When Jason and Michelle were younger Cecile and I took them to Queen’s Saratoga Pumpkin Patch, not too far from home. It was established in 1984. Years later I did watercolor painting here every fall with fellow artists from the Saratoga Community of Painters because of the abundance of color and great, fun-filled atmosphere. Since we only had this time of year to paint pumpkins, we embraced it. It’s been several years since I painted and the inner child was yearning to return to the scene. Since we don’t have grand kids we exercised Plan B: we took our grand dog, Daisy (Jason’s dog) with us. Queen’s Pumpkin Patch has it all: Pumpkins, Gourds, Indian Corn, Hay, cornstalks and refreshments for sale. There is also cow train (tram), Petting Zoo, a clear Bubble Station where kids can float in a pool of water as seen in the photos. Some of the other photos were taken in local neighborhoods, and the one of me with the witch reading me a story was during our recent visit to Palm Desert.
Though a secular holiday, the word Halloween is a Scottish term for All Hallows Eve meaning “holy evening,” and is the eve of All Saints Day which falls on November 1. It dates back to 1745. Halloween has roots in two medieval celebrations: The Celtic festival of Samhain and the Catholic holiday of my youth: All Saints Day. Samhain is a Gaelic term meaning “Summers End,” of the “lighter half” of the year and the beginning of the “darker half.” Its prehistoric observance is marked by feasting, bonfires, and homage to the dead. All Soul’s Day (November 2) is a day of prayer for the dead. In ancient times villagers would go door to door offering prayers for their souls in exchange for “soul cakes,” and other treats. Some say it is a precursor to the modern day “Trick or Treat" custom we have today. The practice of placing a candle in a hallowed out pumpkin is said to be borrowed from the Irish who used turnips at the time to do the same thing.
Then we have the "Day of the Dead" (Dia de Muertos)a Mexican public holiday celebrated in the Central and Southern regions of Mexico, and in the US. It is a multi-day holiday that focuses on family gatherings and friends who remember their loved ones who have passed on. In so doing, they help to support them in their spiritual journey by building and placing offerings on altars. Before the Spanish colonization in the 16th century, the event took place at the advent of summer but gradually began to be associated with Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
Pumpkin Wisdom:
1-Be Well-Rounded
2-Get Plenty of Sunshine
3-Give Thanks for Life's Bounty
4-Have a Thick Skin
5-Keep Growing
6-Be Outstanding in Your Field
7-Think Big
