Finally, it’s October. I can say goodbye to sweat and hello to goosebumps. That’s fine with me. Like many others, autumn is my favorite season because there is so much to love: colorful leaves, pumpkins, candy corn, hoodies, boots, bonfires, and our first fall holiday, Halloween. 

Halloween has become the second largest commercial holiday in America; its origin stems from an ancient pre-Christian festival, Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween). These Celtic festivities were held at the end of fall to celebrate the gods and goddesses of harvest, and to honor the dead. Scary disguises were worn as participants danced around bonfires to keep spooky spirits away. Around this same time, All Saints Day, which is devoted to prayer, was also celebrated. On this day, the poor received a pastry in exchange for a promise to pray for a saint. Due to the potato famine of 1845, there was a massive influx of Irish immigrants to America. They brought along their customs and traditions which had by that time evolved from a celebration of spirits and saints into a celebration of lighthearted fun. It’s believed that wearing costumes and handing out treats began with these early ceremonies.

Unfortunately, the lawlessness of the 1920s brought back an element of fear to the celebration. This time the fear was not of ghosts and goblins, it was of the vicious violence that ruled our streets. With the banning of alcohol in 1919, and an ensuing depression, crime became prevalent in America. Jobs were scarce, which induced the criminal activity of bootlegging and prostitution. Murder, rape, vandalism, gambling, drug trafficking, theft, kidnapping, and malicious assaults led to a 561-percent increase of convicts in America’s prisons.

Thankfully, when the Second World War ended in 1945, there was a renewed passion to end the violence. Through the efforts of Law Enforcement, law and order was restored in our country and Halloween became a safe holiday once again. Now that my children are grown and live so far away, I enjoy going to neighborhoods where I can watch little witches, princesses, and dinosaurs skip along from house to house to get their treats.  

I also enjoy decorating my home. There is something so appealing about the colors and fabrics of fall. I’ve made kitchen accessories from fabric adorned with purple cats and orange pumpkins, pillow covers from candy-corn and green witch prints, and several quilts from pretty, paisley leaf-prints. Crocheted ghosts and witches are also scattered about. It’s pretty cute around here this time of year.

October is also the perfect time to bake a pumpkin pie or loaf of cranberry bread. The aroma of these treats will add to the warm, cozy aura of autumn ambiance. If you need a super-simple party recipe, try this~

Pumpkin Delight

Slice the top off of a small pumpkin and scoop out the inside. 

Combine 8-oz of softened, cream cheese with 1/2 cup of canned pumpkin, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Beat until smooth and creamy. Spoon into the pumpkin.

Serve with crackers, bagels, or that loaf of cranberry bread you just took out of the oven.