Happy Halloween: Pumpkins, garlic, fairy folk and all creatures big and small!

Virtually all present-day Halloween traditions can be traced to ancient practices rooted in cosmic cycles and the like. From the Celtic day of the dead traditions, which supplant modern day practices throughout most of North America, to Día de los Muertos, or day of the dead celebrated throughout much of the rest of the Americas, these practices are cross culturally reverberant.

Point is this—there is a whole lot to it!

To many, it marks a transition of seasons. From the bountiful summer and fall into the winter months of water and deep introspection via the late fall harvest. It is a time of preparations for what the winter may or may not bring. It is also a time for slowing down, we sleep a bit more, eat richer foods—lots of root veggies and tree nuts, it is dark a bit longer and we are a bit more careful with our practices in health. For example, we take a little more care in assuring that the youngsters and elders are dressed warmly. We know implicitly that the cold can challenge our immune system and we want to move through this time of cold, with its teachings and with all our loved ones into the spring.

When we consider these things (and others!) it becomes easy to see why this time of transition has been marked by cultures the world over as a time when the fabric between this world and the next is the thinnest. A time to communicate with the ancestors, fairy folk, and spirits alike—time to rejoice in life, health, community and goodness as well as a time to ward off their antitheses.  

My family and I have a great time with Halloween! We celebrate the late harvest, we carve pumpkins and make pumpkin seeds, we plant garlic (second bed), and we throw candy (we certainly don’t eat it!) into the old bonfire. The bonfire tradition, is a great way to have the kids enjoy the community aspects of trick or treating without the health detriments brought by refined white sugar and the like—we don’t collect a whole lot, just a few pieces for the fun. It is symbolic—teaches a good lesson and it is crazy to see all the colors that flare up with a few pieces of candy in the fire—makes for some good story telling too.

On the garlic... Yum! Few flavors rival its delectable pungency. Further, it is an awesome medicinal powerhouse loaded with sulfur compounds and allicin! All that and it keeps vampires and the like away!

Check back to read about the health benefits of this scrumptious plant teacher and to see how we moon-plant our garlic just like our ancestors.

Comments

[Todd Pesek, MD]

You are most welcome! I love the scapes in the vase idea, you can put them in there until dinner time!
Be well,
Todd

[Jazzolina]

I'll try it. I addition to tasting great, scapes are beautiful in a vase in the spring. Thank you.

[Todd Pesek, MD]

Hi there Jazzolina! The moon-planting was awe inspiring, as always, good to get the hands in the dirt. The true test is when they come up next year and then even more so, when you eat them--scapes in spring and early summer, bulbs in mid-late summer. Here in northeastern Ohio, we are well past our first frost. Around here, I would say go ahead and plant, see how they come up next spring--she is newly waxing into the Cold moon now--good for scapes. Try them out and keep me posted!
Be well,
Dr. Todd

[Jazzolina]

I hope the moon-planting went well. Is it now too late in the season to plant garlic?