Mountain View Medical Supply

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

13 Halloween Supersitions & Traditions Explained


Dating back about 2,000 years, Halloween marked the Celtic New Year and was originally called Samhain, which translates to "summer's end" in Gaelic.  Halloween is relatively new to America, having only become popular in the early 1900s.  The various trademarks now a part of Halloween in America have been both carried throughout the centuries, while others are more modern traditions.  Read on to find out the meaning behind 13 spooky Halloween staples, including spiders, witches and trick-or-treating. 

#1 BLACK CATS
Often used as symbols of bad luck, black cats grace many Halloween decorations. The black cat's bad reputation dates back to the Dark Ages, when witch hunts were commonplace. Elderly, solitary women were often accused of witchcraft, and their pet cats were said to be their "familiars," or demonic animals that had been given to them by the devil.
Another medieval myth told that Satan turned himself into a cat when socializing with witches. But nowadays, black cats aren't synonymous with bad luck and mischief everywhere — in Ireland, Scotland and England, it's considered good luck for a black cat to cross your path. 

#2 JACK-O-LANTERNS
A fun fall activity, carving Jack-o'-lanterns actually has its roots in a sinister, tragic fable. Celtic folklore tells the tale of a drunken farmer named Jack who tricked the devil, but his trickery resulted in him being turned away from both the gates of heaven and hell after he died. Having no choice but to wander around the darkness of purgatory, Jack made a lantern from a turnip and a burning lump of coal that the devil had tossed him from hell.  Jack, the story goes, used the lantern to guide his lost soul; as such, the Celts believed that placing Jack-o'-lanterns outside would help guide lost spirits home when they wander the streets on Halloween. Originally made using a hollowed-out turnip with a small candle inside, Jack-o'-lanterns' frightening carved faces also served to scare evil spirits away. When the Irish potato famine of 1846 forced Irish families to flee to North America, the tradition came with them. Since turnips were hard to come by in the states at the time, pumpkins were used as a substitute.

#3 BATS
Medieval folklore also described bats as witches' familiars, and seeing a bat on Halloween was considered to be quite an ominous sign. One myth was that if a bat was spotted flying around one's house three times, it meant that someone in that house would soon die. Another myth was that if a bat flew into your house on Halloween, it was a sign that your house was haunted because ghosts had let the bat in. 

#4 SPIDERS
A common source of fear, spiders make for creepy, crawly Halloween staples. They join the ranks of bats and black cats in folklore as being evil companions of witches during medieval times. One superstition held that if a spider falls into a candle-lit lamp and is consumed by the flame, witches are nearby. And if you spot a spider on Halloween, goes another superstition, it means that the spirit of a deceased loved one is watching over you. 

#5 WITCHES
The stereotypical image of the haggard witch with a pointy black hat and warty nose stirring a magical potion in her cauldron actually stems from a pagan goddess known as "the crone," who was honored during Samhain. The crone was also known as "the old one" and the "Earth mother," who symbolized wisdom, change, and the turning of the seasons. Today, the kind, all-knowing old crone has morphed into the menacing, cackling witch. 

#6 CAULDRONS
The pagan Celts believed that after death, all souls went into the crone's cauldron, which symbolized the Earth mother's womb. There, the souls awaited reincarnation, as the goddess' stirring allowed for new souls to enter the cauldron and old souls to be reborn. That image of the cauldron of life has now been replaced by the steaming, bubbling, ominous brew. 

#7 WITCH’S BROOMSTICK
The witch's broomstick is another superstition that has its roots in medieval myths. The elderly, introverted women that were accused of witchcraft were often poor and could not afford horses, so they navigated through the woods on foot with the help of walking sticks, which were sometimes substituted by brooms.
English folklore tells that during night-time ceremonies, witches rubbed a "flying" potion on their bodies, closed their eyes and felt as though they were flying. The hallucinogenic ointment, which caused numbness, rapid heartbeat and confusion, gave them the illusion that they were soaring through the sky. 

#8 TRICK-OR-TREATING IN COSTUMES
In olden times, it was believed that during Samhain, the veil between our world and the spirit world was thinnest, and that the ghosts of the deceased could mingle with the living. The superstition was that the visiting ghosts could disguise themselves in human form, such as a beggar, and knock on your door during Samhain asking for money or food. If you turned them away empty-handed, you risked receiving the wrath of the spirit and being cursed or haunted.
Another Celtic myth was that dressing up as a ghoul would fool the evil spirits into thinking that you were one of them so that they would not try to take your soul. In the U.S., trick-or-treating became a customary Halloween tradition around the late 1950s, after it was brought over by Irish immigrants in the early 1900s. 

#9 HALLOWEEN COLORS
The traditional Halloween colors of orange and black actually stem from the pagan celebration of autumn and the harvest, with orange symbolizing the colors of the crops and turning leaves, while black marks the "death" of summer and the changing season. Over time, green, purple and yellow have also been introduced into the color scheme of Halloween decorations. 

#10 MISCHIEF NIGHT
For some, namely troublesome teenagers, Halloween is also a time for neighborhood pranks. From egging and toilet-papering houses to smashing jack-o'-lanterns, "devil's night" can be full of mischief and menace.
The ancient Celts celebrated Samhain with bonfires, games and comical pranks. By the 1920s and 30s, however, the celebrations became more rowdy, with rising acts of vandalism, possibly due to the tension caused by the Great Depression. To curb the vandalism, adults began to hand out candy, reigniting the forgotten tradition of trick-or-treating in costume in exchange for sweets. 

#11 CANDY APPLES
The fusion of Celtic and Roman traditions is behind Halloween's candy-apple staple. Samhain was around the time of the Roman festival honoring Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees. The goddess is often symbolized by an apple, so the fruit became synonymous with Samhain celebrations of the harvest.
Candy apples are popular Halloween treats, and the sugary fruit on a stick was handed out during the early days of trick-or-treating in North America. Today, candy apples can be covered in caramel or chocolate with nuts, as well as in the classic, shiny red syrup. 

#12 BOBBING FOR APPLES
In ancient times, the apple was viewed as a sacred fruit that could be used to predict the future. Bobbing for apples is one of the traditional games used for fortune-telling on Halloween night. It was believed that the first person to pluck an apple from the water-filled bucket without using their hands would be the first to marry.
If the bobber lucked out and caught an apple on the first try, it meant that they would experience true love, while those who got an apple after many tries would be fickle in their romantic endeavors. Another myth was that if a girl put her bobbed apple under her pillow on Halloween night, she would dream about her future husband. 

#13 CANDY CORN
The candy most synonymous with Halloween, the yellow, orange and white candy meant to resemble a corn kernel, was invented in the late 1880s and began to be mass-produced in the early 1900s. The original process for making candy corn was cumbersome and time-consuming, as each color of syrup had to be heated up in large vats and carefully poured by hand into specially shaped molds.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/16677-halloween-superstitions-traditions.html

Monday, September 28, 2015

Moon Flake by WonderWink Scrub Top

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This WonderWink "Lady" fit mock wrap top features 2 front patch pockets, front mock belt with bust darts for shaping, sporty stitching at neckline and pockets and tagless neck. 100% brushed cotton.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Fresh Cut Flowers Print Scrub Top

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This slimming, mock wrap top features two patch pockets, contrast piping, an instrument loop and side vents. Made of 100% Cotton.
Our Price: $18.99 - $20.99

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Simply Electric! From Orange Standard

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We have Electric Blue in stock!  These Orange Standard scrubs feature 3 scrub top styles, 1 long-sleeve tee, and 3 pant options to give you great style combinations, all under $20!

Monday, September 21, 2015

Syringe Highlighter - Makes a Great Gift!

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Functional AND fun!  This "syringe" is actually a highlighter!  We also have a "syringe" ink pen.  These make great gifts and are a fun addition to your medical supply bag!
Our Price: $1.73

Friday, September 18, 2015

Cute New Scrub Top: Check Out My Heart

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This Flexibles top shapes and slims the body.  Features a V-neckline, front and back yoke with soft and stretchy side panels in contrast knit, and two hidden pockets.
Our Price - $26.49-$28.49

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

New to Our Rental Fleet - All-terrain Knee Walker

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New to our rental fleet, this ALL-TERRAIN Knee Walker/Rolleraid is fit for winter weather, hiking trails and more!
Knee walker/Rolleraid's are the perfect alternative to crutches, for those with ankle and foot surgery or injuries.
$55/wk or $120/mo

Monday, September 14, 2015

A Sneak Peek at Halloween Scrubs!

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A few of our Halloween prints and tops have already arrived, so we wanted to give you a sneak peek!
Dickies Unisex V-Neck top 83727C in Hidden Hallow
has a fun camo print mixed with skulls and crossbones!
And we simply LOVE the bat burnout pattern on our new 4882 long sleeve tees!  Available in Pumpkin or Black.
Hurry in, these wont last long!

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Hang in there, Student Nurses!


Friday, September 11, 2015

New Skin Adhesive!

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This liquid skin adhesive is a natural rubber base, pressure sensitive adhesive. Latex free, and waterproof - will protect exposed skin from urine or fluids. The adhesive will remain tacky for days, even if urine or stool spills on it.  Creates a better bond even on skin with oils or scar tissue, a poor stoma location, and/or heavy activity.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

We're Seeing RED

Shop Orange Standard RED's Now!
This new RED color in Orange Standard Malibu, Monterey and Redondo tops, add sizzle to your scrub wardrobe. 
All for under $20!

Our Price:  $18.99-$19.99

Monday, September 7, 2015

Patient Alarm with Bed Pad

LXGF13701B - $109.00
This pressure sensitive pad alarm notifies staff or caregiver when user gets out of bed or chair.
Alarm easily secures with self contained clip, has dual volume settings, delay function to reduce likelihood of false alarms with restless users, off switch and Low battery indicator and more! 
Pad size: 10" x 29"
Set includes basic patient alarm and bed pad.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Funny for the day


Friday, September 4, 2015

Labor Day Closures

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Introducing Work Wonders by Dansko!


In Stock Now!!
Work Wonders™ Shoes
Built to Work as Hard as You Do.

Double shifts and long hours are no match for Work Wonders™ footwear. For every 12-hour shift you work, these lightweight, slip-resistant shoes will give you the comfort and support you need to turn on a dime, sprint down halls and save lives. And we all know what can end up on your shoes after a double shift. That’s why Work Wonders™ shoes have wipe-clean uppers, so no matter what splashes, drips or splats on them, a quick wipe down keeps them spotless.
SHOCK ABSORPTION  *  ENERGY RETURN  *  REMOVABLE FOOTBED  *  SLIP RESISTANT  *  DURABLE  *  EASY CLEAN  *  LIGHTWEIGHT  *  CLEANSPORT NXT® ORGANIC ODOR CONTROL  *  ARCH SUPPORT  *  NON MARKING  *  MOISTURE-WICKING  *  LININGS WITH AEGIS MICROBE SHIELD®
Our Price: $93.99