
Thanks, Madeleine. Can you guess who bought him the periodic tablet t-shirt?
Hmmm…a tough one! Lol) …His grandmother…just a hunch:)!
Just kidding Nan..wonderful! Doing a haiga of this experience will be great!
Hi Nan, Wonderful haiku for this week. I agree that “All Hallows Eve” is really great! I can picture the costume.
Thanks, Mark. I like All Hallow’s Eve instead of Halloween because it sounds like it leads to All Saints’ Day. ~Nan
🙂
Me too, Nan!
…So precious, Nan.
PS. He’s got science background on all sides. Two grandparents with science backgrounds, and his mother is a nurse. My sons used to love to look through anatomy textbooks when they were little.
Actually my husband suggested buying one for him. Rob said seeing how enthusiastic Matthew was about learning the different elements was a good reason to get him one as a present. I agreed and we found it a place that made them. First, though, they sent a Muppet periodic chart t-shirt by mistake. Not quite the same thing at all! 😉
So lovely Nan…Truly following his grandmother’s footsteps:)
Thanks, Maddy! I can only hope he will because science rocks.
Awwww! Could not have put it better, myself Nan:)
I thought this was a good analysis on the difference between both haiku and tanka:
(Link below:)
https://poemanalysis.com/poetry-explained/tanka-vs-haiku/
Thanks for this! Very helpful.
My pleasure;)
We get a few intrepid trick-or-treaters every year that trickle over from the posh gated community nearby. The kids in our sub-rural community are commonly driven to newer developments (20 years old or newer) where the houses are closer together, with streetlights, and the houses go all out with big decorations and/or full-size candy bars. Our street comparatively is pitch black with no sidewalks and we have a 100ft gravel driveway up a small hill.
Yes! That sounds similar to what happens here. The kids head into town so they can be more efficient in the candy collection.
Hi Melanie:
I guess you still have Halloween candy on hand, then for the few that come. We didn’t get one trick or treater …that was the first time for us:) We did the same as the other poets, and consumed candy bars, starting a little early…(lol,) a lot of fun:)