BOO! IT'S HALLOWEEN TIME!

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS 

Do you realize that Halloween is celebrated in different countries in some unique ways?

Let's start with Mexico.  Dia de los Muertos......better known to us as The Day of the Dead.

Sounds scary doesn't it?  Actually it is a time where a celebration is done to honor the deceased loved ones.  It is a 3 day celebration that begins on the evening of October 31 and goes thru Nov 2.    What happens is that many families construct and altar to the dead in their homes to honor the deceased relatives and decorate it with candy, flowers, photographs.  They even have samples of the deceased's favorite foods and drinks and fresh water.  Why water you ask...well it is usually put in a wash basin so the spirits can wash up before indulging the feast. They burn candles and incense so the deceased can find their way home.  They even go as far as tidy up the grave sites by snipping weeds and making repairs.  On Nov 2 the relatives actually go down to the grave site to picnic and reminisce...Sounds like fun and a nice way to celebrate your relatives that have moved on.

Okay we are going to check into England and Canada...they now celebrate the way we do here in the U.S. but in England they did have a more mischievous day....GUY FAWKES DAY.
This day was more know for Guy Fawkes who was a member of the Catholic group and wanted to remove the Protestant King James from power...So of course Guy Fawkes was  considered by the British to be a traitor and was convicted of attempting to blow up England's Parliament Building.  The original Guy Fawkes Day was celebrated right after his execution.  The first bonfires was called BONE FIRES.  They were set up to burn effigies and symbolic "bones" of the Catholic pope. All pretty political and kind of gruesome...but again it was the 1600's.  The children even took to walking the streets carrying and effigy and would ask for a penny for the guy.  This was as close to trick or treat as it gets here.  Guy Fawkes day was even celebrated by the pilgrims at the first settlement at Plymouth....but this eventually died out.

Well let's look as to where did Halloween start...In Ireland, of course!  The day is still celebrated much as it is in the United States.  Bonfires are lit, children dress in costume and spend the evening "trick or treating".  Sound familiar.  Well in Ireland they have some differences like the games they play and some of the foods they eat.  The Irish have a traditional treat called barmbrack...it is like a fruitcake but there are surprises baked inside that foretell the future.  Like those who get a ring means that person will be the next to be wed, or a piece of straw means that a prosperous year is on the way.  I am not sure about baking straw in my cake....but to each his own.    Then you have the "trick" part of "trick or treat"  so here is something that we have all heard about.  This "Trick" is known as "knock -a-dolly".  It is a prank of course, where as the children knock on the door and run away....gee I think I have heard of this before.  

Now there is also the Ancient Celtic tradition called Samhain which is pronounced Sow-an. This is the time when the wall between here and the spirit world is the thinnest and you should be able to contact your ancestors....sounds a little like the Mexican celebration, doesn't it.  Seems like most of these celebrations are similar in nature...

Now you are all asking what about the Jack-O-Latern.   That is a story all to itself.....so from the early Celts to current cute ghosts and goblins running from house to house....Halloween is a fun celebration celebrated around the World.  

IT'S A DISNEY HALLOWEEN
Well you have heard us talking about Disney World's "Mickey not so Scary" Halloween. But did you know the Disney Cruise line also has lots of Halloween fun on Board.  Yes.....It's Halloween on the High Seas.  Set sail for a spooky jubilee packed with haunted tricks and fun-filled treats for everyone in the family.  Magical mischief and spirited surroundings  with await you at every turn, all thanks to the not-so-scary parties, bewitching entertainment and eerie decor.   So if you are thinking you want a cruise but don't want the kids to miss out on Halloween.....Hop aboard the Disney Cruise Line and get your ghost on.....Boo!

TV ON AMERICAN AIRLINES?
Yup!....American Airlines is offering FREE LIVE TV on more than 100 of its domestic planes.  That's about a tenth of its mainline fleet.  It also plans on extending this perk to more than 7000 other domestic use planes in 2019.  American already offers free live TV on international flights and is the only US carrier to do so...but remember....it's only 5 channels...so you may not see your favorite show if is not carried in these channels...

TOUR THE UNITED STATES
We always talk about tours of different country locations...but we hardly every talk about touring the United States.  I think its about time.  We can rediscover America with a Globus Tour.  We can go explore the spectacular national parks to the sun-drenched California coast to the historical landmarks in the East and don't forget the charm of the South.  Imagine touring throughout New England's brilliant fall foliage.  Or take in Alaska's breathtaking Denali National Park during the summer months.  Love music....what about Nashville's Grand Ole Opry.  Something on my bucket list is to go to all the memorial in Washington DC...Globus can even get you to events like the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena...so if you want to travel and want to stay in the States...Think of Globus...and pick you destinations.  If you need help let me know and give me call just go to my website all my contact info is there.

DESTINATION OF THE WEEK

Ski season is right around the corner so why don't we talk about a place that is close to the United States.  Canada...  Whistlers in British Columbia.  Whistlers is now a legendary British Columbia mountain town.  Only about 11,000 homes, Whistler sits empty most of the year.  But it's not the skyscrapers and history that draw millions of travelers to the edge of Garibaldi Provincial Park every year.  It is the beauty....the design of the town and an enchanting culture that exists beneath the Hotlzman glacier.  The moutains, the forest, the rivers and wildlife that surrounds it is overwhelming.  During the summer months hiking and walks are never more than a few yards away.  You like golf....the scenic golf courses do not disappoint.  Mountain bikers love it too.  Whistler offers almost inexhaustible trails including life-service single track downhill.  Horseback riding, river rafting and even a heli-pad for a bird's eye view.  Summer or Winter....there is plenty of things to do...day or night.  However, it is not that easy to get to.  You must fly into Vancouver, then drive the Sea-to-Sky highway.  You can also have the resort shuttle pick you up at the airport, but you need to book this in advance.  Make sure you dress for a chill in Whistler.  Summer days the thermometer will hang around the 70's....and remember...snow in the winter.  So enjoy your stay whatever time of year you go.

barmbrack a whirl. 

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

BARMBRACK

What You'll Need

1 tablespoon dried yeast
1 ½ cup of lukewarm water​
1/4 cup. + 1 extra teaspoon sugar for the yeast
5 cups plain flour
Pinch salt
 ¼ cup butter
 1 ¼ cup raisins
 ¼ cup ​mixed candied peel
¼ cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten

Now remember for Halloween… the custom has it to bake small objects into the cake, acting as a kind of fortune telling. Nowadays, more often than not it will be a ring, the finding of which delights the unmarried as it foretells that they will be the next to walk down the aisle. A piece of straw…remember we discussed this means prosperity..Not sure I would like to find that in my piece of cake….If you do put items in your cake…make sure you let the cake eaters know they may find something in there….and yes you would add the items right before baking.

How to Make It

Makes 2 Loaves

Heat the oven to 400 F 6 after the second kneading of the dough

·         Place the yeast in the lukewarm water, add the teaspoon of sugar, stir and leave to one side.

·         Put the flour into a large roomy, baking bowl, add the butter and salt and using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour to form sand-like crumbs. Work quickly to prevent the butter becoming too warm.

·         Add the peel, raisins and the sugar to the flour mixture and stir.

·         Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, add the beaten eggs and the yeast mixture. Work the mixture together to form a soft dough.

·         Knead the dough on a floured worktop for 10 minutes until smooth and pliable. Place the dough back into the bowl. Cover with a clean tea cloth and leave in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size (about 1 hour).

·         Return the mixture to the worktop, divide in 2,  place in your surprises then knead each half for another few minutes then form into a round approx 20 cm (7"). Place on a greased baking sheet and leave to rise for another hour.

·         Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, until golden brown.

·         Remove the cake from the oven and leave to cool on a rack. The cake is lovely to eat straight away or store in a cake tin wrapped with a little greaseproof paper. Should there be any cake left over...after a few days, it toasts well, but it is doubtful there will be any left over.                      
    Well I sure hope you are tuning into my podcast.  You can subscribe to it for free.  You can find it real easy on I-tunes/Stitcher/Buzzsprout.  You can also visit my website at www.zeemichaelsontravel.com and you can let your imagination run wild.  If you want to visit any of these places that we talk about or something you see on my website, give me a call and I will help you Make Your Travel Dreams Come True.