Halloween Newsletter

Table of Contents
 Pumpkin Cake Recipe:
 4 eggs
 2 cups all-purpose flour
 3 teaspoons baking powder
 2 teaspoons baking soda
 ¼ teaspoon salt
 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
 1 cup chopped walnuts
(optional)
 2 cups white sugar
 1 ¼ cups vegetable oil
The origin of Halloween dates back to the ancient  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts lived in the area  2 cups canned pumpkin
that we know as Ireland today, 2,000 years ago. The  Prep: 30 minutes
United Kingdom and Northern France celebrated  Cook: 30 minutes
their new year on November first. This time of year  Ready in: 1 hour
was associated with human death. They believed 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
that the night before the New Year started the Grease and flour pan.
boundary between worlds of dead and living was 2. Sift the flour, baking powder,
dropped. Samhain was celebrated on the night of baking soda, salt and cinnamon
October 31st. On this night it was believed that together. Set aside.
ghosts of the dead came back to Earth. Druids 3. In a large bowl combine sugar
would build big sacred bonfires where they would and oil. Blend in vanilla and
gather to burn crops and animals as sacrifices. pumpkin. Beat eggs in one at a
During the celebration the Celts would wear time. Gradually beat in flour. Stir
costumes, usually of animal heads and skins. They in nuts.
would also attempt to tell each other’s fortunes. In 4. Spread batter in pan.
43 A.D., the Roman Empire had taken over most of 5. Bake in oven for 30 minutes, or
the Celtic territory. Within the four hundred years until a toothpick inserted in the
that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of cake comes out clean.
Roman origin combined as one with the Celtic 6. Let cool. EAT.
celebration known as Samhain. One was Feralia, a
day in late October when the Romans
commemorated the passing of the dead. The other 1 Pumpkin Picking
was to honor the Roman goddess of fruit, called
Pomona. Later in history it was called All Saints Day. 2
Then it was All-Hallows. The night before became Pumpkin Carving
known as All-hallows Eve and eventually Halloween. 3 Hanging out with Friends
4 Corn Maze
5 Costume Contest