Spooky Fun for the Family

Pumpkins and Halloween

Celebrating Halloween is not a new festivity. It dates back at least 3,000 years to the Celtic's celebration known as Samhain (pronounced "sow-ain"). Starting at sundown on October 31st, the celebration lasted until the sun set on November 1st--somewhat similar to a present-day, extended New Year's Eve party.

Jack-o-lanterns were carved, but from turnips or gourds, and set outside or in windows where they would be visible. The idea was to welcome deceased loved ones and to protect the family against bad spirits. This was thought to be a good time to contact loved ones who had passed on, and say goodbye to them, or pray to them. The candles now used were then lumps of burning coal, and offered a source of light.

There was no connection to evil or Satan but, rather, Halloween was linked to both the harvest and the end of summer. 

The Irish are thought to be the first to carve jack-o-lanterns. When they arrived in American and saw the size of our pumpkins, they realized that carving would be much easier with this larger vegetable. They began using pumpkins for their Halloween carving festivities instead of the previously used turnips or gourds.

Not Just for Kids Anymore

Whoever thinks Halloween is just for kids should think again. Even as adults fit witches hats onto tiny little heads, or transform sheets into Casper the Friendly Ghost costumes, many adults secretly envision what their costume would be if they were to dress up.

This year, why not co-host a Halloween party with your children? If you don't have children of your own, you can throw a party and invite the neighborhood kids and their folks.

It's a great opportunity for a social activity that you and your youngsters can plan, carry out and attend together. Nothing to do but have fun deciding on costumes, activities, decorations and party food--with the input of the children being just as important as that of the parents.

The safely factor is also a consideration, as well as having some control over what your little ones are being given as treats. You know they are securely with you, and not shivering going from door-to-door in a costume with which they refuse to wear a sweater or jacket that will ruin its look. They'll get plenty of candy and treats, and you will know just what they have in their goodie bags, because you and your neighbors will have chosen the items.

See the recipes for Frankenstein Creole Bean Dip with Baby Carrot Toes, Ghostly-Crispy Chicken Fingers, and Halloween-Spirits Gelatin.

You can easily round out the meal with kids' favorites, such as stuffing from a packaged mix, a fruit platter of orange slices (giants eyes), crookedly-cut cantaloupe and mango "fingers", and a Halloween cake from your local bakery or supermarket.

Ghouls and Ghosts, Let's Party!

 Here is a simple "party-plan" to help you and your youngsters put together a terrific Halloween celebration:

• Decide how many families to have involved, and determine who will have the party at their house
• Divide the menu items among the number of families, assigning two dishes to each family if it's a small group
• Have each family plan some of the decorations--as simple as black and orange balloons, or as elaborate as turning one room into a haunted house

One section of the house could be for the adults to visit in, while another room is set up for the kids (while the kids are welcome in the "adult" room, they will have more fun in a separate area with activities that are planned to interest them). Some Halloween DVDs are one idea. The adults could take turns attending to the kids party--helping with activities, such as:

1. Let the kids hold a contest and vote for the best adult costume (this way there are no hard feelings when the kids don't win the best costume award)
2. Buy frosted but undecorated cupcakes from a bakery, along with various Halloween candies and small decorations. Allow the kids to decorate their own individual cupcakes, without dealing with the mess of making and frosting them
3. Each adult could come prepared with one ghost story
4. The children could take turns opening the door and handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters
5. Draw a pumpkin to hang on the wall, and make a pumpkin "stem." Play a Halloween version of "pin the tail on the donkey," this version being "pin the stem on the pumpkin"
6. Have colored markers and paper eyes, noses and mouths to decorate and paste on mini pumpkins that the kids can take home with them
7. Have a pinata that the kids can break so they have candy for their own Halloween bags

For more information on pumpkin history and carving, and fall recipes perfect for your Halloween party see: