Samhain at Home

SEASONAL FOODS WITH HISTORICAL / FOLK CONNECTION:
- apples;
- nuts;
- potatoes;
- cabbage;
- colcannon;
- barmbrack / báirín breac.

MODERN SEASONAL ADDITIONS:
- roasted root vegetables;
- apple cake;
- spiced cider;
- pumpkin dishes;
- squash soup;
- warm breads;
- stews;
- tea;
- honey;
- seasonal baked goods.

Pumpkin jack-o’-lanterns are a North American development from older carved-root lantern traditions, not an ancient Irish Samhain food.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY IDEAS:
- carve a pumpkin or, with appropriate adult tool safety, learn about the older turnip-lantern tradition;
- bob for apples using hygienic individual bowls or use a no-water hanging-apple alternative;
- bake or buy barmbrack and discuss the fortune-telling tradition;
- make a remembrance table with photos;
- share family stories;
- visit graves respectfully;
- take an autumn walk;
- collect fallen leaves where legal;
- make paper lanterns;
- write “what we are thankful for / what we are finished with” cards;
- tell folklore stories;
- have a technology-light candlelit dinner using safe lighting.