WHY THERE ARE KIDS ON YOUR PORCH ASKING FOR CANDY
The History of Trick-or-Treating
Long before there were young’uns on your porch dressed as Thanos with candy-filled pillowcases in hand, the Celts believed that Samuin marked an overlapping of the realms of the living and the dead. To trick the spirits leaking into our world, young men donned flowing white costumes and black masks — a great disguise when ghosts were about. The Catholic Church was never a big fan of these pagan traditions, so they renamed it “All Saints’ Day” and gussied it up in religious garb. By the 11th century, people were dressing up as saints, angels, and the occasional demon instead of spirits. Eventually, costumed children started tearing through town begging for food and money and singing a song or prayer in return — a practice called “souling.”
As Halloween looms and you load up your grocery cart with candy, you may ask yourself, “Why do I provide these spooky gremlins with a sugar high every Oct. 31, anyway?” Well, when your doorbell starts ringing around 6 p.m. this All Hallows’ Eve, you can thank the Celts for this tradition of candy and costumes. Halloween itself is a kind of mishmash of four different cultural festivals of old: two Roman fêtes, which commemorated the dead and the goddess of fruit and trees (not at the same time); the Celtic Samuin or Samhain, a new year’s party thrown at the end of our summer; and the Catholic All Saint’s Day, designed to replace Samuin and divorce it from its pagan origins. WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT? Important Steps in the Hours and Days Following Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident is not something they teach in school, and we know there’s a lot to think about. Trying to establish priorities is challenging at any time, not to mention in this situation. You probably already know that your top priority is making sure you and your loved ones are okay. You should also exchange information with the other driver and document (or have a friend or loved one document) the scene of the accident, including taking pictures of both cars and the area around you. In addition, don’t admit fault to anyone, including bystanders. This can be used later to establish fault, even if it’s not yours. In our line of work, there is one common mistake we notice people making after accidents: not going to the doctor. It’s understandable — maybe they’re worried about the bills they can’t afford for a doctor’s visit; maybe immigration status is a concern. But not going to the doctor after your accident is neglecting your well-being. It can take time for pain or other issues to develop, and you may be in shock after what happened. Even if you’re not feeling anything right away, seek medical attention as soon as you can. Waiting to go to the doctor can put you and your claim at risk and make it harder to get reimbursed for the care you truly need.
But when did they start dressing up as Minions? Starting in the 19th century, souling turned to “guising,” which gave way to trick- or-treating in mid-20th-century America, and the costumes diversified. So put on some clown makeup and a big smile, scoop up a handful of sweets, and scare the living daylights out of ‘em — ‘tis the season!
insurance adjuster will look at the time between the accident and when you saw a doctor and use that timeline to establish whether or not you have a claim.
Once you’ve sought medical attention, make sure you hang on to any receipts related to your expenses and keep these organized. These can include medical bills as well as costs for travel to and from your medical provider. These documents will be important in determining what you may be owed. If you’ve been in an auto accident, it may also be helpful to talk to an attorney. We’re here to help walk you through the steps and provide legal advice. Call the law office of Smith, Wallis & Scott today.
Insurance companies review the treatment you’ve received after an accident and use this type of information as evidence that you are not injured. An
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