Happy Halloween!

As you may know, Halloween began as a pre-Christian Celtic festival which stood as a celebration to honor and interact with the dead. During this time, crops were harvested and large bonfires were lit to honor the dead and keep them away. People dressed like ghosts to keep demons and ghosts away. Finally, and most importantly, people would leave food and wine on their porches as an offering to the dead in the journeys.

Following the birth of Christianity, Halloween became something quite different. As the Christians were converting the Celtics and getting rid of their pagan holidays, Pope Gregory I stepped in to say that it was better to continue to allow people to hold their beliefs and own rituals as long as these practices were under the name of Christ.

So tonight I suggest putting on a scary costume, enjoying food and wine with friends and leave a glass of port and some blue cheese on the porch when you turn in. Wouldn’t you enjoy this delectable treat if you were on a long journey?