Autumn Traditions are in the Air

Although it's still very warm in parts of the United States, those of us in the Midwest are enjoying some cool, comfortable weather this week. In fact, the nights are feeling downright autumnal! Stores are filled with the bright colors of Halloween decorations, and those of us who need our yearly fix of pumpkin doughnuts, pumpkin muffins, and the ever-popular pumpkin spice lattes, are blissfully eating and drinking our way into the season. Did you know that pumpkins have a long, interesting history? If your ancestors were in this country or in South or Central America, they likely ate, cooked, and/or carved pumpkins throughout their lives. Read on for more!

Did Our Ancestors Trick or Treat?

Whether your neighborhood will be teeming with children asking for treats on Halloween night or not, it is likely most of us will be unable to resist those large packages of bite-sized candies lurking in every store. Is your downfall Reese’s peanut butter cups, Skittles, or sweet, sticky candy corn? Maybe Almond Joy minis or KitKat bars? Candy companies have super-sized Halloween during the past few decades and earned billions of dollars for their hard work. But where did the whole Halloween trick or treating idea come from? Did our ancestors walk door to door with little carved pumpkins asking for goodies from their neighbors? Let’s explore the origins of trick or treating.

Broken Mirrors and Spilled Salt: Some of our Ancestors' Superstitions

Some of us grew up with immigrant parents or grandparents who carried many seemingly odd rituals to this country with them. Did your ancestors toss a bit of salt over their left shoulders if they spilled the shaker or avoid walking under ladders? Did they predict seven years of bad luck if they broke a mirror? Where did all the talk about evil and devils and bad luck originate? Learning more about the origins of superstitions, customs, and traditions can give us insight to the lives of our ancestors and help to enhance our family histories.