Halloween is my favorite time of year. Not only because of the diabolical holiday, but because the weather is finally changing once again, and autumn is the most beautiful season of them all to me. The summer heat has finally dissipated, and the cool breezes bring with it brightly colored leaves on trees, and an overall sense of contentment. I know not everyone feels this way, and I suppose this is what defines a true follower of the Halloween spirit...

However, these celebrations are not to be confused with All Souls Day (November 2), which was another feast of the Roman Catholic Church in which those on earth prayed for the souls of the departed still suffering in purgatory. It was believed that the dead would return to their earthly homes on All Souls Day, and often families would leave candles burning so the deceased could find their ways home. However, in Irish and Scottish cultures, it is felt that the devil, witches and spirits also roamed with the returning souls, and the flames of candles were extinguished until the All Souls Day festivities began.

Trick or treating has been a tradition in many cultures for centuries. Hundreds of years ago, people wore masks when droughts or diseases (or other disasters) struck. Folks believed that wearing hideous masks would ward off the demons who brought misfortune, thus creating the nature of superstition which was so prevalent amongst people of medieval times and later.

In England ages ago, the poor once went from house to house singing for soul cakes made of bread and raisins, or begging for money. Also, in some parts of England, "turnip" lanterns were placed on gateposts to protect homes from the spirits. Other ancient English folklore includes the legend of elves riding on the backs of village cats, and often villagers would lock up their felines so that the elves would not catch them. In addition, children were told not to sit under Hawthorne trees because fairies loved to dance on them, and if they were to see the children, their tempers would soar. One old Halloween tradition was to give children beggars apples, buns and money to insure they kept ghosts and goblins from playing tricks.

In Spain forty years ago, people would often put cakes and nuts on graves during Halloween, thinking to bribe the evil spirits. Additionally, the black cat is considered to be bad luck (especially if you let it cross your path or come into your home). A special pastry known as Bones of the Holy is eaten during Halloween in Spain, and this food is actually an anise seed bread with an orange glaze. The bread is also known as "Pan de Muerto" (Bread of the Dead), and is shaped into skulls or round loaves, with strips of dough rolled out and attached to resemble bones.

In a sinister twist, the Spanish Inquisition carried out Auto-Da-Fe ("act of faith") on All Saints Day. This was the public ceremony of executing people condemned to death by the Inquisition for heresy and other "sins." It was also a judicial ceremony of the Roman Catholic Church, and was considered a solemn occasion. The condemned would be taken to a public place, where they would hear a sermon followed by the execution of their sentence (where they were most commonly burned at the stake). The first recorded Auto-Da-Fe was held by the Inquisition in 1481; and the last to take place was early in the 19th-century. The ceremony also took place on Sunday's between Whitsunday and Advent.

In Poland, doors and windows are left open to welcome the spirits or visiting souls (quite a different reaction from other parts of Europe, where people are typically afraid of such things). However, Halloween is not celebrated in Poland as it is in other parts of the world. Most people are aware of what happens on Halloween, but traditions do not abound here. In North America, of course, trick-or-treaters are welcomes by placing lighted pumpkins in windows and on porches, and those who knock on the door in costumes are offered treats and other goodies.

In Switzerland, the Swiss carve pumpkins for Halloween and place small candles inside the middle.

The word Jack O'Lantern was first used when a mysterious light began to flicker over the marshes in Ireland. When the light was approached, it would advance, always keeping out of reach. (This light is also known as will o' the wisp). In Irish legend, there was a man named Stingy Jack who died. He was considered too mean to go to heaven, and he had tricked the devil too many times to be invited into hell. In death, Jack had to walk the earth carrying a lantern made out of a turnip with a single burning coal inside. This Irish spirit became known as Jack O'Lantern, or Jack of the Lantern. It wasn't until immigrants brought the tradition to the United States that pumpkins were used as the Jack O'Lantern's. At the time, pumpkins were used because they were less expensive and more abundant than turnips.

Vlad Dracula was a real person, but he was also a Romanian prince who lived during the 15th century. Vlad was noted for his military finesse against Turkish invasions, and he is still considered a hero in Romania today. However, Vlad was also a mass murderer whose favorite form if killing was impalement. Legend has it he also enjoyed using the blood of his victims to mix in his food and chopping up the remains to eat. Thus the vampire stories were born. The actual word "vampire" derives from a Slavic word "vampyre," which means "flying between" and "drinking."

The word Frankenstein literally means "stone of the Franks" in German. In 500 A.D., the Franks seized control of Gaul, which was part of the Roman Empire during that time. Included in the conquest was a quarry in the vicinity of what is now Darmstadt, Germany. One of their knights, Arbogast Von Frankenstein, was a voracious warrior from this area, and he was the first person known to use the surname of Frankenstein. In the 13th-century, a castle was built near Darmstadt, and was named for Baron von Frankenstein.

In 1814, the English novelist Mary Shelley traveled down the Rhine River in Germany with her husband. It is said one of their stops was near the ruins of Frankenstein Castle. Some four years later, in 1818, she published her novel Frankenstein, which has since become a literary classic through the ages to the modern day. The novel recounts the life of Victor Frankenstein, a doctor who creates a man from other bodies in his laboratory, and who reels in disgust from his creation for fear he has spawned a monster.

Werewolves are beasts that have no known origins. The term lycanthropy is also used in describing the werewolf, and is defined as originating from the Greek words "lyoki" (wolf), and "anthropos" (man). Further definition of the term lycanthropy means "a human being that has changed into a wolf, or is capable of assuming the form of a wolf, held possible by witchcraft or other magic." Werewolves are a cross-between a human man and an enraged beast who kills with a bloody violence.

During this mythical transformation from man to beast, the person afflicted with lycanthropy experiences extremes in pain as his bones twist and change shape. The skull extends and the skin stretches, making the head take on huge proportions. Once the werewolf has taken form and is on the loose, he will stalk an obvious prey and then attack. The werewolf rips the throat out from his victim, often eating the remains or leaving the disemboweled body to decay. The person so attacked by the werewolf will be left in a living hell as he or she will remain walking the earth, haunting the human form of the werewolf. The wandering dead will torment the human werewolf, trying to stop him from hideously transforming and killing again.

There is also an authentic medical condition known as Lycanthropic Disorder, in which the patient believes that he or she is a werewolf. Werewolves are also immune to aging and most physical diseases, and are said to transform from human to wolf when the moon is full. The only thing that can destroy a werewolf is a silver bullet.

Witchcraft is termed as "sorcery, the magical manipulation of supernormal forces through the use of spells and the conjuring of spirits." Many people in the dark ages thought of witchcraft as evil magic, heresy and devil-worship. The general fear and belief that women could be witches was proven with the Salem Witch Trials in the 1700's, when women were burned at the stake after being condemned as witches.

Preheat the oven to 300-degrees F. In a small mixing bowl, sift the flour. Add the cornstarch and salt, stirring with a fork. Set aside. Place the butter in a large bowl, and cream with an electric mixer. Sift in the sugar, and mix until batter is fluffy. Add the vanilla and pecans, mixing well. Slowly pour the flour mixture into the butter mixture, and combine until the dough appears crumbly. Place a 12" piece of waxed paper onto your kitchen counter (or another smooth work surface). Place the dough on top of the waxed paper, then cover it with another piece of waxed paper about the same size. With a rolling pin, roll out the dough to 1/4" thick and slowly remove the top piece of waxed paper.

Slice the dough with a butter knife into oblong shapes, about the width of your middle finger. Use a metal spatula to the lift the "fingers" onto an un-greased cookie sheet, making sure to leave about 1" between each "finger." To give the "fingers" an old and knotted appearance, bend some of them sideways at the knuckles. Use slivered almonds for each "fingernail." Place the cookie sheet in the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and place the "fingers" on a wire rack to cool. Suggested Presentation: Place upright in a large glass bowl, or a decorative candy dish.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Stir with a fork and set aside. Put the butter and confectioner's sugar in a large bowl, and then cream together with an electric mixer. Add the sour cream, then stir in the flour mixture and the almonds. Blend until smooth. Scoop out the dough onto a lightly floured, smooth surface. Pat into a rectangle 3/4" thick and 5" wide. Cut the rectangle into 12 bars with a knife. Each bar should be about 1 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" long.

Arrange the cookie bars about 1" apart on and un-greased cookie sheet (you may have to cook these in two batches, or use two cookie sheets if you have them). Place in the oven and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes. The cookies will puff-up slightly, and expand during baking. Remove cookie sheets from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool. When the "tombstones" are completely cooled, spread with white frosting, and pipe on "RIP" with a different colored frosting.

Place all of the ingredients (except the food coloring), in large mixing bowl. Beat well until fluffy and completely blended. Add the food coloring of your choice (and quantity desired), one drop at a time until you have the color you want. (If you want more than one color, divide the frosting into two bowls and add food coloring separately). Scoop the frosting into a large, plastic freezer bag that is sealable. Snip off the bottom corner with scissors. (If you are using a pastry bag, follow the instructions on the package for fitting the pastry tips). Before you begin to decorate cookies or other baked treats, slowly squirt out a small amount of the frosting to eliminate air pockets. Place any unused frosting in an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to two months.

Process the cider, ice cream, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg in a food processor or blender until the mixture is smooth. Pour into glasses and sprinkle with additional nutmeg, and put a cinnamon stick in each glass. Serve at once.

Pre-heat the oven to 325-degrees F. In a large bowl with a wooden spoon, stir together the condensed milk, vanilla, almond extract, cinnamon, coconut, chocolate chips and mini-marshmallows. To give the "brains" a natural gray color, add food coloring drop by drop until the batter is an even shade. Drop teaspoonfuls of the dough onto a greased baking sheet, leaving an inch between each. Lightly press the hollow side of the teaspoon over each "brain." Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, making sure the cookies don't burn. Remove from oven and let cool.

Reserve 48 olive slices, 48 pieces of red pepper and 1 TBS of the cream cheese. Chop the remaining olives. Combine remaining cream cheese, olives, red pepper and garlic in a bowl; mix well. Spread 2 TBS of the cream cheese mixture on each tortilla. Top each tortilla with 2 ham slices, overlapping slightly. Roll up the tortillas, jelly-roll fashion. Trim off any uneven ends of each tortilla, discard. Slice each tortilla roll in to 6 pieces (about 3/4" each). Using reserved cream cheese, attach reserved olives and red pepper to make roll-ups look like eyes.

Place two pieces of wax paper (15" in length each), side by side on a flat work surface. Spritz a wooden spoon with the vegetable spray. Place the margarine and marshmallows in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave on high for about two minutes. Stir with the wooden spoon. Return the covered mixture to the microwave and heat on high for another minute (or until the marshmallows appear bubbly). Remove from microwave, and pour in the cherry gelatin. Quickly stir until smooth. Add the rice cereal, and stir gently until well coated. Use the wooden spoon to drop "blood clots" (dough) onto the waxed paper. (You can form the "clots" into different shapes and sizes if you wish). Cool for about 30 minutes and serve.

Pre-heat the oven to 300-degrees F. Place flour, baking powder and salt together in a mixing bowl, and stir with a fork. Set aside. In another bowl, cream together butter and sugars, using an electric mixer. Add egg, sour cream and vanilla. Gradually stir in the flour mixture with a rubber spatula, and continue mixing until just combined. Set aside. Place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high heat for about 30 seconds (or until chocolate is melted). Allow chocolate to cool for about three minutes. Pour the warm chocolate over the cookie dough. Using a wooden spoon, lightly fold the chocolate into the dough. The cookie dough should now have the appearance of swirling quicksand, with light and dark areas. Drop the dough by tablespoon onto an un-greased cookie sheet, about 2" apart. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, and then remove and let cool.

Recipe Source: Fabulous Foods/Woodstock Inn Resort

Mix all of the ingredients together in a food processor. Add the horseradish, lemon juice, Tabasco sauce, salt and pepper to taste. Chill before serving with crackers, vegetables or chips.

Place the butter, milk and water into a small saucepan and warm over medium heat. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour, yeast, salt, anise seed and sugar. Beat in the warmed butter, milk and water until well combined. Add the eggs, and beat in another 1 cup of flour. Continue adding more flour until the dough is soft but not sticky. Knead on a lightly floured board for about 10 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size (about 1 to 2 hours). Punch the dough down and shape into loaves resembling skulls, skeletons or round loaves. To add the effect of "bones" roll out strips of dough and attach them to the loaves. Let the loaves rise for about 1 hour. Bake the loaves in a 350-degree F oven for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and paint on glaze (instructions follow).

Prepare the tortilla chips and set aside (see recipe below). Place the cream cheese and salsa in a blender (or food processor). Blend until smooth. Spread the cream cheese mixture on a round serving dish or a pie plate, and then smooth the guacamole over the top (leaving a 1/2" border). Place the sour cream in a re-sealable small plastic sandwich baggy. Seal the bag. Cut off a small corner of the baggy, and pipe the sour cream in circles over the guacamole. Run the tip of a knife through the sour cream to make a "spider web." Serve with the Tortilla Chips.

Using a 3" Halloween cookie cutter (or a sharp knife if you're artistic!), cut the tortillas into shapes one at a time, and discard scraps. Lightly spray the tortilla shapes with an olive oil cooking spray, and place on a cookie sheet that has also been sprayed with a non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt. Bake 5 to 7 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Serve with Spider Web Dip or Bloody Mary Dip (above).

Separate the eggs and discard the yolks (unless you want to freeze them and use them for other recipes). Place the egg whites in a large mixing bowl, and add the granulated sugar, baking powder and almond extract. Blend the ingredient with an electric mixer. Then add the almonds, flour and the large-granulated sugar. Continue to mix on low speed until the ingredients are well mixed. Remove the mixture from the bowl, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for about one hour. Take 3 tablespoons of the dough, and roll into a tube shape (about 3" long). Place on a greased and floured baking or cookie sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough. Bake at 325-degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.

To mold the cookies into "bone" shapes, take a cookie between your hands and roll it slowly to form a hot-dog shaped tube. Gently squeeze the cookie together in the palm of your hands so that the cookie sticks out slightly on each side (neat your thumb on one side, and near your pinky finger on the other). Form the ends of the "bones" by pinching the cookie ends our like a heart shape.

Some Halloween words are obvious (trick or treat and boo!), but there are several words that actually originated many centuries ago, and from all over the world. Below is a brief list of these words, including where they came from and what they originally meant.

Bat: Middle English bakke.

Devil: Greek diablos.

Fright: Old English fryhto.

Ghost: Old English ghast.

Goblin: French gobelin.

Graveyard: Old English word grafan, meaning "to dig."

Haunt: French hanter.

Lucifer: Latin for light bringer.

Monster: Roman monstrum.

Phantom: Greek phantasma.

Scary: Old Norse word skiarr, meaning timid.

Skull: Scandinavian word skoltr.

Spooky: Dutch word spook, meaning ghost.

Vampire: Hungarian vampir.

Witch: Old English wicce.

Click on link title to take you there...

Other great sources on the web:

Crystal Links (Werewolf Picture)

Fabulous Foods

Global Gourmet

The History Channel

Info Please

Jack O'Lanterns Net

MSN Encarta

Parascope

The Pumpkin Master

The Pumpkin Nook

Werewolf Myths

Special thanks and love go to my Mum, Joyce O'Toole, for her tireless proof-reading and suggestions.