Why There Are Kids on Your Porch Asking for Candy The History of Trick-or-Treating
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.
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.” 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!
TeamSpotlight: Mileydis
‘Headless’ Apples on HORSEBACK
If you’ve called the office during the week to get in touch with one of our team members, you have probably talked to Mileydis! She is our amazing director of first impressions and is also one of our newest members of the crew. Mileydis came to us from the hospitality industry, which is why she has been such an amazing addition to the firm. Her kind gestures and willingness
Ingredients • 16 very thin slices of pancetta (or cured, unsmoked bacon) • 2 pink lady apples • 3 ounces manchego cheese, 1/4 inch thick • Toothpicks for skewering Directions • Core apples and cut each into 8 wedges. Remove rind of manchego cheese and cut into 2-inch sticks. • Heat a grill pan or skillet to medium-high. • On a cutting board, lay pancetta or bacon slices flat and place an apple wedge and piece of cheese in the center of each. • Roll pancetta tightly and skewer with toothpick. • Grill until cheese is melted and pancetta or bacon is golden and crispy, about 5 minutes. • Drain excess grease on a paper towel and serve hot.
to learn are contagious, which is a big reason why she came to us in the first place. When asked about the journey that led her to our office, she replied, “I was seeking out a career, not just a job. I needed to try something new, and this is where I found it.” Mileydis’ position within the office is a crucial one and comes with a lot of pressure. Not only does she rock at getting the job done, but she also has great things to say about her everyday experiences. “Meeting new people, and in a way, changing their situation from a negative to a positive, is my favorite part of each day.” When Mileydis isn’t working, you can find her hitting the books or attending sporting events. For some reason, these things don’t surprise us at all. We can tell by her hard work and determination that she loves to learn and be the best she can be … even if that means being a little competitive. Next time you call the office or stop by, make sure you ask for Mileydis, and let her know you saw her in the newsletter!
Inspired by Food & Wine magazine
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