NOVEMBER HOLIDAYS TO LOOK FORWARD TO!!

   This is a listing of actual holidays, believe it or not. Several web sites even offer electronic cards for you to send to friends and relatives to help celebrate !

November 1 - Bra Day
Whatever you do, don't burn your bra today! This holiday commemorates the date that Mary Jacob invented the first modern brassiere circa 1913 in New York.

November 2 - Practice Being Psychic Day
Today is "Practice Being Psychic" Day, and I am reading your mind right now. You are thinking "Why would anyone think up such a silly celebration?" I'm pretty good, don't you think?

November 3 - Sandwich Day
Happy Sandwich Day! This holiday celebrates the emergence of the sandwich, popularized in 1762 by the 4th Earl of Sandwich, John Montague, an 18^th century English aristocrat.

November 4 - Bad Mood Day
On this day, I suppose it is permissible to be in a bad mood for a 24 hour period. Celebrate this holiday at your own risk!

November 5 - National Doughnut Day
Today's celebration calls for a trip to your local doughnut shop! Have doughnuts for breakfast, or take a few dozen to the office with you to share with your co-workers! Even the weight-conscious will want to participate in this holiday!

November 6^th - Peanut Butter Lovers Day
I imagine this was one of Elvis Presley's favorite holidays! Bake some peanut butter cookies and share them with a neighbor today! Don't make the mistake of including your dog in this celebration, though. They get confused when the peanut butter sticks to the roof of their mouth. Try a peanut butter flavored dog biscuit, instead.

November 7^th - Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day
National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day is a day you can indulge in a sweet treat without guilt. Dark chocolate is good for you, you know.

November 8^th - X-Ray Discovery Day
Happy X-ray Day! (I see you... all of you! Nice undies!) On this day in 1895 Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered the medical marvel of St. Aedh Mac Breic, the patron saint of headache sufferers.

November 11^th - Ones Day
Ones Day is truly a special day that only comes once a year. Why? The secret is in the 4 ones that make up the date of November 11th (11/11). Have a Happy Ones Day... spend it with the Ones you love.

November 12^th - Happy Hour Day
On this day in 1745, the very first happy hour was held at a pub in the country of Ireland. You can celebrate this holiday easily, as most good bars have their own happy hour. And, if you aren't a drinker, then just be happy for an hour! Happiness is the theme of this holiday, after all.

November 13^th - World Kindness Day
November 13 has been designated as World Kindness Day. Today, do your part to help make this world we all share a kinder, more compassionate place to live.

November 14^th - Monet Day
Today's celebration is in honor of the birthday of Impressionist artist Claude Monet, who was born in 1840. This would be a good day to visit your local art museum, and perhaps admire some of Monet's works.

November 15^th - Great American Smokeout Day
November 15^th is the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout, a holiday of sorts where smokers are challenged to smoke less, or quit smoking for at least this one day.

November 16^th - Birth of the Blues Day
Today we celebrate the birthday of W.C. Handy. He was born in Memphis, TN in 1873, and is considered the "Father of the Blues" for making blues music popular among Americans. Listen to some blues today, and say a silent thank you to Mr. Handy.

November 17^th - Coping with Uncertainty Day
I'm really a little uncertain as to how I should describe this holiday. Should I even call it a holiday? Maybe I should say it's a celebration of things unknown instead? Whatever you want to call it, have a great one!

November 18^th - Teddy Bear Day
Today's holiday commemorates a day that should be dear to the hearts of all kids - and kids at heart. On this day in 1902, toy maker Morris Michton named a cute stuffed bear toy "Teddy Bear" after President Teddy Roosevelt. Celebrate today by hugging a teddy bear, or buying one for someone dear to you.

November 19^th - Pencil Day
Come on now... what's the point of this holiday, anyway? Pencil point, that is! On this day in 1895, the pencil as we know it was invented.

November 20^th - Traffic Light Day
Today we celebrate the day in 1923 when Garrett Morgan of Cleveland, Ohio, patented the traffic light in 1923. You can thank Garrett today as you are waiting at a red light on your way to work. Without his invention, you might not get there in time!

November 21^st - Pumpkin Pie Day
November 21st is National Pumpkin Pie Day. I wonder why they made this holiday so close to Thanksgiving? Don't they think people get enough pumpkin pie on that holiday? Maybe there's a conspiracy going on here to get people to eat more pumpkin, or perhaps this day is meant to start a trend toward another traditional Turkey Day dessert? Who knows? Have some pumpkin pie today, anyway!

November 22^nd - Hockey Day
Hockey fans, rejoice! On this day in 1917, the National Hockey League was established, bringing the sport more into the limelight than ever before. Today, celebrate by kicking back, relaxing, and watching some hockey on television. Oh, and be thankful you are in your nice warm house, and not out on that cold ice!

November 23^rd - Paranoia Day
Today is the day when the paranoia that all of us have to a certain extent is allowed to come out in full force. It is perfectly acceptable for you to be suspicious of your coworkers, hear strange sounds, and be absolutely certain someone is following you. Aren't you glad this holiday only lasts for one day?

November 24th - National Espresso Day
Today is National Espresso Day! Grab a cup and help yourself to a hearty dose of caffeine! Starbucks should celebrate this day, too. If espresso isn't your thing, just drink a few extra cups of regular coffee today to get the same effect.

November 25^th - Shopping Reminder Day
November 25^th has been designated as Shopping Reminder Day! The sole purpose of this day is to remind you that there are only 30 more shopping days left until Christmas. Your task today is to tell as many people as possible about this holiday. Who knows... your diligence could pay off well come Christmas!

November 26^th - Good Grief Day
On this aptly named holiday, we remember that legendary cartoonist Charles M. Schultz, who was born on this day in 1922. Celebrate the life of this comic genius by reading some of his works... or by wearing your favorite Snoopy t shirt.

November 27^th - Electric Guitar Day
This holiday was created in honor of legendary guitarist and songwriter Jimi Hendrix. It's a perfect opportunity to enjoy some of Jimi's many fine compositions and honor his musical abilities.

November 28^th - Auto Race Day
Today marks the occasion of the first automobile race in the United States. This momentous event was held in Illinois in 1895. Race fans, unite on this holiday, and share the fun and excitement of this popular spectator sport.

November 29^th - Customer is Wrong Day
This could turn out to be a dangerous holiday, as the required antics may have you hunting for a new job tomorrow! If you work in retail, celebrate it at your own risk! You'll receive some long-overdue satisfaction, to be sure, but weigh the risks and the benefits before you began your mantra of "The Customer is Always Wrong."

November 30^th - Computer Security DayAlso known as Monitor Your Monitor Day
 This holiday reminds us to make sure our computers are protected from spy ware, viruses, and ad ware. This will be a good day to run all your virus scans, disk defrags, etc, and make sure your computer is in tip-top shape!

NOVEMBER FOOD HOLIDAYS TO DIE FOR!!

   Wouldn't it be nice to celebrate a different holiday everyday? Well, you can celebrate a national holiday everyday. There is a national food holiday for everyday of the year. That means that you can do something unique and serve a fun food that goes along with that day's holiday. November is one of the best times to celebrate national food holidays. Not only do we get to celebrate Thanksgiving, but there are 29 more days of great food holidays.

National Vinegar Day November 1:
 This can easily be one of the best food holidays, if you know some fabulous recipes. For example, make coleslaw or make pickled sausages. There are so many great ways to use this tangy ingredient.

National Deviled Egg Day November 2:
 Now this food holiday was definitely made for Southerners. To make delicious deviled eggs simply boil your eggs and then combine the yolks with some mayonnaise and crumbled bacon.

National Sandwich Day November 3: Skip the complicated dinner you had planned and serve everyone's favorite sandwich.

National Candy Day November 4:
Go all out on this food holiday and buy all your favorite candies. Even better, hit your local pharmacies and department stores and stock up on leftover Halloween candy that has been marked down.

National Doughnut Day November 5:
Instead of a breakfast of granola and fruit, stop by your favorite doughnut shop and indulge in your favorite flavor.

National Nachos Day November 6:
 November is filled with fatty food holidays, but on this day you can make things a little healthier by making nachos with 93% lean hamburger meat, fat-free refried beans, cheese sauce, tomatoes, green onions, and low-fat sour cream.

Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day November 7:
Almonds and bittersweet chocolate are both good for you. On this food holiday, visit your favorite candy shop and buy a small box of yummy treats.

National Cappuccino Day November 8:
This is the perfect food holiday to celebrate during November. If you're pressed for time, just grab a cappuccino from your local Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts.

Cook Something Bold & Pungent Day November 9:
 I have to admit, this is a weird food holiday. But, if you want something truly bold and pungent, make chicken with 40 cloves. After the dish is cooked, take the garlic and spread it on toasted French bread.

National Vanilla Cupcake Day November 10:
There is something wonderful about a plain vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting. Just stop by your local bakery and pick up a dozen (or two).

National Sundae Day November 11:
This is such a fun food holiday to celebrate. Just buy all your favorite sundae toppings, your favorite ice cream, and enjoy.

National Pizza With Everything Day (Except Anchovies) November 12:
 Don't stress too much on this food holiday, just call your local pizza restaurant and kick back with a good movie.

National Indian Pudding Day November 13:
 If you happen to be part Native, this is a time to get in touch with your roots. Even if you're not part Native, this is a delicious dish to make.

National Guacamole Day November 14:
 Guacamole, tortilla chips, a football game, and a comfy chair are all your need on this food holiday.

National Raisin Bran Cereal Day November 15:
Finally, something healthy. Have a nice big bowl and you won't feel so guilty about the first half of November.

National Fast Food Day November 16:
 Only in American would you find a food holiday like this. Just hit your favorite fast food place and don't forget to check the healthy side of the menu.

Homemade Bread Day November 17:
This is a food holiday that everyone should celebrate. Not only is homemade bread delicious, but it's fun to make as well.

National Vichyssoise Day November 18:
 Vichyssoise is basically a chilled potato and leek soup. There are several recipes available online.

Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day November 19:
Relax with a nice cold pop on this food holiday.

National Peanut Butter Fudge Day November 20:
 On this holiday, take some time and actually get in the kitchen to prepare a delicious pan of fudge.

Gingerbread Day November 21:
 Gingerbread Day is a wonderful food holiday to celebrate towards the end of November. The taste helps get your ready for the big holidays.

National Cashew Day November 22:
Snack on them plain or get chocolate covered cashews.

Eat a Cranberry Day November 23:
Serve cranberry sauce with roast chicken. It's the perfect meal to serve around Thanksgiving.

National Sardines Day November 24:
I'm sorry, but I really can't give any suggestions for this food holiday, but if you like this food, you'll think of something easily.

National Parfait Day November 25:
Here's another chance to eat something healthy in November. Make a parfait using yogurt, berries, and granola.

National Cake Day November 26:
 This food holiday doesn't have to be complicated. Just use your favorite cake mix and store bought frosting.

National Bavarian Cream Pie Day November 27:
This is another great time to visit your local bakery.

National French Toast Day November 28:
Do something decadent and try stuffed French toast.

National Lemon Creme Pie Day November 29:
Do something really easy and pick up a Mrs. Smith's Lemon Meringue Pie.

National Mousse Day November 30:
On the last day of November enjoy an easy chocolate mousse by combining chocolate pudding and whipped cream.

MINI PUMPKIN CAKES, A THANKSGIVING TREAT INSTEAD OF PUMPKIN PIE!

  
   Delicious pumpkin flavor and pumpkin pie spices make this treat a yummy way to celebrate the season. With only 30 minutes of hands-on time it's doable for a special dinner party or just a fun treat for the kids. This recipe is brought to you by www.myrecipes.com


   Hands-On Time: 30 min.; Total Time: 1 hr., 44 min. (including Caramel-Rum Glaze).

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Caramel-Rum Glaze*
• Or Vanilla Glaze
• Caramel Stems, Leaves, and Vines (optional, instructions below)

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Stir in pumpkin and vanilla.
• 2. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Spoon batter into 2 lightly greased pumpkin-shaped muffin pans, filling three-fourths full.
• 3. Bake at 350° for 24 to 26 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 5 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely (about 30 minutes).
• 4. Cut rounded tops off muffins to make them flat. Invert top muffins onto bottom muffins, forming pumpkins. Drizzle Caramel-Rum Glaze over pumpkins. Decorate with Caramel Stems, Leaves, and Vines, if desired.
• *Vanilla Glaze may be substituted.
• CARAMEL STEM: Press 1 caramel between fingers, lengthening to 1 1/2 to 2 inches to form a stem. Curl stem gently.
• CARAMEL LEAVES: Roll caramels into 2-inch squares on a flat surface, using a rolling pin. Cut into leaves, using a paring knife. Gently press tips of leaves to flatten, if desired. Score leaves, using a paring knife. Pinch bottoms of leaves together.
• CARAMEL VINES: Cut 1 caramel into 3 equal pieces. Squeeze each piece gently to flatten, and roll between hands or on a flat surface into a long thin rope. Twist ends to curl.

HALLOWEEN POISON CAKE!! OH SO....GOOOOD!

 This recipe is brought to us by www.cakejournal.com .  Enjoy a piece of poison cake on Halloween, it's to die for! AH! AH! AH!

Halloween poison cake recipe

I know that many of you have seen vibrant coloured cakes for years. But back in the days when I was a kid, a cake with this colour was very special. This (Danish) cake bring back so many childhood memories to me and I have always known it as the The Poison Cake!

 

Basically it’s just an almond flavoured cake, coloured green. Green and perfect for Halloween! The cake is super moist and I like to eat it with a big glass of cold milk on the side.
On top of the cake is a thin spread of cocoa powder icing (powdered sugar and unsweetened cocoa powder) If you want it a little more festive, you can sprinkle some fun Halloween sprinkles on top.

Halloween poison cake
Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C)
9″x13″rectangle cake pan, prepared with parchment paper or cake release.

Ingredients:
375 grams sugar (2 cups)
250 grams soft unsalted butter (9 oz)
3 large eggs
250 grams all purpose flour (1 3/4 cup)
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
250 ml milk (room temperature) (1 1/8 cup)
2-3 teaspoons almond extract (Vanilla can be used instead)
Green food colouring

Cocoa powder icing:
Powdered sugar
unsweetened cocoa powder
I don’t really use any specific recipe for the icing. I just take 2-3 cups of powdered sugar. About 1/2 cup of cocoa powder and whisk it well together. Then I add 1-2 tablespoons of cooled boiled water and mix it in. Add more water if its to thick and more powdered sugar if its too thin. It should have a thick pouring consistency, that is easy to spread on with a spatula.

Step 1:
In a bowl sift together the all purpose flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt. Set aside.

Step 2:
In another bowl cream the unsalted butter and sugar well together.

Step 3:
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well in between. Scrape down the sides when needed.

Step 4:
Next add the flour mix in three parts and the milk in two. Mix well in between.

Step 5:
Stir in the almond flavour. Then add drops of green food colouring. Be careful not to use too much food colouring as the colour gets a little more dark while baking.

Step 6:
Pour the green cake batter into the cake pan and smooth with a rubber spatula. To avoid the cake from getting too brown, place the cake on the lowest rack in the oven. Bake the cake for about 40-60 minutes and a cake tester comes out clean.

Step 7:
Transfer the cake to a cooling rack and let it cool completely before you spread on the cocoa powder icing. Cut the cake into squares and enjoy.

DIY SPARKLING JACK O' LANTERN GLITTERBLAST PUMPKIN!

  
   This diy project comes from www.styrofoamcrafts.com. Good luck and have fun making this one of a kind Jack o' lantern.

   It’s October – let the season for Halloween crafts begin. And, what better way to start than with Halloween decorating ideas featuring pumpkins? First up is our Glittering Jack-’o-Lantern made with Krylon’s new Glitter Blast. When Krylon sent me sample cans of this sparkly, spray-on glitter finish, I knew I had to try it out on STYROFOAM Brand Foam. Glitter Blast is totally safe for STYROFOAM Brand Foam and comes in a dozen colors – imagine how it will make your holiday crafts shimmer!

Make several glittering jack-'o-lanterns and stand them in a row.

To make the Glittering Jack-‘o-Lantern, you’ll need:

• STYROFOAM Brand Foam, 12” x 5” cone (or other size of your choice)
• Krylon Gitter Blast: Starry Night, Orange Burst
• Contact paper
• Glittered, sheer black ribbon
• Green, glittered floral pick
• Glittered raven
• Newspaper
• Low temp glue gun & glue sticks
• Tools: Scissors; rubber gloves; wire cutters

To make the Glittering Jack-’o-Lantern:

Spray only the area of the cone where you will add your jack-'o-lantern face.

1. Before you start, carefully read the label on the can of Glitter Blast. Cover work area with newspapers.
2. Spray front of cone with Starry Night Glitter Blast. Let dry. (Glitter Blast darkens as it dries, so be careful to not overspray. If you overspray, the finish can run. Yes, I learned the hard way . . .) If you would like more color, spray on a second coat.
3. Cut jack-‘o-lantern face from contact paper. Remove backing from contact paper and adhere facial features to the painted area of the cone. Pay special attention to the edges of your pattern pieces.
4. Spray entire cone with Orange Burst Glitter Blast. It might take more than one coat to cover the Starry Night Glitter Blast. Let dry. Add second coat, if necessary.
5. Wrap top of cone with sheer, glittery black ribbon and glue ends with low temp glue.
6. Cut stem with leaves from floral pick. Insert stem into cone.
7. Glue raven to top of cone.

CELTIC INTERNATIONAL COLOURS FESTIVAL FROM NOVA SCOTIA!

   Since 1997, the Celtic Colours International Festival has featured hundreds of musicians from all over the Celtic world and attracted tens of thousands of visitors to Cape Breton Island. For nine days in October, Cape Breton Island is home to a unique celebration of music and culture as the Celtic Colours International Festival presents dozens of concerts all over the island, an extensive line-up of workshops, a visual art series of exhibitions, and a nightly Festival Club. Over the years, artists have traveled from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, Brittany, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Norway, and Cuba as well as from across the United States and Canada to join the finest of Cape Breton's musicians, singers, dancers, storytellers and tradition-bearers for the annual Autumn celebration.
   One of the things that sets Celtic Colours apart from the vast majority of festivals taking place around the globe is that it isn't limited to just one location. Communities around Cape Breton Island host concerts and workshops at a time when the fall leaves are at their most brilliant and traveling around the island offers one breathtaking view after another. These communities are the places where the culture has been nurtured for over 200 years providing context for the roots of the music and celebrating each community's contribution to our living Celtic culture.
   In many of these communities, the local fire hall, parish hall or community centre has hosted musical events for generations, in some cases, literally moving the fire trucks out of the hall to accommodate a dance. Venues for Celtic Colours vary from an 18th Century reconstructed French Chapel to brand new state of the art performance facilities to community halls, but all venues share in common the prominent place each holds in the community it serves. The Celtic culture of music, dance and story telling lives on in these communities and provides foundation for the celebration of living culture that is the Celtic Colours International Festival.

   With Celtic Colours International Festival's ambitious schedule (as many as six concerts each day), it is simply impossible to see and hear everything. The organizers of the Festival realize this and take special care in the programming of each show so that it is possible to get a taste of all that the Festival has to offer on any given day. Whether it's Gaelic singing you are most interested in, or Cape Breton fiddling, or local dance traditions, outstanding accordion playing, perhaps, or an afternoon of world-class bagpiping, Celtic Colours festival-goers can tailor their musical experience to suit their tastes.
   Celtic music has seen a resurgence of interest in North America during recent years. Fueled in part by the success and popularity of entertainers like Natalie MacMaster, Buddy MacMaster, the Barra MacNeils, Ashley MacIsaac, the Rankin Family and Rita MacNeil, this interest has focused attention on Cape Breton Island, its music, its people and its culture. Celtic Colours offers the opportunity for visitors to go beyond simply listening to the music. Workshops, offered in many aspects of Celtic and Gaelic culture, allow visitors and residents alike to get the hands-on experience they desire. Host communities around the island present workshops in Gaelic language and song, components of tradition, instrument instruction and traditional dance, as well as offering cultural tours, ceilidhs and a lecture series. They also organize an extensive array of community events including meals and dances.
   One of the most popular features of the Celtic Colours International Festival every year is the Festival Club. Located at the Gaelic College in St. Ann's, the Festival Club opens as the evening concerts are closing, offering an opportunity for Festival artists to perform in a more informal setting, or to get a session in with friends and colleagues from near and far. Performance is by invitation only and depends upon artist availability on any given night. Although the license only allows the bar to stay open until 3:00 am, the music has been known to continue well beyond that time.

   The festival is held at the height of the island's spectacular fall colours, allowing visitors to enjoy breathtaking scenery as they travel to their next event. Traveling to an event may take a visitor around the pristine Bras d'Or Lakes, Canada's largest saltwater lake, or around the Cabot Trail, often called North America's most scenic drive. Wherever you go in Cape Breton at this time of year, you are bound to find amazing scenery around every turn.
   Celtic Colours International Festival is recognized as a world-class event, both locally and internationally. The Festival was named the Tourism Industry Association of Canada 2007 Event of the Year, has received four East Coast Music Awards for Event of the Year, (2005-2008), two Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia Crystal Awards (Events / Conferences 2002, the Golden Hospitality Award 2005), and was named American Bus Association's Top Event in Canada and Attractions Canada's Top Cultural Event in 2001. In recent years, Cape Breton Island has also been recognized by Conde Nast Magazine for its scenic beauty and friendly people (voted number one in the world by its readership) and by National Geographic Traveler as among the top travel destinations in the world.
   Since its 1997 debut, Celtic Colours International Festival has grown to become one of Canada's premiere musical events, and a cultural highlight of Nova Scotia's tourism season, collecting accolades from regional music awards to national and international tourism awards. In doing so, the nine-day Fall festival has introduced the musical culture of Cape Breton Island to visitors from more than two dozen countries and extended Cape Breton Island's tourism season by a full two weeks.

   By any measure, Celtic Colours International Festival has had a very successful run. Starting in 1997 with 27 concerts and 12 community workshops, the Festival has expanded to an impressive 45 concerts and 249 community events in 2010. Over 15,000 people attended the community cultural events and 17,958 tickets were sold to concerts in 33 communities around the island. The Festival attracted 6,214 off-island visitors who came from every province and territory in Canada, 50 American States and 19 other countries. International visitors increased by 1% in 2010, and 4% more Cape Breton residents came out to concerts, contributing to an audience expenditure, excluding ticket sales and transportation to Cape Breton, of $ 6.2 million.


Celtic Culture

   Gaelic Cape Breton has been described as "the most recent and far-flung outpost" of Gaelic Scotland. It is the only area in the world - outside of Scotland itself - where Gaelic continues as a living language and culture. Here the language, culture and traditions have been transmitted through five, six and even seven generations of separation from the Homeland. As such, Cape Breton holds a unique position within the larger Gaelic world.
   During the period 1775 - 1850, some twenty-five thousand Gaelic-speaking Scots from every region of the Highlands and Islands established thriving pioneer communities throughout Cape Breton and Eastern Nova Scotia.
   Gaelic culture thrived in Cape Breton. From the arrival of the first settlers through to the present, Cape Breton Gaels, like their counterparts in Scotland, have continued the development of their linguistic and cultural heritage.
   By the late 1800's Gaelic communities were firmly established throughout rural Cape Breton. The immigration to Cape Breton from Scotland had all but ended by 1860. The Clearances were finished and the Famine was past. The vast bulk of those who wished to leave Scotland had left, and those who remained in Scotland were fighting to win justice in their own country.

   In Cape Breton, Gaelic was alive and thriving. By 1880 the Gaelic speaking population of Cape Breton had swollen to 85,000. This population was comprised largely of first, second and third generation descendants of the original settlers and for the vast majority of these descendants, Gaelic was their first and only language.
   The opening years of the twentieth century saw many changes coming into life in the rural and urban communities of Cape Breton. Some of these changes were subtle; some were more obvious.
   For Cape Breton, the era of pioneer settlement was past. With the growing number of sawmills in the country, and the increased availability of iron and steel, timber-framed construction had all but replaced log construction as the main form of housing. Similarly, the brush-fence and the stake-fence were giving way to pole and even wire fencing. The single-lane tracks through the forest were developing into roads. And the closing years of the nineteenth century saw the opening of the railway as Cape Breton was connected to the rest of North America by an rathad iarainn "the iron road". Also, by 1900, the number of Gaelic speakers had dropped form eighty-five thousand to around seventy-five thousand people.
   There were other changes taking place as well. Beginning in the 1880's, a new pattern of out-migration began to appear - this time from areas such as rural Cape Breton. The coal mines of Cape Breton had been in operation before the Gaels arrived and it was usual for some people to go to work in the mines from time to time. Because of its rich deposits of coal and iron, Sydney and the surrounding townships were emerging as a major industrial region within North America. The opening of the Sydney Steel Plant in 1901 created a demand for industrial workers never before seen in Cape Breton and Sydney was dubbed, "the New York of the North".

   A Ceilidh-house was a favored gathering place in a community and each ceilidh-house would be known locally for its particular form of entertainment. This would most often be determined by the talents of the occupants of the house. A man or woman known for their singing abilities would attract other singers and those who enjoyed songs to that particular house. Hence, singing would be the main entertainment with story-telling, music and dance mixed in. Another house might be known primarily for story-telling, and yet another for music and dance.
   Whatever the favored entertainment, visitors would start arriving after the evening chores were finished. Each new arrival would be greeted in turn and invited to tell their news. The early hours were thus spent mainly in the discussion of the small and large events of the day. As the evening settled, the music, song and story-telling would commence and would continue through the evening and into the night.
   Often performance was followed by discussion. The history behind a story or a song, the meaning and nuances of a particular word or line, bowing styles, fingering techniques - these and other topics might be discussed and even debated. In this way, people shared their collective knowledge, for a Gaelic audience at its best is an informed audience capable of truly appreciating the individual style and talents of the performer within the parameters of the wider tradition. Even the person who might never "perform" participates in a valuable and valued way through his or her knowledge of the tradition.

   In this way, localized styles and repertoires of music, song, and story along with knowledge of tradition, history and genealogy were - and still are - maintained and developed within the "house ceilidh".

TOP 10 GROSSEST HALLOWEEN CANDIES!!

Overindulging in Halloween candy is bound to make anyone nauseous. Why not skip the teeth-rotting middleman and turn your stomach before you eat a thing? These ten repugnant candies should do the trick-or-treat.

1. Dracula Drool: This vile vial gets bonus gross-out points for its graphic name. It's not just blood, it's hemoglobin-stained saliva that dripped off the Count's slobbering fangs.

2. Vampire Hair: Candy hair would have made this list on its own; so would candy vampires. The combination in a flossy candy that explodes on your tongue puts it at No. 2. Also noteworthy is the revelation that Marge Simpson is indeed a vampire.

3. Forkz Candy Eyeballs: Who needs candy corn when you can get candy corneas? As if they're hors d'oeuvres at a monster mash party, these eyeballs have forks sticking out to really make them pop.

 

4. Pick 'n Lick: A giant sugar cotton swab gathers up globs of ear wax-colored powder. This is the eeriest candy here.

5. Toxic Waste: There's a classic trope of hazardous waste turning people into heinous mutants. This version turns kids into people who enjoy sucking on unpleasant, intensely sour candy. According to the barrel's chart, keeping one of these in your mouth for a minute makes you a full toxie head. If you last only 45 seconds you're just a toxie wannabe.

6. Slithering Snake Suckers: The disturbing part of this candy is not that its similarity in size, shape, and color to a real snake would elicit a double take from any unsuspecting passerby, but the fact that it "lasts all day." According to the box's printed gauge, if you start sucking at dawn, you'll only be halfway finished by noon. Sounds noxious.

7. French-Fried Gummy Candy Fingers with Liquid Candy Blood: Chicken fingers and french fries are kid-menu staples. This candy capitalizes on what children already desire, but with a revolting twist: They're human-shaped fingers stuffed in a french-fry box with a packet of blood as a condiment. That points it in the top-10 digits.

8. Blood Energy Potion: This sugary maroon liquid claims to have "similar nutritional content to natural blood." A serving does provide 55% of recommended daily iron value and 880mg of amino acids. It even tastes like blood, but only Franken Berry's blood. An impressive Web tie-inposes it as a synthetic blood substitute for vampires, an alternative to feasting on humans. With its microwave instructions to heat to 98.6°F and transfusion bag packaging, we give this an A(Rh)+ for commitment.

9. Body Parts Sushi: There's something about eyeballs, fingers, and ears topping seaweed-wrapped rice that gives us an extra kick of queasiness. Associating hacked body parts with customary fare legitimizes cannibalism in a way that puts us ill at ease. Also, the list of ingredients includes the word "pork." Wretch. Comes with chopsticks.

 

10. Harry Potter Bertie Bott's Beans: The Harry Potter series has ended, and so must this list. (Un)fortunately, the franchise leaves us with the grossest candy ever marketed: jelly beans made to taste like "dirt," "rotten eggs," and "vomit." You don't need to have consumed an earthworm to know that the Jelly Belly chefs nailed the flavor. It's obvious in its repulsiveness.

HOW TO MAKE "BLEEDING" CUPCAKES FOR HALLOWEEN!

   This recipe comes from www.bonappetit.com .  Make some for one of your kids school Halloween parties and you'll be the hit of it!!

How to Make "Bleeding" Cupcakes for Halloween

 

 

   Provocative series like Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and True Blood have made vampires the sexiest thing since sliced bread that has been molded into the shape of a sensuous woman.

   That is why bleeding cupcakes are sure to win any Halloween/Sexy-Themed Baking Contest you might enter this week. They're not only showy and delicious, but super simple to put together as well--just like the scripts for all those dramas. (I'm just kidding. Don't bite me.)

Here's how:

1) Bake cupcakes using your favorite recipe.

2) Once cooled, dig a small lump of cupcake out of the top. Set the removed chunk aside.

3) Pour a little bit of an edible, reddish, runny substance, such as strawberry jam or cherry pie filling, into the hole.

4) Re-insert removed chunk.

5) Frost the top (thereby covering up the evidence of step 2).

6) Dip a toothpick into some of the leftover jam (filling, sauce, red icing, etc.) and stab the top of the cupcake twice to give the appearance of fang marks.

Put these cupcakes out on your Halloween snack table and you will be crowned the buffet vampire slayer

BANNER ELK, NORTH CAROLINA WOOLEY WORM FESTIVAL!

History of the Woolly Worm Festival

  When Jim Morton first put a blade of grass in front of a woolly worm, he had no idea that the fuzzy critter at his feet would lead to a festival that draws nearly 20,000 people, 140 vendors, 1,000 worm trainers, and national media crews to the town of Banner Elk.
Morton was one of the founders of the Woolly Worm Festival. "October of 1973 was my first autumn in this area," says Morton. "That was when I first learned about the woolly worm's role in local folklore. A gentleman who worked at Grandfather Mountain told me about woolly worms being used to forecast winter.
   Morton, who is always interested in area lore, tucked the knowledge into the back of his mind. "Some years later, I was invited to a meeting where they were trying to get some ideas together to possibly form a merchant's association in Banner Elk. It was a preliminary gathering. I was not a merchant, but I accepted the invitation to go to the meeting. I told the people who were there that I thought Banner Elk would benefit by having an annual event of some type. I know, at Grandfather Mountain, the Highland Games and Singing on the Mountain were very important to our publicity efforts.
"The day before the meeting, I had done a woolly worm publication that I worked for. I'd done the forecast using the very first worm that I found that year because we were getting close to deadline. When I finally found a woolly worm, it was completely brown from end to end."

   Fate then took a role as Morton was reminded of the worm. "I come home from this meeting, and right there on my porch was another woolly worm with a lot of black on it, and only a minimal amount of brown." Morton then realized that when you forecast with woolly worms, you don't know which worm to trust.

"I was immediately struck by the need to have a process for selecting which woolly worm to believe. We also needed an annual event for Banner Elk. The two problems solved each other."

   Morton says that a Woolly Worm Festival Association was formed, since there was no chamber of commerce. Contributing merchants chipped in money to have posters printed, and the Festival Association sponsored it for the first six years.

   The first festival was held at the traditional location of Banner Elk Elementary. "The first year was cold and windy, but sunny. We discovered then that woolly worms don't go very fast on a cold day. We only had eight heats that day, with 63 worms."

   There were only three to four vendors, a far cry from the current 140. "It was a small event, but everybody seemed to have a really good time," says Morton. The first event also spawned a tradition of the festival being featured somewhere in the national media. WCYB TV sent a camera crew to cover the event, and the footage was picked up and run on NBC News nationwide.

   That publicity jump-started the event, and 300 to 400 people turned out the next year, even though it was raining. C.J. Underwood from Channel 3 in Charlotte came up to serve as Master of Ceremonies. Though the event kept growing, it didn't turn a profit until the Avery/Banner Elk Area Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club took over operation in the seventh year

   Morton also conceived of the method of racing the worms, because when he was trying to collect a worm, he was "scared to pick it up" because he thought it might sting him. So he plucked a blade of grass and set it in front of the worm and the worm proceeded to climb the blade of grass. He then discovered that the worms would climb a string if they were in the moving mood. They didn't seem particularly motivated to race across a flat surface.

  The woolly worm race is three feet of nylon from mark to mark. There's as many theories about what makes a good-running worm as there are worm trainers who enter the race. Morton says that larger worms don't necessarily fare better, and that the true winning talent is this: "It does help to check that your woolly worm has an instinct for climbing string," he says, with all the wisdom of a man who has seen more than ten thousand worms work their way to the top or fail. "They are moody," he adds.

   Morton says that the festival has grown beyond anyone's dreams who were at the original meeting more than twenty years ago. "The only thing that's the same is that we still race worms up a string," he says. "Everything else seems quite different. There's lots of vendors, traffic, people, and it takes an army of volunteers to coordinate it all."

There's still one thing that would make the event better, in Morton's opinion. He'd like to see the winning woolly worm achieve the same weather-predicting stature of the official groundhog, Paxtahawney Phil, who in February determines whether there will be six more weeks of winter. "We want to become even more recognized as the official source of woolly worm predictions," Morton says.

About Woolly Worms

   The woolly worm (also spelled “wooly worm”) is actually a caterpillar or the larvae of the Isabella tiger moth. The tiger moth belongs to the arctiidae family, which has 11,000 species of moths around the world. The tiger moth is a beautiful creature with bright colors such as scarlet, yellow, orange, and white and rich hues ranging from black to beige. Equally as bright and beautiful, the woolly worm may have a burnt orange color in the middle and it may be black on both ends. Some woolly worms, however, are completely black or completely brown.

   In some parts of the world, it is believed that the severity of the winter can be predicted by the intensity of the black on the Isabella tiger moth’s larvae (caterpillar). In the American Northeast, it is believed that if the woolly worm has more brown on its body than black, it will be a fair winter. If the woolly worm has more black than brown, the winter will be harsh.

   The furry woolly worm can be spotted during the fall months in great numbers inching along the ground. While you will notice them in great numbers during the fall months, the woolly worm actually has two life cycles, so they can also be found inching around in June and July.

 

   Woolly worms may look small, but these dazzling creatures have 13 segments and three sets of legs. They have tiny eyes, but they make their way around mostly by feeling around and touching.
  Once the woolly worm has found its home for the winter, it will create a natural organic antifreeze that protects the interior of its cells. Everything else will freeze, but the woolly worm will still survive. The antifreeze protects the creature in freezing temperatures that can dip as low as –90 degrees Fahrenheit. The wooly worm is also protected by shelter. It chooses its places to hide wisely. It crawls under logs, boulders, boards, rocks, and other dark places. The woolly worm will remain in its “frozen” state until May, when it will emerge as a brilliantly colored moth.

   Prior to settling in for the winter, the woolly worm will survive by eating a variety of plants such as cabbage, spinach, grass, and clover. And to protect itself from predators, the woolly worm will curl up into a ball, exposing only its bristles, which can be quite irritating to the skin.

   Also called the “woolly bear,” mostly in New England and the Midwestern United States, the woolly worm has a pretty good weather prediction rate. Scientists would prefer not to acknowledge it, but the woolly worm has a 80-85% accuracy rate for predicting the weather. The worm has held its record for accuracy for more than 20 years.

   If you want to see the woolly worm in action, don’t seek them out at night. Remember, worms are nocturnal for the most part, not caterpillars. The woolly worm is very active during the day. It is not uncommon to spot them in groups of hundreds, all of them with one common goal – to find a place to hide.

   According to Greg Stack, University of Illinois Extension Educator in Horticulture, “Woolly bear caterpillars overwinter as larva. In the late summer and fall they tend to prefer to feed on either violets or the weed called lambs quarter so what you can do is provide it with those things to feed on. They then start to look for a place to spend the winter. The other requirement in order for this caterpillar to turn into a moth is cold. The cage that you have would be best if it were covered with some type of metal screen instead of fabric netting. The reason for this is that the cage with the caterpillar inside will need to be buried in the ground next to the foundation of the house and then covered with leaf litter. It needs to be left there over the winter and if in a fabric covered cage rodents might get inside and eat the caterpillar. You can think about burying the cage when the weather starts to get cold. Leave the cage in the ground until about late April or Mid May. Dig it up and there should be a pupa inside which will transform into a 1-2 inch white colored moth.”

Always The Third Weekend in October

For 34 year the town of Banner Elk has welcomed both old and new friends to the annual Woolly Worm Festival. This family event co-hosted by the Avery County Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Organization of Banner Elk welcomes more than 23,000 people to the community to make family memories and also to win the prestigious title of predicting the High Country weather and the chance to win the $1000 bounty! Come early because the fun begins at 9:00 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, with entertainment all day. Bring your dance shows because you never know when a line dance will begin. Great music by local groups and check out the wace stage for impromptu guests. The added time at the festival gave festival goers more time to take in the over 140 food and craft vendors with their handcrafted items, plus rides, musicians and dance teams.    The added time at the festival gave festival goers more time to take in the over 140 food and craft vendors with their handcrafted items, plus rides, musicians and dance teams.    We will have many returning vendors who make worm houses and pins, face painting and also include artists who do photography, pottery, stained glass and much more. “It’s a great festival, as it has something for everyone,” says Roy Krege, also known as Mr. Woolly Worm, one of the many volunteers helping to organize the event and add to its success.    Participants wishing to race their worm may register at 9:00 a.m., and shortly after that races begin. 25 worms are in each heat, “but please come early as race entries fill up early and we want,” says Director of the Chamber, Susan Freeman. Saturday’s winning Woolly Worm holds the esteemed honor of predicting the winter weather season and the Woolly Worm wins prize monies of $1000, which we hope the winning worm shares with its owner. Sunday’s winning Woolly Worm $500. How to Race a Worm  Closer Look at the Woolly Worm    What is small, furry looking and found crossing roads this time of year? The answer, of course, is the woolly worm. This perennial little critter is a familiar site in the fall, and it is not uncommon to see dozens if not hundreds in one day.    The woolly worm, in fact, is so common that it is easy to forget how complex and amazing the wee beasties truly are.    First off, the woolly worm is not a worm at all - they are caterpillars, the larva of the Isabella tigermoth. The name "worm" has stuck, at least in the South. People in New England and the Midwest call them "woolly bears." Here are some interesting facts about the woolly ones:    When disturbed, the worms curl into a tight ball, with their "fur" (more about that later) bristling.    The worm has 13 segments to its body, which traditional forecasters say correspond to the 13 weeks of winter.    Woolly worms have three sets of legs, one each on its first three segments. There are some "false legs" behind those (non-working ones), and a leg for propping in the back.    Scientists don't believe the worms have weather forecasting powers. They argue the varying colors are caused by temperature levels and, possibly, moisture, during the early days of their life. Of course, over the last 20 years the worms have an 85 percent record for accuracy. Maybe the scientists are jealous.    Woolly worms eat plants such as grass, clover, dandelion, spinach and cabbage.    There are two generations of worms each year. The first appear in June and July, the second in September. It is the second generation that are the "weather prophets."    Where are the woolly worms racing when they cross a road? They are looking for places to hide. As cold weather arrives, they curl up under boards, logs, boulders and other safe places.    Here is something truly remarkable. Once settled in, the worms hibernate, creating a natural organic antifreeze. They freeze bit by bit, until everything but the interior of their cells are frozen. They can - and do - survive to temperatures as low as -90F.    This ability to adapt to cold shows up particularly in the Arctic, where the woolly worms live in a strange state of slow motion. Most caterpillars live for two to four weeks before becoming moths. The Arctic woolly worms, however, spend at least 14 years in the process!   The woolly worm we see now will winter over and emerge as moths in May. They will then lay eggs - the summer, or first, generation - and die. Woolly worms have very tiny eyes, and limited range of sight. That is why sometimes you will see them rearing up, possibly mid-race, to feel around and seek out, by touch, the next place to go. -by Jim Thompson Regarding The Races...        First, no person is more likely to have a winning worm than any other person. There is no home-field advantage, no preferred age for the person who sets the worm on the string; although worms raced by children do seem to win a bit more frequently.    Second, selecting names for the Woolly Worms is a delightful way to learn how amazingly creative your friends and family members can be. Consider these clever monikers: "Merryweather", "Patsy Climb" and "Dale Wormhardt". Finally, there is no other experience in life that can produce the absurd euphoria that comes from cheering for a caterpillar to climb a string. It is so indisputably ridiculous that it is completely liberating!    And the $1,000 first prize that accompanies the prestige of having your worm used to pronounce the official winter forecast doesn't hurt either.    The Woolly Worm races begin around 10 a.m. Each heat consists of 20 worms and races continue all day until the grand final around 4 p.m. The winning worm on Saturday is declared the official winter forecasting agent.    The Sunday worm races are for prestige, fun and small prizes.    In addition to the Woolly Worm Races, the festival features crafts, food vendors, live entertainment and much more. Last year's festival attracted an estimated 20,000 fans, 140 vendors and around 1,000 race entrants.

DIY HANGING AND FLYING BATS FOR SOME HAUNTED HALLOWEEN DECOR!

  Brought to you by www.marthastewart.com .  I'm getting ready to make a batch of these so that they can hang upside down on my porch.  Welcome trick-or-treaters in hair-raising style by turning your front porch into a bat cave.

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Tools and Materials

• Half-bat template
• Thick black paper
• Bone folder
• Painters' tape or removable hooks

Hanging Bats

1. Print our half-bat template; then fold a piece of thick black paper down the middle, place the template on the fold, and trace. Cut out, and unfold. Use a bone folder to crease wings (and fold opposite the direction of body fold).
2. Poke holes in the bat for monofilament: in the tail for an upside-down bat, in the wings and head for one that's right side up. Hang from ceiling with painters' tape or removable hooks.

HISTORY AND TRADITIONS OF TRICK OR TREATING!

  

 Trick-or-treating is a customary practice for children on Halloween seen in many countries. Children in costumes, either in large groups or accompanied by an adult, travel from house to house in order to ask for treats such as candy (or, in some cultures, money) with the question "Trick or treat?". The "trick" is a (usually idle) threat to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given.
   In North America, trick-or-treating has been a customary Halloween tradition since at least the late 1950s. Homeowners wishing to participate in it usually decorate their private entrance with plastic spiderwebs, paper skeletons and jack-o-lanterns. Some rather reluctant homeowners would simply leave the candy in pots on the porch, others might be more participative and would even ask an effort from the children in order to provide them with candy. In the more recent years, however, the practice has spread to almost any house within a neighborhood being visited by children, including senior residences and condominiums.
   The tradition of going from door to door receiving food already existed in Great Britain and Ireland in the form of souling, where children and poor people would sing and say prayers for the dead in return for cakes.  Guising — children disguised in costumes going from door to door for food and coins — also predates trick or treat, and is recorded in Scotland at Halloween in 1895, where masqueraders in disguise carrying lanterns made out of scooped out turnips, visit homes to be rewarded with cakes, fruit

and money.   While going from door to door in disguise has remained popular among Scots and Irish, the North American custom of saying "trick or treat" has recently become common. The activity is prevalent in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Puerto Rico, and northwestern and central Mexico. In the latter, this practice is called calaverita (Spanish for "little skull"), and instead of "trick or treat", the children ask ¿me da mi calaverita? ("can you give me my little skull?"); where a calaverita is a small skull made of sugar or chocolate.


History

   The practice of dressing up in costumes and begging door to door for treats on holidays dates back to the Middle Ages and includes Christmas wassailing. Trick-or-treating resembles the late medieval practice of souling, when poor folk would go door to door on Hallowmas (November 1), receiving food in return for prayers for the dead on All Souls Day (November 2). It originated in Ireland and Britain,  although similar practices for the souls of the dead were found as far south as Italy.   Shakespeare mentions the practice in his comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1593), when Speed accuses his master of "puling [whimpering or whining] like a beggar at Hallowmas."The custom of wearing costumes and masks at Halloween goes back to Celtic traditions of attempting to copy the evil spirits or placate them, in Scotland for instance where the dead were impersonated by young men with masked, veiled or blackened faces, dressed in white.

   Guising at Halloween in Scotland is recorded in 1895, where masqueraders in disguise carrying lanterns made out of scooped out turnips, visit homes to be rewarded with cakes, fruit and money.  The practise of Guising at Halloween in North America is first recorded in 1911, where a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario reported children going "guising" around the neighborhood.
   American historian and author Ruth Edna Kelley of Massachusetts wrote the first book length history of the holiday in the US; The Book of Hallowe'en (1919), and references souling in the chapter "Hallowe'en in America";

The taste in Hallowe'en festivities now is to study old traditions, and hold a Scotch party, using Burn's poem Hallowe'en as a guide; or to go a-souling as the English used. In short, no custom that was once honored at Hallowe'en is out of fashion now.

Kelley lived in Lynn, Massachusetts, a town with 4,500 Irish immigrants, 1,900 English immigrants, and 700 Scottish immigrants in 1920.  In her book, Kelley touches on customs that arrived from across the Atlantic; "Americans have fostered them, and are making this an occasion something like what it must have been in its best days overseas. All Hallowe'en customs in the United States are borrowed directly or adapted from those of other countries".

While the first reference to "guising" in North America occurs in 1911, another reference to ritual begging on Halloween appears, place unknown, in 1915, with a third reference in Chicago in 1920.
The earliest known use in print of the term "trick or treat" appears in 1927, from Blackie, Alberta:

Hallowe’en provided an opportunity for real strenuous fun. No real damage was done except to the temper of some who had to hunt for wagon wheels, gates, wagons, barrels, etc., much of which decorated the front street. The youthful tormentors were at back door and front demanding edible plunder by the word “trick or treat” to which the inmates gladly responded and sent the robbers away rejoicing.

   The thousands of Halloween postcards produced between the turn of the 20th century and the 1920s commonly show children but do not depict trick-or-treating.  The editor of a collection of over 3,000 vintage Halloween postcards writes, "There are cards which mention the custom [of trick-or-treating] or show children in costumes at the doors, but as far as we can tell they were printed later than the 1920s and more than likely even the 1930s. Tricksters of various sorts are shown on the early postcards, but not the means of appeasing them".   Trick-or-treating does not seem to have become a widespread practice until the 1930s, with the first U.S. appearances of the term in 1934, and the first use in a national publication occurring in 1939.

Increased Popularity

   Almost all pre-1940 uses of the term "trick-or-treat" are from the western United States and Canada.   Trick-or-treating spread from the western United States eastward, stalled by sugar rationing that began in April 1942 during World War II and did not end until June 1947.
   Early national attention to trick-or-treating was given in October 1947 issues of the children's magazines Jack and Jill and Children's Activities,  and by Halloween episodes of the network radio programs The Baby Snooks Show in 1946 and The Jack Benny Show and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet in 1948.  Trick-or-treating was depicted in the Peanuts comic strip in 1951.   The custom had become firmly established in popular culture by 1952, when Walt Disney portrayed it in the cartoon Trick or Treat, and Ozzie and Harriet were besieged by trick-or-treaters on an episode of their television show.   In 1953 UNICEF first conducted a national campaign for children to raise funds for the charity while trick-or-treating.

   Although some popular histories of Halloween have characterized trick-or-treating as an adult invention to rechannel Halloween activities away from vandalism, there is very little records supporting it. Des Moines, Iowa is the only area known to have record of trick-or-treating being used to deter crime.  Elsewhere, adults, as reported in newspapers from the mid-1930s to the mid-1950s, typically saw it as a form of extortion, with reactions ranging from bemused indulgence to anger.   Likewise, as portrayed on radio shows, children would have to explain what trick-or-treating was to puzzled adults, and not the other way around. Sometimes even the children protested: for Halloween 1948, members of the Madison Square Boys Club in New York City carried a parade banner that read "American Boys Don't Beg." The National Confectioners Association reported in 2005 that 80 percent of adults in the United States planned to give out confectionery to trick-or-treaters,  and that 93 percent of children, teenagers, and young adults planned to go trick-or-treating or participating in other Halloween activities.   In 2008,

Halloween candy, costumes and other related products accounted for $5.77 billion in revenue.

 Introduction to the UK and Ireland

   Before the 1980s, the North American phrase "trick-or-treat" was little known in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland and when introduced was often regarded as an unusual and even unwelcome import. Guising is devoid of any jocular threat.   Since the 80s usage of the phrase has become more widespread, but is still often viewed as an exotic and unwelcome commercialised import, with the BBC referring to it as "the Japanese knotweed of festivals" and "Making demands with menaces".   Very often, the phrase "trick - or - treat" is simply said and the revellers are given sweets, with the choice of a trick or a treat having been largely discarded.

Local variants

Guising

   In Scotland and Ireland, "guising" — children going from house to house in disguise — is traditional, and a gift in the form of food, coins or "apples or nuts for the Halloween party" (in more recent times chocolate) is given out to the children dressed up in various costumes.   The tradition is called "guising" because of the disguises or costumes worn by the children.   Among the earliest record of Guising at Halloween in Scotland is in 1895, where masqueraders in disguise carrying lanterns made out of scooped out turnips, visit homes to be rewarded with cakes, fruit and money.   Guising also involved going to wealthy homes, and in the 1920s, boys went guising at

Halloween up to the affluent Thorntonhall, South Lanarkshire.   An account of guising in the 1950s in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, records a child receiving 12 shillings and sixpence having knocked on doors throughout the neighborhood and performed.   There is a significant difference from the way the practice has developed in North America with the jocular threat. In Scotland and Ireland, the children are only supposed to receive treats if they perform for the households they go to. This normally takes the form of singing a song or reciting a joke or a funny poem which the child has memorized before setting out.   Occasionally a more talented child may do card tricks, play the mouth organ, or something even more impressive, but most children will earn plenty of treats even with something very simple. Often they won't even need to perform.   While going from door to door in disguise has remained popular among Scots and Irish at Halloween, saying "trick-or-treat" has become common.

Trunk-or-Treat

    Some organizations around the US sponsor a "Trunk-or-Treat" on Halloween night (or on occasion, a day immediately preceding Halloween), where trick-or-treating is done from parked car to parked car in a local parking lot, often at a church house. The trunk of one's car is opened, displaying candy and often decorations. Concerned parents see it as safer for their children, while other parents see it as a way out of having to walk the neighborhood with their kids. Opponents frown upon the Trunk-or-Treat as taking away from the tradition of walking door-to-door on Halloween, and also excluding children that do not belong to these church groups and thus are not informed about them. Some have called for more city- or community group-sponsored Trunk-or-Treats, so they can be more inclusive.   Many neighborhoods see a large reduction in

door-to-door trick-or-treating because of a competing Trunk-or-Treat. These have become increasingly popular over the years especially in conservative states like Utah, and are catching on around Midwest and Southern states. This practice is not a panacea for all perceived problems, however. In 2005 a child in Lehi, Utah was given a vial of cocaine at a Trunk-or-Treat.

 Other Trick or Treat Traditions

   In some parts of Canada, children sometimes say "Halloween apples" instead of "trick or treat." This probably originated when the toffee apple was a popular type of candy. Apple-giving in much of Canada, however, has been taboo since the 1960s when stories (almost certainly apocryphal) appeared of razors hidden inside Halloween apples; parents began to check over their children's "loot" for safety before allowing them to eat it. In Quebec, children also go door to door on Halloween. However, in French speaking neighbourhoods, instead of "Trick or treat?", they will simply say "Halloween", though in tradition it used to be La charité s'il-vous-plaît ("Charity, please").
   In some parts of Ohio, Iowa, Massachusetts and other states, the night designated for trick-or-treating is referred to as Beggars Night, and in some communities it is held on a night prior to Halloween itself.

   In Sweden children dress up as witches and go trick-or-treating on Maundy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter) while Danish children dress up in various attires and go trick-or-treating on Fastelavn (or the next day, Shrove Monday). In Norway, children go trick-or-treating between Christmas and New Year's Eve. The Easter witch tradition is done on Palm Sunday in Finland. In parts of Flanders and some parts of the Netherlands and most areas of Germany and Austria, children go to houses with home made beet lanterns or with paper lanterns (which can hold a candle or electronic light), singing songs about St. Martin on St. Martin's Day (the 11th of November), in return for treats.   In Northern Germany and Southern Denmark children dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating on New Year's Eve in a tradition called "Rummelpott".
   Children of the St. Louis, Missouri area are expected to perform a joke, usually a simple Halloween-themed pun or riddle, before receiving any candy; this "trick" earns the "treat".  Children in Des Moines, Iowa also tell jokes or otherwise perform before receiving their treat. This originated as well-organized campaign to reduce Halloween mischief-making. Des Moines trick-or-treating is also unusual in that it is actually done the night before Halloween, known locally as "Beggars' Night".