Halloween: A scary fun time for young and old.

A wee bit o' Halloween history.

Hallow E'en as they call it in Ireland , means All Hallows Eve, or the night before the 'All Hallows', also called 'All Hallowmas', or 'All Saints', or 'All Souls' Day, observed on November 1.

In old English the word 'Hallow' meant 'sanctify'.

The American version owes its origin to the ancient (pre-Christian) Druidic fire festival called "Samhain", celebrated by the Celts in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Samhain is pronounced "sow-in", with "sow" rhyming with cow.

In Ireland the festival was known as Samhein, or La Samon, the Feast of the Sun.

In Scotland, the celebration was known as Hallowe'en.

In Welsh, it's Nos Galen-gaeof (that is, the Night of the Winter Calends).

According to the Irish English dictionary published by the Irish Texts Society: "Samhain, All Hallowtide, the feast of the dead in Pagan and Christian times, signalizing the close of harvest and the initiation of the winter season, lasting till May".

Faeries were imagined as particularly active at this season. Offerings of food and drink were left outside to appease their mischievous pranks.

Here are some fun things to make with those little mischievous people in your house.

Halloween Bars

1/2 Cup margarine or butter
1 1/2 Cups graham cracker crumbs
1 (14 Oz.) Can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 Oz.) Pac milk chocolate chips
1 Cup peanut butter chips

Preparation : Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 degrees for glass dish). In 13 x 9 inchbaking pan, melt margarine in oven. Sprinkle crumbs evenly over margarine;pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumbs. Top with chips; press down firmly. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until lightlybrowned. Cool. Cut into bars.

Scary Spiders

2 tbl Peanut butter
2 tbl Powdered sugar
2 tbl Graham cracker crumbs
2 tbl Coconut
Licorice
Raisins

Mix peanut butter, sugar and crumbs together and form a ball.
Divide the ball into 2 parts to form 2 balls, 1 slightly smaller than the other.
Roll balls in coconut and place smaller ball on top of larger one.
The smaller ball with be the head and the larger 1, the abdomen.
Add 8 licorice legs and 8 raisin eyes.
Makes 1 scary spider.

Halloween Face Paint

1 Teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 Teaspoon water
1/2 Teaspoon cold cream (borrow some from Grammas jar)
2 Drops food coloring (any color - green is good!)

Preparation :
In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, mix well.

What do you call a witch who lives at the beach?
A sand witch.

What goes "Ha-ha-ha . . . THUD!"
A monster laughing his head off

Why do witches fly on brooms?
Because vacuum cleaners are too heavy.

More Halloween Recipes