As the Northern Hemisphere winds its way towards Halloween I cannot help but get caught up in all the excitement. As a Southern Hemisphere Witch I should be getting ready for Beltane, but I can’t. There’s just something about Halloween in October that feels so right for me – especially now that more Australians are celebrating!
When I was growing up I was one of the few Aussie kids that really loved Halloween. As a big fan of Bewitched, I looked forward to their Halloween specials. I always wished we celebrated it more here. There were some Aussies who held Halloween Parties but the spirit of the holiday just wasn’t there. You didn’t see streets filled with Trick or Treaters that I would see in the American shows. And each year I lamented the lack of Halloween paraphernalia available in the stores. In the 80’s, a friend came back from a trip to England and surprised me by bringing back a whole heap of Halloween souvenirs for me! I was so happy 🙂
It’s been about 30 years since I received my coveted Halloween haul and happily things have changed. Now, when I walk into a store in October, I See Dead Things! Halloween decorations delight my eyes and Halloween candies make my mouth water. I know there will be Trick or Treaters coming to my door so I’ve stocked up on chocolate treats including an “emergency” pack of mini Turkish Delight Chocolates in case I run out. They’re really for me, as I don’t think many children actually like Turkish Delight, and I love them.
Some say that the acceptance and participation by Australians in Halloween festivities highlights the commercialisation of the holiday, others argue it symbolises the Americanisation of Australian culture, I just think about bloody time! While, the commercialisation of holidays to sell products is definitely a reason for Halloween gaining popularity, and Australia is also heavily influenced by American culture, it is important to remember that Halloween is not a traditionally American holiday but a Celtic one. Although America has made Halloween what it is today – and I thank them for that 🙂 It is ironic that a country so identified with Christianity has kept one of the most Pagan holidays alive and has spread its popularity throughout the world.
So when I think of Halloween becoming popular in Australia I don’t think of it as rampant commercialism, nor an Americanisation of our culture, but rather as a subtle re-Paganising of the world. Behind all the costumes and sweets is a memory of what this holiday is all about and who first started it – Pagans and Witches! We have been tortured and vilified throughout the centuries and our rituals and holidays appropriated by others. But Halloween is one holiday that has remained stubbornly Pagan.
So whatever you are doing this Halloween just remember that from the ashes of the fires we witches are returning, one cackle at a time!
And now for a Halloween recipe 🙂
Coffin Bread
A variation on the aptly named Taiwanese street food filled with cauliflower soup, served with pomegranate molasses and garlic croutons.
Ingredients
for the coffin bread
1 small rectangular loaf of bread (approximately L 15cm, W 10cm, H 10cm)
olive oil
for the garlic croutons
leftover bread pieces from the coffin bread
1 clove of garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup olive oil
pinch of sea salt
for the soup
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons plain flour
3 cups chicken stock
450g cauliflower florets
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
pomegranate molasses for drizzling
Method
Preheat oven to 180C / 350F.
Using a sharp knife, carefully cut a lid off the top of the bread.
Cut out most of the bread inside, creating a basket to hold the filling.
Lightly brush outside and inside the bread and lid with olive oil.
Place bread basket on a baking tray. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden on the inside.
While bread basket is cooking make the croutons by tearing up the leftover pieces of bread and placing in a bowl with the garlic, olive oil and salt. Toss through and place on an oven tray with the bread lid. Bake in the oven with the bread basket until golden.
The lid and croutons may cook quicker than the basket so check and remove when ready.
When bread basket is cooked, place on a serving plate. If the soup isn’t ready yet, switch off the oven but leave the bread in the oven to keep warm.
Make the soup while the bread is baking by melting the butter in a large saucepan.
Add the onion and cook until softened.
Mix in the flour and the chicken stock, stir until combined.
Add the cauliflower and salt.
Simmer for 15 minutes or until the cauliflower is soft and cooked.
Puree the soup then return to the saucepan.
Simmer gently until the bread and croutons are cooked.
Pour the soup into the bread basket.
Drizzle with pomegranate molasses.
Serve the bread lid and croutons on the side.
Reblogged this on cgw629 and commented:
Yummy Holiday Recipes and a History Lesson. You are missing out if you aren’t following my multi-faceted and very interesting friend, vsomethingspeaks.wordpress.com
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
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Thanks for the reblog and Happy Halloween!
It’s winding down here down under 🙂
Time for a nightcap.
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Thank you vsomethingspeaks.wordpress.com. The recipes look yummy, but what I most appreciated was the added information. I enjoyed learning about the history of Halloween outside America, the only connection I had on this was Britain’s Guy Fawke ‘ Day. And, I as always, I enjoyed your b personal experiences in regards to the Holiday. What is the appropriate greating, for Happy Beltane? Much affection, cgw
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Unsurprisingly many Pagans/Wiccans go with the greeting Blessed Be but I’m more of a Happy girl so Happy Beltane is perfect 🙂
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Blessed Be, like on Aaron Spellings Charmed in America. ☺
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Did they say that on Charmed? It’s been so long since I saw it I can’t remember!
I loved that show – at least the early series 🙂
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The witch hanging from the house near you is one of the best decorations I have seen, I also loved the coffin bread.
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Lol – I loved that witch. When the wind blew it looked like it was flying 🙂
The cauliflower soup in the coffin bread is delicious – even without the coffin!
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I am glad to hear that Halloween/ Samhain is getting more popular Down Under. Yes, it is the one Pagan holiday that we are allowed to ‘acceptably’ celebrate while everyone celebrates with us! (although the Catholic Church did technically hijack it as All Saint’s Day, November 1st.)
I agree that it is incredibly ironic that the US was the one to keep Halloween so popular — considering that we are probably the most Christian country in the world. However, consider capitalism — Halloween is a big business. Nonetheless, I am so glad we have it!! Blessed Samhain to you 🙂
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Our local zoo just celebrated its first Halloween with a “Boo at the Zoo” event. It’s one of the only events that I know of that has sold out! Naturally I went. I was stunned at how many people came and how many dressed up. I loved walking through a crowd of grim reapers, witches, vampires and devils. It has always been my dream to see Halloween celebrated in Australia – that dream is coming true 🙂
The Catholic Church definitely tried to hijack Halloween but they failed!!
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Cool! How great that you had the zoo event! Halloween is a most ‘attractive’ holiday, I must say. I mean, who could resist candy and the chance to dress up?
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