It’s hard to imagine cool weather is just around the corner. Carving pumpkins in 80 degrees seems almost sacrilegious, a pagan flaunt to the weather gods. Yet Jack-o’-lanterns have lit the way for trick-or-treaters and religious observers alike.

Before there were pumpkins, there were turnips. And beets. And large potatoes. Irish and Scottish children carried these carved foodstuffs containing lighted candles to ward off evil spirits. The devilish lanterns were terrifying in appearance, and followed the tradition of Stingy Jack, who was banned from both Heaven and Hell because of his miserliness and trickery of the devil, respectively. Jack wandered with his lighted gourd, the ember from Satan himself, doomed to warn others until Judgment Day. When the tradition and legend reached the States, the gourds were supplanted with pumpkins and termed “Jack-o’-lanterns” after Stingy Jack’s legend.

The legend evolved into use for the pagan festival of Samheim on November 1, which marks the beginning of Celtic winter or “summer’s end,” and its eve marked the pagan sacrifice to protect against the evil spirits that returned to their homes that night.

Christian tradition recognizes November 1 as All Saints’ Day (Hallomas or Toussaint) and November 2 as All Souls’ Day (Day of the Dead for some). Though both are days of prayer, All Saints’ Day arose as a day to honor martyrs, by celebrating the saints who are in heaven. The following day marks a day of prayer for those in purgatory who are awaiting their passage to heaven and in need of purged souls.

All Souls’ Day is one of the more solemn observances in the French tradition. We decorate graves (jour des morts). In other cultures, meals are prepared or candles lit for the departed.

And finally, Halloween, or all Hallows Eve, evolved as the secular observance seeking protection from the world’s evils on the eve of All Saints’ Day.

To help make Halloween less “scary” this year, observe these simple rules:

1. Don’t allow young children to open the door unattended; exercise caution when opening the door to anyone. Common sense applies.
2. Ensure the path to your door is well lighted.
3. Avoid using real candles where costumes might accidentally brush against them.
4. If using Jack O’ Lanterns, set them apart from any walkway, dried leaves, or other ignitable foliage.
   HINT: Turn a flowerpot upside down and rest pumpkins atop them or on outdoor metal or glass tables.
5. If windy, exercise caution with live flames.
6. Only distribute candy in store-sealed packages. Consider handing out stickers or tattoos or other fun, nonedible items.
7. If giving homemade food items to friends (only!), label packaging so later sorting won’t land your hard work in the trash because of unknown origin.
8. Ask revelers to remove their masks and identify themselves, especially if young children, who can be terrified of dress-up masks, are involved.

And save those pumpkin seeds! Roasted pumpkin seed favorites include:

1. Traditional recipe:
   Rinse seeds, spread on baking sheet or parchment paper on tray, cover in salt, roast at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 45 minutes or until golden brown.
2. Variations:
   Use coarse sea salt or flavored salt
   Coat in butter or olive oil in addition to salting
3. Instead of salt, try:
   Cajun spice mix
   Parmesan cheese
   Butter and brown sugar with cinnamon
   Indian spice—curry powder

Experiment with your own favorites—lime and orange zest? With sugar or salt?

Send us your results to be included in our next blog!

And if you are going to be away for Halloween, or need help hosting your festivities, contact A Votre Service! for your Hampton home property management, house watching, house cleaning, and housekeeping needs.

Amitiés,
Jocelyne