Celebrating the Agricultural Roots of Halloween

Image source: The Pensacola Journal (Pensacola, Florida), October 29, 1922.

Most children, when asked, name Halloween as their favorite holiday. Yet do they know that Halloween has deep roots in ancient cultures that involve the harvest, honoring the dead, and rituals from the past? Halloween can be traced to an ancient Celtic festival named for Samhain (Sow-wen), the Lord of the Dead.

In this class, you will learn about the agricultural roots of Halloween and the ancient beliefs and traditions that led to trick or treating and carving jack-o-lanterns. You will also learn how to prepare several traditional recipes eaten on Halloween: Soul Cakes, Baked Apples, Mulled Cider, and Colcannon, a simple, savory, traditional Irish dish that features mashed potatoes, cabbage or parsnips, and onions.

This class is for people of all ages, and includes tips for cooking with kids. It’s a wonderful way to give Halloween new meaning and create fun, food-based traditions.

Online class – self-paced, on-demand, pay above – $25