Why Do We Celebrate Halloween?

Halloween, sometimes called All Hollows Eve, Night of the Dead, and other creepy names. But why do we really celebrate Halloween? Why, did we start Halloween? Some cultures do you use Halloween, as a celebration of the dark side. For the most part Halloween is a fun celebration, to dress up and be someone else for a night.

Halloween started many years ago, in other countries. These other countries celebrated the end of Summer, and the season of the Sun. They prepared for season of cold, and long nights. October 31st was the day they chose to hold their festival, sometimes referred to as the Fall Festival, or Harvest.

When settlers came to America, they brought their holiday customs with them. Many of the settlers came from different countries. Of course all the customs have been joined and we have our own Halloween celebration. The most important symbol of Halloween is the Pumpkin.

The early settlers used to cut out other fruits and vegetables, and decorate them. The people of Ireland cut out and decorated Turnips. They hollowed out the Turnip, and put a candle on the inside. When the Irish came to America they used big, round, orange Pumpkins, and now we have our famous Jack-O-Lantern.

Years ago, in other countries, the poor would beg for food. They were called soulers, and people would give them soul cakes. The beggers would then promise that would remember the dead.

Here, today in America children dress in silly, funny, and scary costumes and go Trick Or Treating. The receive candy, and small trinkets in their basket or pumpkin of choice.

Halloween has become a huge profit maker for American businesses, and according to early polls people have spent more money on Halloween this year, than any other year. Some companies base their whole company on Halloween, and are actually closed the rest of the year. You can find almost any costume imaginable, now today. From celebrities, to super heros, prncesses, politicians, what ever you could think of. It has become one night of fun, a night to get away from the stress of the real world, and live in a fantasy. To be someone else for one night, isn't that something everyone wants?

Please remember your Halloween safety rules:

Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
Wear a light on your suit, or carry a flash light
Walk on walkways, not the street if possible
Go slow, kids run out in the street without thinking
Never eat any candy, before it has been thoroughly inspected by an adult
Have fun, isnt that the most important one






Halloween Comments
Myspace Comments - Free Image Hosting

Thanksgiving Dinner, No Serious Posts Today

I am taking a break from serious topics, and there certainly are plenty, and taking a lighter note today. Tomorrow is test day, so I have no Lesson Plans to post. It is freezing here again, in N Florida, and my hands are frozen, so I am typing with mittens on. Actually, I seem to type fast with them on LOL.

I am one of those strange people that plans 30-45 days ahead, for big events or meals. This probably stems from all the years of getting paid every two weeks, and having to plan or have no money to buy what you need, when it is time to make the big meal. My mom was here last Friday, so we went over the menu. We decided we wanted to try a few different recipes, and foods than our traditional Thanksgiving menu.

Turkey, of course, made with maple syrup butter. This will be our second time doing this kind, and it is delicious. I highly recommend it.
Bisquits with gravy- my mother hates store bought bisquits, I hate making them from scratch. So we compromised and she will make the bisquits and I will make the gravy.
Mashed potatoes- pretty much a given
Sweet Potatoe Casserole- this is a new addition to our menu, so I am looking forward to this.
Coleslaw- Cabbage salad whatever you call it. I am making it different this year. Cabbage, carrots, chopped cooked bacon, ranch dressing, possibly onions and red peppers. Does that not sound great. This will be another new try for us.
Cholcolate pie, instead of apple pie. Everyone loves chocolate and apple is just getting old
Some kind of Truffle my mom is making, I am sure it will be awesome.
Rolls with butter
Green beans with onions- Instead of the traditional green bake, we are going to do a all year favorite. Fresh green beans, sauteed with onions in butter, and extra virgin olive oil, with just a splash of red wine vinaigrette.
Stuffing, of course.
That is it, unless we decide to add more things. That is plenty for 5 people, and one dog. Have you started to plan your menu yet?

Our Ocean field trip, which was scheduled for earlier in Sept, has been rescheduled for next Friday. Hopefully it will warm back up, or I might have to order a snowsuit to wear. We hope to find some cool shells, to use in various arts and crafts projects. My mom will be going with us, as my husband has to work, and she knows the way to the specific part of the Gulf she likes to go to. We will have a picnic lunch, and just enjoy the beauty of the Ocean.

Yesterday, I posted we were finally making the Paper Mache Pumpkins, yeah ok. It was a big mess, and a big pain. They were white balloons, and we just ended up painting them orange, and then painting funny faces on them.

And The Winner Of The October Contest Is:

The winner of the 10 dollars cash, and free 90 day text link, is Cy. I used random.org and the number chosen was 37, that was the number assigned to Cy. I had 39 total entries, so it took me a bit of time to give a number to each entry, before them into their integrer. It was fast, and easy after that. Thank you to all who entered. I will be contacting Cy, to let her know of her winning.

I am working on the November contest now. I know what the prize is, just working out the details. It will probably be between both blogs, with the one prize. Due to the expense of the prize, and the cost to ship it, I am combining them together. So stay tuned for that.

Lesson Plans for 10/30/08:

Writing: Write a spooky Halloween poem
Reading: Chapter 1 of Pirates Past Noon
Health: Nutrition
Math: Add 3 numbers, multiplication, division
Language Arts: Phonics Review, word references
Vocabulary: Lesson 9, write each vocab word and definition, 2x each
Spelling: Lesson 9, put each spelling word in alphabetical order
PE- 30 minutes
Spanish- food and utensils

Have a great day, everyone.

Five Warning Signs That You May Be Laid Off

I found these, warning signs, in my local Sunday newspaper. Whether or not they are accurate, they are certainly interesting. My husband, and I decided last week, for me to cut back two nights a week, at my job, as signs were indeed pointing to me being cut anyway. As I am only per diem, and they have cut everyones overtime, and hours, I felt it was only soon to be my turn. I have seniority, and is probably the only reason it did not happen sooner. We figured we could easier plan for the money loss, ahead rather than just having it dumped on us all of a sudden. So here are the 5 warning signs:

1- Others are losing their jobs. Here in Florida, I do not see where jobs are ever stable, unless you are fortunate enough to get a state job. I have blogged about this before, but with the economy in Florida as terrible as it is, more jobs are being lost every day.

2- Hiring Freeze- I work in the medical industry, so a hiring freeze, is not really pertinent, but they can cut back their staffing to the bare minimum that is legal, and yes they have done that as have most medical facilities.

3- Training budgets cut, projects slow down- Ha that is laughable, this company does not offer such luxuries, but I do know Construction is basically at a stand still in Florida, and companies are cutting their benefits left and right.

4- Office gossip- I am not quite sure how this is a warning sign, as there is always gossip, at least as long as I have been in the work force.

5- Company is missing targets- The company I work for only has one target, to make money and spend the least amount of money. I am pretty sure they have met this target. However there are a lot of companies that have not. They are hurting for sales, especially in construction, auto industry, retail, and dining out.

They do say, that if you think you will be laid off, it might not be a bad idea to try to work out something with your company. Maybe an incentive package, that could hold you over why you look for another job. Plus going back to school, and getting a trade in some of the areas that are not hurting right now. Personally I am not sure what those industries are, so I can not help there.

There is only 24 hrs to get in the contest to win the 10 dollars, and free 90 text link. I have had tons of entries, way more than I expected, and have decided to use Random.org to draw the winner. It would take me forever to write up, and tear tiny pieces of paper, for the number of entries I got. Thank you, and good luck to all of you that entered.

Lesson Plans for 10/29/08:

One note, my husband seems to have thrown out the balloons for the paper mache pumpkins, so they will be done later this week.

Writing: Write about the adventures of a Scarecrow
Reading: Write book report for Mummies in the Morning
Social Studies: Halloween themed unit, Idaho
Math: Money, division, multiplication
Language Arts: Phonics review, verbs past and present
Spelling: Lesson 9 write each word, and circle the consonants
Vocabulary: Lesson 9, think of a Synonym for each vocabulary word
Spanish- Food and utensils