HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM The ALL Night

Coffee House

THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN

The origins of Halloween date back to the Celts who lived 2,000 years ago. They celebrated the end of summer and beginning of winter with a holiday called Samahain. Samahain or Halloween is the beginning of the Pagan New Year. They believed on October 31, the night before what they considered the new year the boundary between the living and dead worlds(earthly and spiritual) is very thin. At this time the possibility of spirits visiting was most likely.

In the 800's the influence of Christianity had spread. In the seventh century Pope Boniface IV

designated November 1 All Saints Day a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is believed he

was trying to replace the Celtic festival with a religious celebration. This celebration eventually evolved to become Hallowmas.

MODERN TRADITIONS

The tradition of trick or treating comes from the All Souls Day parades held in England.

During these festivities poor people begged for food and were given pastries called soul cakes. In

return they had to pray for the families dead relatives. This practice was encouraged by the

church. This practice was eventually replaced by children visiting homes in the neighborhood to

be given food and drink.

The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots.

Hundreds of years ago winter was an uncertain time. Some people were

afraid of the dark and believed ghosts returned on Halloween. So they wore

masks on that evenings so the ghosts would think they were fellow spirits and leave them be. This was especially important in cases of unfriendly spirits visiting.

During the 1920s and 1930s Halloween became a community centered holiday with parades and parties.

Vandalism began to plague many Halloween celebrations in many communities. Eventually it was eliminated and

during the 1950s this holiday was aimed primarily at the young. Today Americans spend 2.5 billion annually on Halloween.

It is a popular holiday.

 WITCHES , JACK-0-LANTERNS AND THE MASQUERADE

 

The witch is a symbol of Halloween. The name witch means the wise one. Legend says that

when setting out on the Sabbath witches rubbed an ointment onto their skin. This gave them a

sensation of flying. Some witches rode on horseback but most poor witches walked and carried

a broom or pole. In England when witches were initiated they were blindfolded rubbed with

flying ointment and placed on broomsticks. This ointment confused the witches so they believed

they were flying over the land and sea. The ointment was supposed to muddle the mind, quicken the

pulse and numb the feet. Flying ointment still made today has a narcotic in it and it is absorbed through the skin when rubbed in. There are many legends and misconceptions about witches that still exist today. Witches do not use flying ointment or sacrifice any animals or people.

Before pumpkins Scottish children hollowed out large turnips and put candles in them. Irish children used turnips or potatoes.

In parts of England they used large beets. When the Scotch and the Irish came to the US they found pumpkins which of course made

perfect jack-o'-lanterns.    

Some people wore masks when droughts or disasters struck. They believed demons had brought disaster upon

them. Food was stored in preparation for winter.

Children would dress up as ghosts and goblins to scare neighbors but no trick or treats were offered.

In parts of England the poor went to houses singing and begging for food and money. Spanish people put cakes

nuts on graves on Halloween to bribe evil spirits.

Today Halloween is the second largest commercial holiday. Trick or treating is a relatively inexpensive way for an entire

community to share the Halloween celebration.

Symbols of Halloween and Costumes

There are three basic categories of symbols, death, evil or misfortune and harvest. Symbol of death include graveyards, ghosts, skeleton and

haunted houses. The symbols of evil are witches, goblins and black cats. Finally symbols of harvest are pumpkins, scarecrows and candy corn.

The first two categories tap into human ritual and myth. It is believed that for some Halloween is a way to confront death through its symbolism.

People try to avoid death, deny it or control it. On Halloween we confront the unknown through ritual and special symbols. The ritual reversals of Halloween also have potential power for children to overcome fears by going to the door of the spooky house, visiting the graveyard and other not-too-friendly neighbor haunts..

 

 

 

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN RECIPES:

 

BAKED APPLES STUFFED WITH DRIED CRANBERRIES and WALNUTS

6 to 8 golden delicious apples cored

1/2 cup apple juice

1/2 cup dried cranberries chopped finely.

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Baking dish to hold apples

Core the apples with an apple corer almost all the way through but leave the bottom. Place orange juice into

baking pan then add apples. Chop dried cranberries finely and mix with chopped walnuts

Stuff apples with dried cranberries and chopped walnuts. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for

a 1/2 hour of more. Baste apples frequently with orange juice . Add a teaspoon of butter to each apple while baking. Serve apples hot

with whipped cream. Serves about 6 .

 

Louisiana Cajun Popcorn

Serves: 6 hungry snackers, Preparation Time: 0:15
Popcorn has always been a popular snack. This recipes adds some hot spices to give the recipe a kick. Ground Hungarian paprika, cayenne pepper and cumin can be found in you local supermarket spice section.

1 cup un-popped popcorn
2 teaspoon ground Hungarian paprika

1 teaspoon ground red cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1. Pop the popcorn first the way you usually do over the stove, in you popcorn maker, or microwave. Do not add any seasoning while popping . Use vegetable or olive oil whatever you generally use.

2. Add all the spices and toss well. Serve immediately without the butter.

Ambrosia

6 navel or Valencia oranges peeled and segmented
6 bananas sliced thin
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup shredded coconut

Cut and peel the oranges removing every particle of skin. Section the orange with sharp knife cutting each segment and put in bowl with juice.
Peel and slice the bananas then mix with the oranges. Add the orange juice Chill for about 1 hour. Add the shredded coconut just before serving.

Serves 6

Spicy Chicken Bites

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
salt to taste

Cut chicken breasts into bit size chunks. Mix the olive oil, chili powder,
and together. Dip chicken chunks into chili mix. Coat the pieces evenly. Place chicken in aluminum pan in 400-degree oven. Cook for about 20 minutes to half-hour until chicken pieces are cooked. Serve hot with toothpick. Or fry chicken chunks in frying pan in oil on top of stove over medium heat until done.

Tip:

Keep warm on warming trays or cover pan with foil. Serve half the batch on plate. Keep rest in oven on low to replenish when low.

Sour Cream Cheddar Chili Dip

Serve this dip with baked tortilla chips or wheat crackers.

2 cups sour cream
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 package shredded yellow cheddar cheese

Place sour cream in medium bowl. Mix in chili powder, cumin and Tabasco sauce. Add the shredded cheddar cheese mix thoroughly with spoon. Make sure ingredients are blended thoroughly. Refrigerate the mixture at least one hour covered.

TIP:

Serve this dip chilled with baked tortilla chips, nachos, potato chips and
or crackers.
*You can place dip on serving platter surround by several choices
and let guest choose.
* Place a bowl or aluminum pan of crushed ice under the dip to keep it cold