A few more Halloween traditions that I wrote about last year for you at the link below, Jolene. Fid you know that the Scots also called this Nut Crack Night. Couples would whisper the name of their loved one represented by individual nuts—one for each of them— toss the nuts into the fire together, and then watch how they burn. If the nuts burn quietly together, then all is well. If they crack and burst? Well, I’ll leave that up to you to decide what that might mean. 😉
Super fun story Kate! Puts quite a different spin on pulling flower petals 😉 although, tbh, I would have thought crackling means the couple is truly hot for each other 🤭
Thank you for the lovely article, with the links, illustrations and of course the soul cakes. Thank you also for mentioning Samhain. So many of the old festivities were absorbed by Christianity, it is good to remember the nature focused festivals.
I really love the historical origins of All Saints Day/Halloween. I love the idea of the veil between worlds getting thinner. I’ve never been a big Halloween celebrator though, probably because in Australia, she’s I grew up and lived most of my life until recently, it’s spring time. Everything is topsy-turvey. As an Australian, I’ve grown up longing for the lovely summer December days and the end of October, also close to my son’s birthday on the 27th, is an ‘almost summer’ time of year where the days are getting longer, the weather can jump 20 degrees Celsius up or down from one day to the next, and the wind could blow off your sunnies! So different from the literature & celebrations of the Northern Hemisphere. But globalisation has meant that kids now celebrate Halloween in Australia, trick or treating with gusto like their US counterparts, despite the upside-down seasons.
I don’t like lollies/sweets/candy. I’m
not a fan of mountains of throw-away plastic decorations. I love pumpkin but only as a savoury dish. Maybe I’ll try out the Soul Cakes though 🍪 and think about the thinning veil between the worlds of the living and the dead 🩵
Lisa, thanks for this, it was so interesting to hear about the Halloween celebration now taking hold in Australia. I love the idea of the soul cakes and the liminal space of ‘alllhallowtide’ The soul cakes are really delicious and easy to make, let me know how it goes! ✨
Echoing others here, but I love this throwback photo and the anecdote about your days as a baker! I used to work front-of-house at a bakery and loved chatting with the bakers when I arrived, before the doors opened...it’s such a magical time of day.
It is! And then literally ‘letting the world in’ when you finally open the doors. What a sweet memory, I need to know more about your time FOH at a bakery! :)
Thank you so much, Jolene, for the shout-out - I loved your piece on In the Night Kitchen. And I'm really liking the sound of the soul cakes. The recipe seems very similar to traditional English Easter biscuits, which are studded with currants and originally flavoured with cassia oil, as it was believed this was used in embalming Jesus. Perhaps the biscuits are of the same vintage. These background stories are fascinating.
I enjoy reading about the many traditions around the world commemorating All Souls Day, Day of the Dead, etc. Too bad it’s all become so commercialized. Thanks for the lovely recipe ~ the cookies sound delicious. Great photo of your previous life in NYC!
Thanks, Domenica, I just found out Sting also sang the ‘Cheshire Soul Cake’ song! The cookies are so good, great for Christmas, too, with the spices. That was definitely a ‘time machine’ photo! 😂
This is so wonderful & thank you for the mention!! I am adding soul cake ingredients to today's grocery list, they sound absolutely perfect for the cold front that just blew in last night.
I always learn something fascinating from you, Jolene! Just love the Peter, Paul and Mary song, but I never gave a thought to what a soul cake was. Now I think I’ll make some. Perfect with tea--as in the lovely painting you shared by Vicki Smith! Kudos on the well-deserved mention in Substack Speaks. Time Travel Kitchen is a treasure!
Soul cakes. I just love the name and the story behind it. Saving a soul one cake at a time ...that's a good reason to make these but they also look strangely tasty
All so wonderful! I am familiar with some of the Celtic history but did not know about soul cakes. Going to make some today. Does it work without the dried fruit? Can you use nuts instead? You are a treasure, Jolene!
A few more Halloween traditions that I wrote about last year for you at the link below, Jolene. Fid you know that the Scots also called this Nut Crack Night. Couples would whisper the name of their loved one represented by individual nuts—one for each of them— toss the nuts into the fire together, and then watch how they burn. If the nuts burn quietly together, then all is well. If they crack and burst? Well, I’ll leave that up to you to decide what that might mean. 😉
https://katemcdermott.substack.com/p/114-potpourri
The whispering of the names and the cracked nuts had me running back to your post from last year, Kate! 😂
Pretty fun!
Super fun story Kate! Puts quite a different spin on pulling flower petals 😉 although, tbh, I would have thought crackling means the couple is truly hot for each other 🤭
Oh yes!
Thank you for the lovely article, with the links, illustrations and of course the soul cakes. Thank you also for mentioning Samhain. So many of the old festivities were absorbed by Christianity, it is good to remember the nature focused festivals.
*Kate
Thank you so much Katy, it’s good (and so interesting) to find these festivals and as you say, their connection to the cycles of nature.
Very well said Kate 🌱
I really love the historical origins of All Saints Day/Halloween. I love the idea of the veil between worlds getting thinner. I’ve never been a big Halloween celebrator though, probably because in Australia, she’s I grew up and lived most of my life until recently, it’s spring time. Everything is topsy-turvey. As an Australian, I’ve grown up longing for the lovely summer December days and the end of October, also close to my son’s birthday on the 27th, is an ‘almost summer’ time of year where the days are getting longer, the weather can jump 20 degrees Celsius up or down from one day to the next, and the wind could blow off your sunnies! So different from the literature & celebrations of the Northern Hemisphere. But globalisation has meant that kids now celebrate Halloween in Australia, trick or treating with gusto like their US counterparts, despite the upside-down seasons.
I don’t like lollies/sweets/candy. I’m
not a fan of mountains of throw-away plastic decorations. I love pumpkin but only as a savoury dish. Maybe I’ll try out the Soul Cakes though 🍪 and think about the thinning veil between the worlds of the living and the dead 🩵
Lisa, thanks for this, it was so interesting to hear about the Halloween celebration now taking hold in Australia. I love the idea of the soul cakes and the liminal space of ‘alllhallowtide’ The soul cakes are really delicious and easy to make, let me know how it goes! ✨
Echoing others here, but I love this throwback photo and the anecdote about your days as a baker! I used to work front-of-house at a bakery and loved chatting with the bakers when I arrived, before the doors opened...it’s such a magical time of day.
It is! And then literally ‘letting the world in’ when you finally open the doors. What a sweet memory, I need to know more about your time FOH at a bakery! :)
Yes to letting the world in 🥰 I think I might write more about my FOH stint this month. I want to know much more about your bakery years, too!
You might enjoy knowing that the bakery is Baker Miller in Lincoln Square...I have so many tasty memories of their fresh-milled flours.
Ooh, good you’re writing about it. I just looked and the name changed to “Bagel Miller” last year I’m going to go, Maddie!
Now I need to try a soul cake (had never heard of them!) 😋 and I always love hearing about your (many) past lives Jolene 🍰
I think you will love them, Sabrina!
And, yes, lol, one of my “past lives” 👩🏼🍳:)
Food is so uniting Jolene. Loved your photo from the way back machine.
Thank you so much, Mark, I completely agree about food uniting people!
Fascinating! It instantly made me recall the song Soul Cake by Sting and now I realise what some of it was about!!
Yes! It’s the same song! The Cheshire Soul Cake Song, I just listened, love it!
This is wonderful, Jolene! Once again, thank you for contributing to my education! ❤️
Thank you, Pam! Talk later this week ❤️
Thank you so much, Jolene, for the shout-out - I loved your piece on In the Night Kitchen. And I'm really liking the sound of the soul cakes. The recipe seems very similar to traditional English Easter biscuits, which are studded with currants and originally flavoured with cassia oil, as it was believed this was used in embalming Jesus. Perhaps the biscuits are of the same vintage. These background stories are fascinating.
Julia, I REALLY like this biscuit/cookie. Thanks for the information on the Easter Biscuits and for being part of this post! ❤️
I enjoy reading about the many traditions around the world commemorating All Souls Day, Day of the Dead, etc. Too bad it’s all become so commercialized. Thanks for the lovely recipe ~ the cookies sound delicious. Great photo of your previous life in NYC!
Thanks, Domenica, I just found out Sting also sang the ‘Cheshire Soul Cake’ song! The cookies are so good, great for Christmas, too, with the spices. That was definitely a ‘time machine’ photo! 😂
Thank you for introducing me to the soul cake, Jolene. What a beautiful tradition. We will be trying this in our kitchen this week.
Thank you so much, Amanda! Let me know how you like them!
They are soooooo good! I didn’t have raisins, so I used dates instead. Maybe not traditional, but still delicious! Happy Halloween!! 🎃
Wow!! Sounds delicious, Amanda!
This is so wonderful & thank you for the mention!! I am adding soul cake ingredients to today's grocery list, they sound absolutely perfect for the cold front that just blew in last night.
Thank you so much, Katy! Yes, it’s a perfect cold-weather cookie with a cup of something warm to go with it! Let me know how you like them :)
I always learn something fascinating from you, Jolene! Just love the Peter, Paul and Mary song, but I never gave a thought to what a soul cake was. Now I think I’ll make some. Perfect with tea--as in the lovely painting you shared by Vicki Smith! Kudos on the well-deserved mention in Substack Speaks. Time Travel Kitchen is a treasure!
Aww, Ruth, Thank you, you’re the greatest! I think you will LOVE these!
Yummmm!
They are GOOD, Jillian!
Soul cakes. I just love the name and the story behind it. Saving a soul one cake at a time ...that's a good reason to make these but they also look strangely tasty
I love the story, too, Elizabeth. And they are GOOD!
All so wonderful! I am familiar with some of the Celtic history but did not know about soul cakes. Going to make some today. Does it work without the dried fruit? Can you use nuts instead? You are a treasure, Jolene!
Happy Birthday, Amy!!!🎁 I’m going to try them with dried cranberries! ❤️
Thank you, Jolene!! Wonderful. Let me know how they turn out. 💐🎁💖