Let’s Unmask Halloween The Origins and Legends Behind Your Favorite Traditions
Here come the scary decorations, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, and spooky costumes because Halloween is just around the corner! These traditions are what make Halloween fun and exciting year after year. However, did you know that jack-o’-lanterns come from an Irish legend or that trick-or-treating comes from a historical ritual called “souling”?
his “lantern” into the modern-day jack-o’ lantern! Candy corn was once called chicken feed. Candy corn, which the Wunderlee
As we prepare for Oct. 31 activities, here are some fun facts you might not know about Halloween!
Halloween is based on a Celtic festival. Samhain, a pagan festival held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, celebrated both the harvest and the “dark” second half of the year. During this celebration, it was believed the barrier separating the spirits from the physical world would come down, allowing demons to enter and the spirits of all who passed away that year to move on to the next life. ‘Stingy Jack’ helped evolve jack-o’-lanterns . The Irish myth of a man named “Stingy Jack” goes like this: Stingy Jack invited the devil for a drink, and because he didn’t want to pay, he convinced the devil to turn into a coin so he could buy their drinks. However, instead of paying, he placed the “coin” next to a cross in his pocket that prevented the devil from returning to his original form. Once he freed the devil, Stingy Jack continued to trick him. When he died, God turned away Stingy Jack with only coal to light his way, so he placed the coal in a carved-out turnip to create a lantern. From there, people slowly transformed
Candy Company began producing in the late 1880s, is an extremely popular Halloween candy. In fact, today, about 35
million pounds of the candy are sold each year! When the Goelitz Candy Company brought it to the
masses at the turn of the century, they called the sweet tricolored candy “Chicken Feed” because so many people worked on farms at the time. Their early ads exclaimed, “Something worth crowing for!”
Now you know! Happy Halloween!
Top Hacks for Getting Kids to Bed Sweet Dreams Made Easy
Set a realistic bedtime. Ensure your child’s bedtime aligns with their natural sleep cycle and is appropriate for their age. When children become overtired, they can be more resistant to sleep.
Getting kids to bed can be a nightly challenge for many parents. The bedtime routine can feel like a nightmare, from
endless requests for just one more story to sudden bursts of energy. However, with a few clever tricks up your sleeve, you can easily transform bedtime into a smoother and more peaceful experience. Here are a few top hacks to try.
Limit screen time before bed. Studies show that the blue light emitted by screens can interfere with sleep. Before bed, to help your child’s body produce melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone, limit their interaction with phones, tablets, and television.
Establish a consistent bedtime routine. Children thrive with routines. By
Choose a calming bedtime story or music. Incorporating a calming bedtime story or soothing music into the routine can help transition your child from playtime to sleep time. Some popular choices include “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” “Three Little Pigs,” and “Rock a Bye Baby.” The best part is that you can get creative and tailor these choices to your child’s age and interests. Keep in mind that every child is unique. Be patient and adaptable when developing a bedtime routine that works best for your child! Over time, these hacks will help transform bedtime from a nightly struggle into a peaceful and enjoyable time of the evening for both you and your child!
establishing a consistent bedtime routine that includes brushing teeth, reading a story, having one last drink of water, and turning off the lights, you can help signal to their bodies that it’s time to wind down for the night. Predictability works wonders!
Create a comfortable and relaxing environment. Your child’s room should be a calming sanctuary. Use soft lighting, cozy bedding, comfortable pajamas, and your child’s favorite stuffed animal to create an environment that encourages your child to snuggle up and relax.
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