Halloween Foods

This was initially a project that highlighted some aspect of Halloween. During my research, I learned how some foods associated with the holiday have their roots in ancient times.

Apples were used to as part of an offering in the ancient British Isles to provide protection from bad luck for the next year. Later, during the Roman Empire, a fall celebration was held to honor the goddess Pomona, who is symbolized by an apple. Today, we continue the tradition by bobbing for apples and enjoying candied apples.

The origin of the jack o’lantern can be traced back to Ireland. Turnips were originally used as jack o’lanterns. Their carved faces would scare off evil spirits, while a candle burning inside added protection. After migrating to America, the Irish immigrants found American pumpkins to be better suited because of their size and were easier to carve.