What is the witching hour?

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DemonSlayerMau
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What is the witching hour?

Post by DemonSlayerMau » Thu Nov 12, 2009 6:20 pm

I've heard Pumpkin man mention it, but I don't really know what or when it is. Is it supposed to be midnight?
I know it has something to do with Halloween I think, so I thought I would ask here and see if anyone knew. Does it have something to do with witches?
So can anyone tell me what the Witching Hour is? And maybe we can discuss it here.
This probably seems crazy, crazy, a graveyard theory,
A ghost tried to approach me and got leery.
Ask him a question and he vanished in a second...

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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by Murfreesboro » Thu Nov 12, 2009 6:23 pm

I always thought it was midnight, but I really don't know. That's an interesting question, actually. Maybe it does have some kind of history.

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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by Spookymufu » Thu Nov 12, 2009 6:40 pm

it's not really Halloween related, it means the midnight hour when all the spooks come out........
Witching hour refers to the notion from folklore of the time at night when supernatural powers are at their most effective.
the hour after midnight, when witches and other supernatural beings were thought to be active
http://theyard.netii.net/
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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by Murfreesboro » Thu Nov 12, 2009 6:47 pm

I'm reminded that in the film The Exorcism of Emily Rose, they make much of 3 a.m. In that movie, it is said that the demonic hour is 3 a.m., in parody of the hour at which Christ is supposed to have died on the cross, 3 p.m. I wonder how that bit of folklore figures into this discussion?

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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by DemonSlayerMau » Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:40 pm

I always thought if spooks, witches, monsters and such were involved, then it is Halloween related.
Although it may not always exclusively be Halloween. The witching hour may always be the hour after midnight.
Just like how a werewolf isn't going to be exclusively a Halloween thing. Traditionally they always transform at the full moon. Traditionally...though it depends on the folklore you're going by. Actually the full moon thing I think was started by the movie industry.
Speaking of haunted times of the night...if anyone's ever watched Gremlins...you'd know that a Mogwai is NEVER to eat after midnight. However...they never clarify when it's safe for them to eat again without transforming into a Gremlin.
This probably seems crazy, crazy, a graveyard theory,
A ghost tried to approach me and got leery.
Ask him a question and he vanished in a second...

~ From a Ghost's Pumpkin Soup (Pumpkin Hill zone theme Song from Sonic Adventure 2) ~

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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by adrian » Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:15 am

you're right... the witching hour is 3 am and that's supposedly when the night is at its darkest
Last night 'twas witching Hallowe'en
Dearest; an apple russet- brown
I pared, and thrice above my crown
Whirled the long skin; they watched in keen;
I flung it far; they laughed and cried me shame
Dearest, there lay the letter of your name!

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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by Belladonna » Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:20 am

3 am is what I've always heard growing up, that makes sense to me.
I don't know how they came up with midnight. Hollywood?

I've been waking up at 3 am just about on the dot for nearly a week now. I wonder what's up with that? :)
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep, and I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. Did you hear me butterfly? Miles to go before you sleep."



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adrian
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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by adrian » Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:36 am

well its obvious.. you're being haunted. you need salt and a cat!
Last night 'twas witching Hallowe'en
Dearest; an apple russet- brown
I pared, and thrice above my crown
Whirled the long skin; they watched in keen;
I flung it far; they laughed and cried me shame
Dearest, there lay the letter of your name!

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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by Belladonna » Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:42 am

I'm getting a cat, and I have plenty of salt!
But I don't know if I want to show this ghost the door. hehe
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep, and I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. Did you hear me butterfly? Miles to go before you sleep."



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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by adrian » Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:44 am

LOL freak! jk

a cat? boy or girl?
Last night 'twas witching Hallowe'en
Dearest; an apple russet- brown
I pared, and thrice above my crown
Whirled the long skin; they watched in keen;
I flung it far; they laughed and cried me shame
Dearest, there lay the letter of your name!

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adrian
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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by adrian » Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:46 am

this is what i got from wikipedia

In European folklore, the witching hour is the time when supernatural creatures such as witches, demons and ghosts are thought to be at their most powerful, and black magic at its most effective. This hour is typically midnight, and the term may now be used to refer to midnight, or any late hour, even without having the associated superstitious beliefs. The term "witching hour" can also refer to the period from midnight to 3am, while "devils hour" refers to the time around 3am.

One of the earliest known uses of the exact phrasing "the witching hour" is from the 1831 edition of Frankenstein in the introduction by Mary Shelley: "Night waned upon this talk, and even the witching hour had gone by before we retired to rest."

In 1835, the phrase appeared in the last line of a short story by Washington Irving: "Two pairs of eyes are watching me now, from the couch and the ledge by the window. Faerieland shines in those eyes. And I must leave you, for it's the witching hour and a full moon is rising. . . ."

However, variants of the phrase were in use much earlier; Shakespeare refers to "the witching time of night" in a soliloquy in Hamlet:

Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world: now could I drink hot blood,
And do such bitter business as the day
Would quake to look on.


i love the second line of this poem :)
Last night 'twas witching Hallowe'en
Dearest; an apple russet- brown
I pared, and thrice above my crown
Whirled the long skin; they watched in keen;
I flung it far; they laughed and cried me shame
Dearest, there lay the letter of your name!

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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by Belladonna » Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:49 am

I read that last night, Adrian. You beat me to posting it! hehe

Freak? Me? I'm afraid you don't know me well enough to make that assumption, Buster! ;)
I'm getting a female cat. A little baby Persian. My allergies will go nuts from the long fur, but she's a beauty!
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep, and I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. Did you hear me butterfly? Miles to go before you sleep."



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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by adrian » Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:51 am

i like persian cats :) Gomez (my cat) is a tuxedo cat :) i love him

and don't test me :twisted:
Last night 'twas witching Hallowe'en
Dearest; an apple russet- brown
I pared, and thrice above my crown
Whirled the long skin; they watched in keen;
I flung it far; they laughed and cried me shame
Dearest, there lay the letter of your name!

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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by Belladonna » Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:56 am

Aww I love the name! He sounds cute!
I'm getting this little baby kitten from a good friend for FREE!! YAY!

Attention everyone....I'm open to name ideas. Post away! :)

Test? That could be fun! :D
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep, and I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. Did you hear me butterfly? Miles to go before you sleep."



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Re: What is the witching hour?

Post by Belladonna » Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:57 am

And that IS a great poem, Adrian. I loved it when I read it, and wrote it down.
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep, and I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. Did you hear me butterfly? Miles to go before you sleep."



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