Witches, Pumpkins & Stingy Jack: The Real Stories Behind Halloween Food Traditions
Ever wonder what bone cookies, charcoal embers in a turnup, and candy corn have common?
In this ghostly episode of Family Tree Food & Stories, hosts Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely stir up the history, humor, and hidden meaning behind Halloween’s more interesting and fun traditions. From ancient Celtic rituals to good luck brew, and a lover’s prediction, this episode shares how food, folklore, and superstition have come together over centuries to create the Halloween we know today.
👻 Did you know Halloween started not with candy—but instead with cakes for the dead?
🕯️Ever heard of “dumb suppers” where guests purposely invite their ancestral spirits to dinner?
🎃 Or that carving pumpkins first started with a carved turnup – and a spooky Irish legend about a drunk trickster named Stingy Jack?
This episode isn’t about horror— It’s about how old food-related superstitions turned into new stories and became tradition, and how something as small as a cinnamon stick or a fire ember can help us recreate traditions and stories from the past.
We’re talking witches, Wiccans, candy corn, garlic, good fortune potions, caldrons, and why some of us still can’t pass a graveyard without holding our breath.
Whether you’re a Halloween traditionalist or a foodie this episode will might have you turning your lobster pot into a homemade cauldron of flavor, and fun.
✨ Key Takeaways:
- How Halloween Turned into a Modern Day Celebration: The Celtic roots of Samhain marked the shift from harvest to darkness—and gave rise to many of the traditions we still celebrate today.
- Magic in the Kitchen: Secrets Behind Everyday Kitchen Herbs: Rosemary, sage, garlic, and other herbs have long been symbols of protection and good luck—proof that cooking can carry a little mystery of its own.
- Old Rituals to Find Your Lover and New Meanings: From cakes for the dead to bobbing for apples, what once honored ancestors has evolved into modern ideas you can use today.
Additional Links ❤️
- Book: My Family Tree, Food & Stories Journal Awarded #1 New Release on Amazon
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- Facebook Family Tree Food Stories GROUP👍
- TikTok: Family Tree Food Stories
- 👇Share Your Story With Nancy & Sylvia!: Leave us a voicemail
- You can send us a DM on Facebook.
- 🎧 Subscribe now and never miss a bite or a good story.
Episode Links:
- The One Way Ticket Show: with our friend Steven Shalowitz
About Your Award-Winning Hosts: Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely are the powerhouse team behind Family Tree, Food & Stories, a member of The Food Stories Media Network, which celebrates the rich traditions and connections everyone has around food, friends, and family meals. Nancy, an award-winning business leader, author, and podcaster, and Sylvia, a visionary author, lawyer, and former CEO, combine their expertise to bring captivating stories rooted in history, heritage, and food. Together, they weave stories that blend history, tradition, and the love of food, where generations connect and share intriguing mealtime stories and kitchen foibles.
"Every Meal Has a Story and Every Story is a Feast." (tm) is a trademark of Family Tree Food & Stories podcast and the hosts.
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