When I was a child in the UK, we had never heard of Halloween or Thanksgiving and I had never eaten a pumpkin.
All Saints day was a Catholic holiday celebrated in France. England had lost its association with saints and saints days when protestants came along and Henry VIII and his daughter Queen Elizabeth established the Church of England.
The name Halloween reflects the saints, or hallowed ones.
How different life is now in the USA and UK and Singapore and worldwide. Supermarkets worldwide stock Halloween and pumpkin items.
Pumpkins are eaten and the left behind casing is cut to make a face with a candle inside, known as a Jack o' Lantern. Various stories from Ireland and elsewhere give the origin of this tale, of the man who could not get into Heaven or Hell and wandered the earth with a DIY lantern.
You can be religious or secular, serious or humorous. Healthy or not. Fruit or sugar. Savoury or sweet.
After the festival prices come down in the supermarkets. I stock up for the following year.
First the dates.
Halloween
October 31st. In 2020 in the UK this is a Saturday.
Useful Websites
Which countries and cultures do we have to thank for which festivals and foods?
America for Thanksgiving. USA. Canada.
The Chinese for the autumn mooncake festival. (China, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Chinatowns.)
Christians for Christmas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack-o%27-lantern
About the Author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer. She has lived in the UK, USA and Singapore.
Call To Action
Visit Toastmasters club for Halloween and Thanksgiving themed meetings.
Go to Facebook or Toastmasters International Find a Club and look for
Braddell Heights Advanced
Tampines Changkat Advanced
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