An Apple a Day...

Apples, popular at this time of year for both eating and games, have long been associated with magic, form the Garden of Eden through the myths and legends of Europe. In ancient times the apple was thought of as a magical fruit.
According to Norse myth, the Gods of Asgard kept their health and youth by eating the apples from their garden..
The Celt believed in a paradise, now called Avalon (apple land, derived from Old Welsh abal meaning "apple") where apple trees carried fragrant blossom and ripe fruit at one and same time.
Games and Folklore
Apple Magic: Halloween was traditionally a night to see into the future and many young girls and boys followed ancient customs to find out who they might marry.
Apple peel spell - Peel an apple in one continuous piece and throw it over the left shoulder. The peel should form the initial letter of the name of a future wedding mate
Apple pip spell - Naming apple pips for each potential suitor a young girl would stick them onto her cheeks. The last to fall from her face would represent the man she would marry
Ducking For Apples: A well-known Halloween game is ducking or bobbing for apples, where some apples are floated in a large tub or bowl of water and players take it in turns to try to pick up and apple from the water using only their teeth.

Paganism. Religion or Cult?

There are many misconceptions about Pagans and their beliefs, even the origins of the word ‘Pagan’ are confused, some believing it means a ‘country dweller’, others ‘civilian’ as opposed to ‘military’, now though it is commonly an umbrella term to describe anyone that does not follow one of the mainstream religions.
Often mistakenly viewed as a ‘cult’ or ‘fad’, Paganism is now a recognised belief system with approximately 5,000 followers in the UK alone. Although there is no official doctrine there are some core beliefs and values that are held by most Pagans listed below:-
Concepts of the Divine
Probably the most fundamental of these is the recognition of the divine in nature and animism.
Pagans revere the cycle of the seasons, which is regarded as an expression of the divine and a model for spiritual growth and renewal. This is rooted in our history where lives depended on good crops.
The Earth herself is regarded as sacred by many Pagans and deep ecological concerns are characteristic of most followers of paganism. Many pagans are actively involved in conservation.
Gods and or Goddesses may or may not be worshiped. The number, names and nature of these can vary depending particular path followed, however Pagans do not worship the devil which is a Christian concept.
Life after death
Pagans do not share the concept of heaven and hell, however many believe in an afterlife where the soul can go to rest. Most believe in reincarnation or rebirth in some form.
Ethics
Some Pagans have a code of conduct e.g. the Wiccan Rede, depending on the path they follow however most are generally very ethical and believe in personal responsibility for their actions.
Festival and Holidays
Pagans follow the Wheel of the Year, starting at Samhain or Halloween on 31st October. There are 8 major festivals throughout the year, representing the active and dormant states of nature. Historically, each of the festival days was ruled by a governing deity, whether a God or Goddess, the names of these varying on the area and path followed.