Fun What Your Halloween Candy Says About You

I found this graphic last year, unfortunately it was after Halloween... So, when I was pondering what to post I remembered I had this in my "stash" of Halloween ideas... I was concerned, because I couldn't remember exactly where I found it, luckily my good friend google found it for me.... here is the link: http://www.nickmom.com/more-lols/what-your-trick-or-treat-giveaways-say-about-you/

Happy Halloween!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy Halloween Pumpkin Walkabout

Unique Pumpkin Carvings Photo Collection

Halloween... Each of these pumpkins were showcased in town and were carved / decorated by the shop owners. They are so creative and fun.

So, where does the name Halloween come from, I found this information on the internet, 

Originally spelled Hallowe'en, it is a contraction of All Hallows Even, meaning the day before All Hallows Day (better known today as All Saints Day), a Catholic holiday commemorating Christian saints and martyrs observed since the early Middle Ages on November 1. (directly quoted from About.com)

I guess there is no definitive answer for how Halloween came about, but this is one thought.

Unique Pumpkin Carvings

Several sources say that it dates back to the Celts who believed that on October 31st the spirits of the dead walk the earth / come out of their tombs. They would do things to frighten the ghosts like wearing scary costumes and lighting fires. They also had lucky foods that they ate like apples and nuts.

Unique Pumpkin Carvings

Many of the things we associate with Halloween are from the Celts. Black is the color of winter and long nights and Orange is the color of the harvest. Black cats were thought to have special powers (makes me want to do something on superstitions).

Unique Pumpkin Carvings

This Celtic tradition was married with the Christian practices after the Romans invaded. In the Christian tradition, November 1st was All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day). The mass that the Catholic Church celebrated on November 1st was the mass of all the hallowed (saintly people). So, this meant that October 31st was All Hallows' Eve which later became Halloween.

Unique Pumpkin Carvings

I hope you've enjoyed these pumpkins, I only wish all of my photos had come out, they were fun to see and the kids had a great time!

Happy Halloween!

Don't forget to grab your free copy of the My Memories scrapbooking and photo enhancement software!  Yes, I said FREE as long as you chose the download method!

From October 27th to November 3rd you can get a free copy of the My Memories software simply by using this code FreeTreatLL146 at the checkout!  This is really important, please copy and paste it since it has to look exactly like this  FreeTreatLL146  you will enter the code in the promo code field before checking out.  

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy St Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!!!

St. Patrick's day is a day filled with the "luck of the Irish" and much green. Saint Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.

Did you notice the really cute shamrock? It was created with the loving hands of a little one - isn't it cute? On the back is this little poem:

Just like the leaves on each shamrock I see,

There are three parts to the Holy Trinity,

First is God the Father,

Then Jesus His only Son,

And the Holy Spirit

Together as One.

So, did you eat Corned Beef and Cabbage today? We did over the weekend, but not tonight. By the way, I have it on good authority that Corned Beef and Cabbage is not the traditional St. Pat's meal. Corned Beef is apparently more of an English meal, not Irish. A meal that is eaten in Ireland is boiled bacon and cabbage. Lest you forget, here is a funny poem by Frances Shilliday to help us remember:

GOOD GRIEF - NOT BEEF!

I just want to put something straight
About what should be on your plate,
If it's corned beef you're makin'
You're sadly mistaken,
That isn't what Irishmen ate.

If you ever go over the pond
You'll find it's of bacon they're fond,
All crispy and fried,
With some cabbage beside,
And a big scoop of praties beyond.

Your average Pat was a peasant
Who could not afford beef or pheasant.
On the end of his fork
Was a bit of salt pork,
As a change from potatoes 'twas pleasant.

This custom the Yanks have invented,
Is an error they've never repented,
But bacon's the stuff
That all Irishmen scoff,
With fried cabbage it is supplemented.

So please get it right this St. Paddy's.
Don't feed this old beef to your daddies.
It may be much flasher,
But a simple old rasher,
Is what you should eat with your tatties.

©Frances Shilliday 2004, please visit her website which debunks other myths including this little ditty.

Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: St Patricks Day, fun facts, corned beef, Frances Shilliday

Did you know that today is the First Day of Spring? Today is one of those pivotal days where there is an equal amount of day as there is night. Of course, that does not mean that it is warm, but those days are around the corner (for us at least).

The official term for the first day of Spring is the "vernal equinox". As the Earth make its journey around the sun, this is the time where the Northern Hemisphere is tilted more towards the sun. So, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere it is spring, for those of you in the Southern Hemisphere it is fall. On this day (generally around the 20th or 21st of March each year), sunrise and sunset are approximately 12 hours apart. Those scientific sites tell me that the day is actually a little bit longer, so it isn't quite equal, but that is ok with me.

Ok - let's debunk a myth.... Rumor has it that you can balance a raw egg on the first day of spring. In fact, there were some 100 egg-crazy New Yorkers who got together in 1983 to balance eggs, and in 1984 the number grew to about 5,000 to try this again. The theory goes that on this day, the pull of gravity is more equal because the sun is more directly overhead. Truth is there is no scientific evidence to prove this. So, although this may be something fun to try, if you can balance a raw egg today, you can balance one any day of the year.

But, go ahead and try, why not?

Some websites with family friendly crafts and information:

• Celebrate the First day of Spring with About.com
• Education World

Happy Spring!
Copyright Antonella DeFalco

Technorati Tags: Spring, fun facts, childrens crafts

Corned Beef and Cabbage - Fact or Fiction?

So, you think that Corned Beef and Cabage is the traditional Irish meal at St. Patrick's day? I have it on good authority that this just is not true. Corned Beef is apparently more of an English meal, not Irish. A meal that is eaten in Ireland is boiled bacon and cabbage.

So there you have it, and lest you forget, here is a funny poem by Frances Shilliday to help us remember:

GOOD GRIEF - NOT BEEF!
I just want to put something straight
About what should be on your plate,
If it's corned beef you're makin'
You're sadly mistaken,
That isn't what Irishmen ate.

If you ever go over the pond
You'll find it's of bacon they're fond,
All crispy and fried,
With some cabbage beside,
And a big scoop of praties beyond.

Your average Pat was a peasant
Who could not afford beef or pheasant.
On the end of his fork
Was a bit of salt pork,
As a change from potatoes 'twas pleasant.

This custom the Yanks have invented,
Is an error they've never repented,
But bacon's the stuff
That all Irishmen scoff,
With fried cabbage it is supplemented.

So please get it right this St. Paddy's.
Don't feed this old beef to your daddies.
It may be much flasher,
But a simple old rasher,
Is what you should eat with your tatties.

©Frances Shilliday 2004, please visit her website which debunks other myths including this little ditty.

Although it may not be the traditional meal, I must admit to you that I had Corned Beef and Cabbage on St. Patrick's day. Yes, it is true. I was first introduced to this meal by my husband and I have to say that I truly enjoy it with a nice side of spicy brown mustard. Shhh, don't tell, lest someone be angry, but I think that we will have some again next year.

Cheers!
Copyright Antonella DeFalco

Technorati Tags: history, fun facts, St Patricks Day, myths, corned beef

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

I was interested in doing a bit of research into this green, shamrock filled day! So, here are the results.... some fun, interesting facts about this holiday.

St. Patrick's day is a day filled with the "luck of the Irish" and much green. Saint Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.

Would you like to hear some folklore? This is one of the most well know (at least I have heard of this before). The story goes that Saint Patrick Patrick stood on a hilltop (Croagh Patrick), and with only a wooden staff, drove all the snakes from Ireland. Apparently, no snakes were ever native to Ireland so this could not have happened, but it does make for a fun story. Many people believe this story is a a metaphor for the conversion of the pagans to Christianity.

The shamrock is one of the most identifiable Irish symbols. The shamrock, which was also called the "seamroy" by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. It is believed that Saint Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. The shamrock represented how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity.

Have you heard what they do in Chigago? They dye the Chicago River green every year on St. Patrick's day. The first time they did this was in 1962. They used enough green vegetable dye to dye the river green for a week! Today, for environmental reasons, they only put enough in to keep it green for a few hours.

Some good Irish sayings while you make a toast today:

May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.

As you slide down the banisters of life may the splinters never point the wrong way.

May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.

May your neighbors respect you,
Troubles neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.

An old Irish recipe for longevity:
Leave the table hungry.
Leave the bed sleepy.
Leave the bar thirsty.

Green may be the color of the day, but did you know that blue was once the color associated with this day?

I hope you have found this entertaining.

This information was found on many websites by performing a search for "st patrick's day", including: www.history.com, wilstar.com/holidays/patrick.htm, http://www.st-patricks-day.com/index.asp, and wiki-pedia to name a few.

Enjoy!
Copyright Antonella DeFalco

Technorati Tags: history, fun facts, St Patricks Day, luck of the Irish