www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Feast of the Great Pumpkin - October 31 / November 13

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Troparion of the Great Pumpkin – Tone 4

O most wonderful Great Pumpkin! * Thou didst promise to travel the earth each year on All Hallow’s Eve to seek out the most sincere pumpkin patch. * And thou didst promise wondrous presents to children over the earth * if they wouldst be good and wait on thee. * This year we ask thee to consider the sincerity of the pumpkin patch of Linus, * for he hast waited patiently upon thee for over forty years. * If thou doth deny our petition to see Linus’ pumpkin patch as truly sincere, * thou might find thyself served up as a pumpkin pie.

ABC-TV - Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 8:00 PM ET.

Is this a Polyeleos-rank feast?

An all-night Vigil is prescribed and is held in a sincere pumpkin patch, so....

PS: It's BYOB (Bring your own blanket).

Just a tad imprecatory...maybe tone 6 would be the better fit.

I think Tone 5.

perhaps it's not a troparion at all but rather a katastrophicon in, say, the 82nd. tone...I've composed a few katastrophica myself but will refrain from inflicting them on forum members since none of them are particularly edifying.

It used to be, but it has been squashed.

When selecting vesture for the feast, please keep in mind that bright colors are deemed most appropriate, but dark may be substituted - the application of reflective striping thereto as a safety measure is permitted on the basis that, if its ok with the Amish, we can live with it too.

The carrying of baskets is encouraged however, as use of bags is deemed to represent a latinization.

Thank you, Mr. Administrator! You have warmed my heart. I remember as a child that the lanterns were lit during the singing of that hymn.

This should not be a worry since it is a feast that spans both East and West: As the Tropar notes it speaks of "each year on All Hallow’s Eve," the vigil of All Saints in the Western church. Nevertheless, being truly ecumenical, it is observed even on both calendars: "Feast of the Great Pumpkin - October 31 / November 13."

The Tropar and, may I say "icon," also illustrate the truth of what a superficial literal reading would reject: that although "Linus, ... hast waited patiently upon thee for over forty years" he is shown as the child that he indeed still is.

In San Antonio every Methodist church lawn is covered with pumpkins this time of year. This is apparently reflective of a particularly strong devotion to the Great Pumpkin. They cleverly disguise this devotion by claiming they are engaged in a fund raising event. `

Never heard that interpretation of that acronym. Here I was all set to bring my own "sustenance." You know, that stuff that "gladdens the heart of man."

Bob

Bob: It sounds like your "B" blankets the heart of man with the spirit of gladness. In the end, it's the spirit that counts, correct?

As to the proper tone for the troparion, I have not checked all the books but I understand that the Ruthenian books just say "Tone IV". I'm told that the Greek books have it listed as "Samopopinki IV: 'At the festival of pumpkins....'" while the Great Russian books have "Samopopinki IV: "As we gather the sincere pumpkins...." I suspect that the Great Pumpkin himself is flexible on the issue.

I just received a communication from an Old Calendarist follower of the Great Pumpkin. He admitted to taking his children halloweening on the (gasp!) Gregorian Calendar Halloween. That's on October 31st (N.S.).

Perhaps the Great Pumpkin is a new author of grass-roots ecumenism!

Or maybe he is just being thrifty and taking his kids out for double treats, 13 days apart. I hope none dress as "holey ghosts" like Charlie Brown or they'll get only rocks (and he dressed that way only because he had trouble with scissors).

Yes, one day, East and West worshiping together, under a pumpkin dome.