Let’s Celebrate: A Holiday Origins Podcast

Let's Celebrate: Death Holidays

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In this episode we're celebrating the Death Holidays; Samhain, Halloween, and Die de Los Muertos! We’ll be taking a look at how different cultures have celebrated death at the time of year when everything in the world seems to also be dying and discussing how we can look at death in a more positive light. And also how a holiday celebrating death has become a day when people dress up in costumes and ask their neighbors for candy. 


The CeLibation for this episode is A Spiked Pumpkin Pie Spiced Apple Cider


For this celibation you need:

 Fresh apples

Oranges

Sweetener of choice

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Water

Rum or Whiskey of choice (something dark and maybe spiced)

  1. Combine your ingredients in a large pot. Add the apples, oranges, and spices to a large pot. cover with water, leaving space at the top.
  2. Heat the cider over high heat until it reaches a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for about 1 hour, take the oranges out and squish the liquid out of them and leave only the apples. You can always peel the oranges before putting them in but then you won’t get the bitterness from the peel. It’s up to you. 
  3. Mash the apples against the side of the pot to release their juices, but leave the smashed bits in the liquid. Add your sweetener of choice (honey, maple syrup or brown sugar). Then add more water and let simmer for another hour.
  4. Then, strain out the solid pieces by pressing them against a strainer to release all of their juices. Discard the solids (or save them for smoothies, cookies, or a cake). 
  5. And then, your cider is all ready to go! Serve it warm. 
  6. To spike it, add an ounce or so of your favorite dark or spiced . 
    7. Thanks for listening. If you you enjoy listening to today's episode, please consider Liking and Subscribing/Following and leave a review if you feel so inclined. I'm glad you're here on this adventure with me and I hope you learn something new today!

    References:

    Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween by  David J. Skal https://amzn.to/3Sk3YFI

    https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/samhain

    https://www.babyquip.com/blog/spooky-history-of-halloween?utm_term=&utm_campaign=Search-International-Mexico_Generic&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&gclid=CjwKCAjw-KipBhBtEiwAWjgwrDX3cvhql2Now9oCTQLXNBm3T59lxEuWNW9eoDscKICCwZ8KBURBPhoC7ekQAvD_BwE

    https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/10/the-origins-of-halloween-traditions/#:~:text=Yet%2C%20the%20Halloween%20holiday%20has,costumes%20to%20ward%20off%20ghosts.

    https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain

    https://www.countryliving.com/entertaining/a40250/heres-why-we-really-celebrate-halloween/

    https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-we-celebrate-halloween

    https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/day-of-the-dead

    https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/indigenous-festivity-dedicated-to-the-dead-00054

    https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/poetry/these-wicked-day-of-the-dead-poems-dont-spare-anyone

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead

    https://ideas.hallmark.com/articles/fall-ideas/how-to-write-literary-calaveras-for-dia-de-muertos/

    https://www.prensalibre.com/guatemala/comunitario/que-significa-la-antorcha-en-guatemala-y-por-que-se-enciende-cada-15-de-septiembre-por-el-dia-de-la-independencia/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CLa%20idea%20es%20recordar%20que,en%20generaci%C3%B3n%E2%80%9D%2C%20explic%C3%B3%20Chaj%C3%B3n.&text=Seg%C3%BAn%20Chaj%C3%B3n%2C%20el%20encendido%20tambi%C3%A9n,la%20libertad%20y%20la%20democracia.

    https://celticranch.com/blogs/celtic-culture/lughnasa#:~:text=Lughnasa%20is%20the%20first%20of,all%20%E2%80%93%20Samhain%20on%20October%2031.

    https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2019/10/la-catrina-dark-history-day-deads-immortal-icon

    https://www.npr.org/2021/10/30/1050726374/why-marigolds-or-cempasuchil-are-the-iconic-flower-of-dia-de-los-muertos

    https://dayofthedead.holiday/history/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papel_picado


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    Let’s Celebrate: A Holiday Origins PodcastBy RustyBrown