Dumb Supper: Merry Meets & Eats (Non-Secular)
Schedule
Sat Nov 09 2024 at 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm
UTC-06:00Location
Sycamore Park District | Sycamore, IL
✨🔥💀🎃🥀✨ Because the overwhelming positive response I got after our first non/denominational celebration of (Samhain/Dumb Supper/ Day Of The Dead, etc )last year told me it was more than just a good time with good people, but that this was needed….we’re going to do it again. I wasn’t sure I had the energetic bandwidth to host it this year, but truth be told there was someone special I didn’t invite to last year’s gathering because I wondered if I’d be celebrating Him this season of remembrance. And it turned out I would be and so we will. 🙏🏼
I’ll post more info about the event closer to the date…including what happens if I get called to a birth that night, but in short…
1.)Bring intentional food & drink to share to share (something your grandma used to make, a snack that reminds you of someone special or something from your ancestral heritage)
2.)Dress in warm layers as the event is at an indoor/outdoor park cabin eith fireplace and bonfire and warm spirits 🤪 (There are porto-potties and hand sanitizer.) But! Feel free to wear articles of clothing that represent or are from someone special whom you are honoring or bring something to share at the fireplace altar (a photo, candle, keepsake etc)… Or whatever your heart desires to share with a group of wonderful birds of a feather gathered together for bonfire, respectful drinking and fellowship <3
3.)Children may be present again, so let’s be guides to the littles and while there will be bonfire and incense, if we could keep other smoking outside the park indoor/outdoor cabin that’d be bomb. Thanks fam.
Curious how last year went?
As I’ve reshaped my relationship with life cycles these last few years, I’ve felt called to host an Angie’s adaptation of a “Dumb Supper” in honor of the origins of what Halloween is all about. For everyBody. Women, men, children..cross culturally & Non-denominationally since life does not discriminate. I figured if I waited any longer I’D end up on someone’s Samhain/All Souls/Day of The Dead altar, am’i’right? 🥁 😅 💀
So we finally gathered ‘round the table children as we honored those we can’t sit next to in the physical anymore but can carry their reflection and memory through us. And maybe hold space for a range of life’s cycles end before they inevitably rebegin. ⭕️
I hoped for it to be as chicken soup-y for the soul-y as it could be for the heart, for mental health during the dark season when people sometimes miss their people even more around holidays, aaaand the belly. The friendly feedback I received after was as satiating as dessert.
So many of you picked up what I was trying to throw down by bringing heirlooms, symbols or donned clothing from departed loved ones. They brought intentionally inspired foods and drinks to share. Old family recipes and memories from loved ones’ past.
They shared stories and introduced us to the people who impacted or came before them. Family. Friends. Even Pets. It was meant to be a healthy human safe space to exist in all of our sometimes absurd forms.
I had a friend from childhood who I haven’t seen In 20 years reunite here. Chicago friends. Highschool friends. Friends from Northern Illinois and probably other lives and planets 🤪
There was a lot of meat to that gratitude sandwhich at that table. My heart is full.
Life is long if we’re lucky but even still time is short. As I was cleaning up after our Halloween hangover version of a Friendsgiving…the preamble before the other magical holidays takes our time over with hustle and bustle…I noticed the outside of this stone cabin shelter had a plack on it which read, “Good Times Shelter built in memory of our parents”…how PERFECT per our purpose celebrating life there that night.
And low, no..HIGH KEY! If y’all don’t resurrect a shelter for me when I’m through, I will come right up off my shrine, I mean altar and haunt you too. Lavvvv youuuu!🤣👻 Happy Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, blessed Samhain, All souls Day & Dia de los Muertos. Thanks for my friends and family and friends who become my family. Now! onto the other magical holidays! Dashaway dashaway into the dark nights! ✨🔥💀🎃🥀✨
Original post from 2023
I’d love for friends and family to “gather”…yes like the old farmhouse decor from World Market says. Under one roof/moon. Outdoors/close to nature. Bonfire and candle-lit and decorated by items to share on an “altar”honoring those who have passed/ ancestors who came before us. Can be specific or symbolic.
It is intended to be Co-Ed. Because the human condition of loss/grief/memory or community should needn’t be gatekept for one type of person…Which includes small humans should they traverse the darkness past sunset. Use your best judgement and activities can be arranged🙃
Wear what you’re most comfortable in Northern Illinois weather and sycamore park district shelter permitting. I’ll post final location deets the night before.
Many Samhain ceremonies which usually happen around All Hallow’s Eve encourage black. You know I won’t tell you to fly home on the broom stick you flew in on. 💁🏻♀️So many wear black in rememberence, mourning or symbolism…and yet Some cultures wear white for similar reasons. And some have full extravagant rainbow colors! So do whatcha wanna. And/or something representative of the person you’re remembering. Or even an article of clothing/heirloom from them. Or if it suits you or your culture, Candy skull face paint. Animal costume….a hotdog…banana. Sweat pants. Whatever your heart desires. There is no right way.
•Potluck style warming/comfort food and drink either inspired by your family or culture, something you have made or have always wanted to learn to make around the time of All Souls Day/Dia De Les Muertes, etc (for me, I have always wanted to learn how to make Pierogi after my Bopcia but never had it taught to me growing up. So perhaps learning to make that at some point could be my version of chicken soup nourishing the soul and reconnecting lost tradition. Feel free to get inspired by your own. Can be simple!)
Could be a seasonal Samhain dish, Day of The Dead or one I don’t even know about etc, anything that reminds you of someone you’re remembering or a recipe your beloved granny for example used to make….a snack linked to a memory or funny story of shared person/s…Something intentional and meaningful. So that when you share you keep their spirit alive and we learn more about one another.
We will dedicate one place setting with a lil of all the offerings in honor of those who can’t join us at the table in the physical anymore…a practice many cultures have their own variations of. I remember doing this with my Polish Roman Catholic mother as a child around the holidays.
I’d love to create a chill/friendly atmosphere where any denomination or lack of can commune together over a modern adaptation of the “dumb supper”, so yes…talking is not only aloud but encouraged! We aren’t summonsing demons or husbands so…Maybe even laugh because we hella funny and life is absurd. Cry if ya wanna (just not over your plate ;P) cuz that’s cool too, to share stories about people, cross-cultural lore and traditions all for the sake of being human.
Play music.
Play games.
Tell stories.
Read cards or other forms of divination if ya wanna while respecting those who don’t eat that jam. So yes, it’s in spirit of “Days of the Dead”, -honoring the departed and creating a healthy place to celebrate those who came before us, but to also celebrate those of us who are alive after the hangover of Halloween and before the spirit of the other magical holidays takes us over.
Think of it like a prelude to or my alternative Friendsgiving. But weirder. at nighttime. More candles. And bonfires and outdoor fireplace. And flowers. And skulls. So basically nightmare before Christmas style party? 🤣And whatever else your unique heart and heritage desires to share in whatever ways you know how. Let enjoy a good time amidst our busy lives. Afterall, we aren’t getting outta this alive! 🤪
Love,
Angie 🦋
