Jack O'Lantern

Autumn is here. Its presence means colorful leaves are all around. At every turn one can spot gourds and winter squashes, and pumpkins. Pumpkins appear on the covers of newspapers, food packages, and store decorations.

In "The View," hosts encourage viewers to send in pictures of Pumpkins. During "The Today Show," the recipe for Pumpkin Ricotta Cheesecake was featured. Starbucks clients can warm themselves with a Pumpkin Spice Latte, which is now being introduced to Polish cafés.  It is worth mentioning that just a month ago, American vegans protested that their seasonal coffee is not served with a soymilk.

Last weekend we went to the Bose Family Farm, which during the fall turns into a pumpkin patch. We did not pick out any pumpkins, although there were at least nineteen different kinds. Rather, we spent two hours searching for hidden punch card stations in a quite complicated Corn Maze.  The ones who found all of the stations entered their completed punch cards into a November price drawing for half a hog.

Those who carted this typically orange fruit home might prepare pumpkin bread or a soup for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. A new study, involving American restaurants, show that the Pumpkin Pie dessert is not as popular as it once was. It now accounts for only 3 percent of orders. It has been replaced by now popular curries, cheesecakes and ravioli, all prepared with pumpkin. This has met very much to the liking of Americans. During the year, sales of products containing pumpkin have already grown by 19 percent.

No one certainly can survive Halloween without pumpkins. The custom of displaying Jack O 'Lanterns took root on a new continent thanks to Irish immigrants; it was the Irish who began the tradition of scaring with lightened faces. First, they carved them in beets, turnips and even in the potatoes. But when they came in to North America, they discovered that the pumpkins would be a better fit. The name comes from a fairy tale, about a young man named Jack, who died night before All Souls' Day. The young man played games with the devil so he could not go to hell. He was also very greedy, so the way to heaven was also closed to him.  His fate was to wander between heaven and hell, with only an ember inside a hollow turnip to light his way. The Jack O'Lantern gives the effect of the brightness of the carved pumpkin faces, referring to the popular belief in wandering souls who remain on the earth before they reach the afterlife.

And finally, while nibbling on my Pumpkin donut, let me share an English rhyme:

Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
sitting on the wall.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
tip and fall.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
rolling down the street.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
good to eat!!

H.xx

                                                 

                                                  

# SYTD

Move to another country, get married, buy new furniture, cook a four course dinner and throw the best party ever - are some of the suggestions of the American blogger and author of hit - clip I Quit,  that should be accomplished before one hits thirty. A few of them I can already check off, but I still have to complete the organization of an American-styled wedding.

Almost every day I watch “The Four Weddings”, in which four wives -to-be mutually assess the effectiveness of their Big Day. The prize is a dream honeymoon. Thanks to the program, I have already taken part in a reception themed Barbecue Americana, a Greek wedding (in Orthodox ceremony the couple dressed in gold crowns do not exchange vows but only circle the altar several times) as well as Jewish-Catholic, and Russian (one of the highlights was a Siberian tiger) nuptials. Other popular reality wedding shows are “Say Yes to the Dress” (# SYTD) and “I Found My Gown.” I've never heard a Polish accent on any of these shows; maybe I should audition for the next edition? :)

I can also find planning help in bookstores. Barnes & Noble has a wide selection of all kinds of tutorials like “Wedding for Dummies” and magazines such as: “Bridal Guide” and “The Seattle Bride.”

One of the interesting American wedding traditions is the rehearsal dinner for the families of the newlyweds-to-be, which follows the ceremony practice. Almost all brides and grooms in the States create their own wedding registry, which is a list of suggestions for gifts. I was surprised that the most popular item that couples requested for the wedding was ,,Cards Against Humanity.''

Another custom, which I am sure you've seen immortalized in many films, is the extensive entourage of bridesmaids and groomsmen, called the wedding party. Bridesmaids usually wear the same dresses, and gentlemen put on very similar or matching suits. The same colors are in fact a way of attracting the bad spirits that might attempt to harm the bride...

According to a survey conducted by the Knot in 2012, an average of four to five bridesmaids attend to the bride, and a similar number of groomsmen support the groom. The Maid of Honor and Best Man have the highest ranks in the hierarchy.

They often help with the finances, and therefore the married couple offer them expensive gifts, as an expression of gratitude and appreciation for their support.

The wedding ceremonies performed by the officiants are also not conventional: ceremony candles, releasing a white pigeon or butterflies, mutual tree watering, which is often chosen by the patchwork families, a sand blending ceremony, or the simple exchange of a rose.

According to the aforementioned survey, 141 is the average number of visitors attending an American wedding, which will drive the average budget over $20,000 when the cost of the Honeymoon is included. The largest weddings occur in Iowa and Utah, with typically over 200 people, and the smallest weddings occur in the popular eloping states of Hawaii and Nevada, around about 70 people.  Popular wedding venues are public parks, golf courses, botanical gardens, beach and boats. Interestingly, only about 35% of the young couples choose a religious ceremony.

Our wedding will take place with a small circle of family and friends. We chose a British style pub and restaurant in beautiful Corona del Mar. Maybe, dear friends and readers, you have an idea for our signature drink, which will be served during the so called ''cocktail-hour''?

H.xx