These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Friday, October 31, 2008

Special Trivia

Some things related to Halloween .....
Jack o’ lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.

The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.

Halloween candy sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States.

Bobbing for apples is thought to have originated from the Roman harvest festival that honors Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees.

Black cats were once believed to be witch's familiars who protected their powers.

Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.


About Pumpkins:
The name pumpkin orginated from "pepon" – the Greek word for "large melon."

The top pumpkin production states are Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California.

Pumpkins are fruits. A pumpkin is a type of squash and is a member of the gourd family (Cucurbitacae), which include squash, cucumbers, gherkins, and melons.

Pumpkin seeds should be planted between the last week of May and the middle of June. They take between 90 and 120 days to grow and are picked in October when they are bright orange in color. Their seeds can be saved to grow new pumpkins the next year.

The largest pumpkin pie ever made was over five feet in diameter and weighed over 350 pounds. It used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin, 36 pounds of sugar, 12 dozen eggs and took six hours to bake.

Colonists sliced off pumpkin tops; removed seeds and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. This was baked in hot ashes and is the origin of pumpkin pie.



And about Scary Movies:
Dana Plato, who would later become famous for the role of Kimberley Drummond on "Diff'rent Strokes," was originally offered the role of Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist.

Due to its shoestring budget, the prop department for Halloween (1978) had to use the cheapest mask that they could find in the costume store: a William Shatner mask, from The Devil's Rain (1975). They later spray-painted the face white, teased out the hair, and reshaped the eyeholes.

Not long before filming on Bride of Frankenstein (1935) began, Colin Clive broke a leg in a horse riding accident. Consequently, most of Dr. Frankenstein's scenes were shot with him sitting.

Psycho is the first movie to show a woman (Janet Leigh) in just a bra and slip.

Many of the 500 Florida frogs and 100 giant South American toads purchased for use in The Frogs escaped during production.

The mask in Scream is based on an Edvard Munch painting entitled "The Scream."



[eerie laughter] Bwa ha ha ha ha ha! Happy Halloween, my pretties!!

1 comment:

If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!