We have all heard the Christmas song, "It's the most wonderful time of the year". It's a classic and a catchy tune. However, for us in the Kingdom, the saying, the most wonderful time of the year, means the whole second half of the year. As the middle of September arrives each year in the Kingdom, our wonderful times really start to pick up.
Oktoberfest around our Kingdom welcomes in the holiday season, while still having some good weather to be outside and enjoy. Oktoberfest starts in September because its final day has a fixed spot on the calendar. The last day of the festival is always on the first Sunday of October. Oktoberfest serves a few purposes here: A recognition of the German heritage of the Royal Family and our Kingdom; the historical remembrance of the celebration of the German Royal Family marriage of Kronprinz Ludwig (1786–1868), later King Ludwig I (reign: 1825–1848), married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on 12 October 1810; a celebration showcase of local agriculture; and a bringing together of the people of the Kingdom. Our Oktoberfest this year was a great success and attendance was about the same as traditionally but with a small increase.
We will soon celebrate Halloween. There are many points of view on this holiday. Halloween or Hallowe'en (a contraction of "All Hallows' evening"), less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve,or All Saints' Eve, is a celebration observed in many countries. Halloween is on October 31st, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the departed.
One theory holds that many Halloween traditions were influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, which are believed to have pagan roots. Some go further and suggest that Samhain may have been Christianized as All Hallow's Day, along with its eve, by the early Church. Other academics believe Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, being the vigil of All Hallow's Day. Celebrated in Ireland and Scotland for centuries, Irish and Scottish immigrants took many Halloween customs to North America in the 19th century and then through American influence Halloween had spread to other countries by the late 20th and early 21st century.
Popular Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related guising and souling), attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, or Halloween-themed films. Some people practice the Christian religious observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead.
Yes their is a horror side to Halloween, but here we emphasize on the more "spooky" side and remembrance side of Halloween. We do not glorify murder or extreme horror or horror movies here in the Kingdom.
Right after Halloween we have holidays about 1 every two weeks. We have November 15th - Cultural Diversity Day, in November the 4th Thursday is Thanksgiving Day, December 12th - Family Day and December 25th is Christmas Day. Of course we recognize the importance of Christmas Eve as well and it is recognized but it not listed as an official holiday by our government.
We hope no matter what you may be going through in life, that during this time of the year here in the Kingdom, you can find something to bring out joy in your heart. If you allow yourself to be open and immersed by all that happens here this time of the year, you truly can have a most wonderful time of your life. We look forward to seeing our fellow citizens during all the holiday celebrations this year.