https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WvK1YmFWQ47H9KwXPDozbQGqE_5bKQq-k3z5lcy7nsQ/edit?tab=t.0
2025 CUUPS Witch’s Ball - Spirits of Halloween
(A Victorian “Halloween Trick or Treat”
inspired by a Dickensian Carol)
Themes:
theme of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol”
and after school special lessons
Last year was embracing yourself….
this year we are embracing ourselves
(warts and all)
honor our past, live in our present,
and shape our future
Joy / childlike - community - rediscovering yourself
letting go of your past - embrace your present -
don’t fear the future
Song Ideas:
It Must Be Halloween
(Andrew Gold) - entrance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaZ_pORSKi8
Hoist the Colors (past)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAJqt61ZRrg
(alternative or second song -
Lord Huron - The Night We Met)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtlgYxa6BMU
Dead Man’s Party (present)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpYhfuG4i7w
Don’t Fear the Reaper (cauldron dance - future)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe3jFvJ0qjs
Closing:
Donovan - Season of the Witch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU35oCHGhJ0
Supplemental Closing
LVCRFT - Skeleton Sam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwwIsZ1BP_I
Characters:
Killjoys / Seekers (Scrooge)
(voice of the people / assistants)
- multiple people and crowd with some main killjoys
Costume- general goth or halloween character
Bob / (Marley) Teacher - parent figure, narrator,
drives the story and assists the ghosts
Costume - goth or punk
(can have chains like Jacob Marley in story)
Skeleton (Past Ghost - Represents
Ancestors, Sea, Past, letting go,
honoring and legacy)
Costume - Pirate Skeleton variation.
Salty pirate type
Pumpkin (Present Ghost -
Represents present, joy, childlike,
embracing now, earth, fun, treats)
Costume - Pumpkin jack o lantern variation.
Spooky fun
Witch (Future Ghost - Represents, freedom,sky,
being yourself and embracing your possibilities)
Costume - Long Cloak
(can have a hat to put on later if want)
and “witchy” outfit.
Set up:
Altar in center (and reading area)
5 candles on the altar -
veil (black) - past (blue) -
present (orange) - future (green) -
wholeness (pentacle holder)
Fall decorations (halloween themes)
One Bell (Bob will carry this around) -
can be behind veil at first
By Keyboard - large cauldron (posters inside),
couch with skeletons
By Piano - Broom
Center front - Tables for writing and
releasing ancestor messages / coins
Circle - 3 pillars with representation of
ghosts on it (below / earthly / above)
Additional chairs at front for
main killjoys (like a theater)
Opening:
Double Doors - coloring mural
taped to door (ready to open)
Beth: (turn on music then Open doors after intro plays
- then go to booth)
Bob: (leads procession - 3 spirits at end
- in character)
Killjoys: (incense as they come in - can be bored)
(Song opening - it must be halloween)
During the song the 3 ghost spirits are joking around,
scaring each other, and having fun.
(improv dialogue with guests)
When all participants have entered,
Killjoys join at the end and go to their chairs.
Once everyone is in place music will end
(beth will fade out music)
Killjoys will speak to ghosts who are goofing around..
The participants all together are the seeker
collectively with the Killjoys character.
(Note: Dialogue is suggested - can be improvised)
Killjoys (to 3 ghosts): Ugh, stop you’re so lame
(or stop fooling around, be serious)
3 Ghosts together (can overlap): Oh come on,
we're just having fun,
It's Halloween, trick or treat, etc.
(teasing dialogue)
Bob (shoos ghosts): go on, perhaps
they have grown out of trick or treating.
3 Ghosts together: Boo, OK
(sad or teasing dialogue - disappears behind veil)
Bob: (to Killjoys and Participants) -
you know, (getting an idea)
you’re never too old for Halloween….. (take bell)
Happy Halloween (said ominously -
then move behind veil with bells)
(Killjoy dims light - can be whatever about it)
(Thunder Sound - Bell Rings behind veil)
(Bob speaks on mic behind veil -
starting from behind veil
and emerging during next part)
Bob: (behind veil) On this night as the veil grows thin,
We remember the ancient traditions.
We remember the true meaning of Samhain,
We remember our ancestors,
our practices and our legacies.
(Bob and 3 spirits emerge from veil)
Skeleton: We honor our past,
Pumpkin: We live in our present
Witch: and We shape our future
(Bob puts Bell on Altar)
3 Spirits - walk around to seal the
circle and bless the participants.
After the ritual part below they
put the items on the central altar
and stand near their pillar.
(Creating sacred Space)
Walking clockwise:
Witch - Sweeps (air)
Skeleton - water bless (water)
Pumpkin - incense waft (earth / fire)
Bob: (after spirits have returned to pillars)
(circle point while saying)
We create this sacred space,
on the most sacred of nights,
as we walk between the worlds of what was,
what is and what shall be .
(light black candle on altar)
Bob: (raise hands) Let us walk together
beyond the veil. For tonight we shall be
visited by three spirits.
The spirits of Halloween Past, Present and Future.
Skeleton- (hand low) From the realms of the sea,
We honor our past
Pumpkin- (hands out) to the realms of the earth,
We live in our present
Witch - (hands above) and the realms of the sky,
We shape our future
Bob- may our guides show us the path
We invite into this sacred space
the deities who will walk this path with us.
We invite you to say their names aloud,
so we may know them better.
(Participants say names of deities)
Bob - Together, may we learn to
honor Samhain in our heart,
and keep its spirit all year long.
(Bob picks up bell from Altar)
Bob - Expect the first spirit when the bell tolls.
(Bob moves to veil - leading ghosts
who move as they say their line)
Skeleton: We honor our past,
Pumpkin: We live in our present
Witch: and We shape our future
(all leave behind veil)
(pause - thunder)
(Bob Ring Bell and leads out
Skeleton and other Spirits)
(Bob and Skeleton to center -
Pumpkin and Witch to their pillars)
Skeleton: We honor our past,
Pumpkin: We live in our present
Witch: and We shape our future
Skeleton - Past Spirit:
(Note: This section is Pirate and Sea Themed -
ancestors honored and past recognized,
accepting what was and focusing on how
to move forward - altar will have large jug with water,
dissolving paper, clipboards, pens,
coins and treasure chest)
(Skeleton lights blue candle on altar -
then goes to pirate table)
Skeleton: on this night, the dead have gifts
for us greater than gold.
Pay the toll to hear their tales.
Some gifts we take with us,
and some we give back to the sea.
Tonight the ancestors can take away
what no longer serves you to
their watery grave.
(Skeleton lifts coin - puts in treasure chest)
Skeleton: we thank the ancestors
for the gifts they have given us
(pause)
(Pick up dissolving paper and place an
x or marking / word on the paper)
Skeleton: we give back to the sea
what no longer serves us.
We honor our past self, and release it
(place dissolving paper in jar and shake to dissolve)
Instructions:
Bob and Killjoys will lead participants -
Skeleton stays with Jug and assists at table -
Participants will place gold coins in the treasure chest,
then invite participants to write a word to
the ancestors of what they are releasing.
This will be written on water dissolving paper,
which Skeleton will help them put in the jar.
Other spirits can assist with passing out
clipboards and pens. These are small pieces
of paper so only a word or two will fit on them.
(music - hoist the colors) - played during writing
and dissolving of paper.
(supplemental song - the night we met by lord huron)
(At end when everyone done - go toward veil)
Skeleton: We honor our past,
Pumpkin: We live in our present
Witch: and We shape our future
(All 4 ghosts leave again at this time - Bob takes Bell)
(pause - thunder)
(Bob Ring Bell and leads out Skeleton
and other Spirits)
(Bob and Pumpkin to center -
Skeleton and Witch to their pillars)
Skeleton: We honor our past,
Pumpkin: We live in our present
Witch: and We shape our future
Pumpkin - Present Spirit:
Instructions:
this sections themes is childlike joy,
living in the present, trick or treat -
can also celebrate ways we practice the craft
(Pumpkin lights orange candle on altar)
Pumpkin: (passing out apple pieces - be silly)
(can improvise) - Trick or Treat, Trick or Treat,
Have some Tricks, Have Some Treats
(jovial, laughter)
Pumpkin: The best treats are our friends.
It’s time for a party.
Bob: A Party? Well then we must have a game.
Killjoys: Yes a game (starting to get into it the party spirit)
Pumpkin: That’s the Spirit, Let’s Play “Pumpkin Says”!!
(game begins, Pumpkin starts pulling
out things to do and starts encouraging
others to act them out)
(music - dead mans party)
(when done - or music ends go toward veil)
Skeleton: We honor our past,
Pumpkin: We live in our present
Witch: and We shape our future
(All 4 ghosts leave again at this time -
Bob takes Bell)
Future Spirit (Witch):
Instructions:
theme is possibility, what we can dream
and achieve, embracing the stereotype
of “Witch” and “Halloween”
Witch will be covered by a cloak - like in dickens story
and initially will not speak -
ok to be unveiled during other spirit parts
(pause - thunder)
(Bob Ring Bell and leads out Skeleton
and other Spirits)
(Bob and Witch to center -
Skeleton and Pumpkin to their pillars)
Skeleton: We honor our past,
Pumpkin: We live in our present
Witch: (silence - doesn’t say line this time -
just goes to light candle, starts to cackle) **Cackle**
(Witch lights green candle on altar)
Witch:
(***low cackle***), rising to crazy over
the top witch’s cackle.
(Reveal self from cloak.)
(***this can go on unnecessarily long,
have fun with it***)
Witch: and We shape our future……
Are You Ready, well Are You Ready
(can ask a couple times)
(ask for participant response)
Witch: Then you are ready to know yourselves.
Let the world hear us, and embrace all that
we were, all that we are and all that we can be.
**Cackle**
(***start to cackle and encourage others to do so too***)
(***after lots of cackling***)
Witch: Now, fly with me, let us dance
around the cauldron together.
And if the fire goes out, then
we shall all have a good future
(Do cauldron dance - can explain
cauldron dance if needed)
(music - Don’t Fear the Reaper)
Closing, after cauldron dance:
Bob: (leads Killjoy toward altar candles)
Remember the lessons you have
learned today. (to killjoys)
Spirits, Repeat and Remember.
(for this one - Killjoys will echo each ghosts line)
Skeleton: We honor our past
(we honor our past)
Pumpkin: We live in our present
(we live in our present)
Witch: and We shape our future
(and we shape our future)
(Killjoys light pentacle candle -
will stay on symbolically until end)
Skeleton- (hand low) From the realms of the sea,
We honor our past
Pumpkin- (hands out) to the realms of the earth,
We live in our present
Witch - (hands above) and the realms of the sky,
We shape our future
(Bob extinguishes black candle)
Bob: The spirits of Samhain have awakened in us.
We thank them for their lessons and bid them farewell.
We thank the deities who witnessed our rights
for their presence this evening and bid them farewell.
May this candle remind us of the power of community.
As the veil thickens, may we keep the
Spirit of Samhain all year long.
(Spirits move to center and
extinguish their candles as they say their bit):
Skeleton: We honor our past (extinguish)
Pumpkin: We live in our present (extinguish)
Witch: and We shape our future (extinguish)
All: The circle is open, but unbroken,
Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again.
Blessed Be.
(**thanks and ending***) - Bob
Closing Songs - as people take pictures and leave
Donovan - Season of the Witch
LVCRFT - Skeleton Sam
(water can be poured in the memorial garden
outside as an offering later).
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