Let’s not play games here, Halloween is the hands-down best time of the year.
I’m not great at staying on top of witchy festivals, being the Witch of Disorganisation, but SOMETHING always happens at Halloween. Mainly these things:
Pumpkin Soup happens at Halloween.
One year I made my own. Oh yes. I’m practically allergic to a kitchen, that’s how much of a non-cook I am. And what’s more, it TASTED GOOD. What’s even more, PEOPLE OTHER THAN MYSELF THOUGHT IT TASTED GOOD TOO. My theory is it tasted great because it had pumpkin in it.
I also learned that, sadly, you can’t make pumpkin soup and use the hollow shell of the pumpkin you used to store your soup in, because you need to chop that guy up into lots of pieces to get at the tasty pumpkin flesh. Dammit!
On years when I cannot summon up the enthusiasm to make soup (read: all other years), I buy it by the gallon. Last year for about a month and a half my partner and I survived on Convent Garden Pumpkin Halloween Soup. It was flippin’ delicious. Even better, the soup was called Witches Brew. Can you get better than that?
No, you can’t.
I wear my Halloween Tutu for a month
About six years ago I saw a girl wearing a tutu and biker boots when I was out and about shopping and I swore I needed a tutu. My first attempt at tutu purchasing was a bit crap – it looked like an underskirt tutu. I have since passed it on to a new owner. However, at university I picked up an obscenely frilly black tutu with a red trim. It is gorgeous, and I wear it every autumn, with everything and doing everything – with wellies, on a bike, to teach in, to perform belly dance in, to Tesco, to parties, there is no experience that is not improved by wearing a Halloween tutu. What’s more, it’s so frilly and tutu-esque that I am never in danger of showing my pants. Phew.
I watch witchy movies
I thwack on Practical Magic, Sleepy Hollow and the Witches of Eastwick and I spend stormy nights in sewing costumes whilst watching back-to-back episodes of Charmed. This year I want to see some of the old school witch movies, Bell, Book and Candle and I Married a Witch.
The best thing is that in winter, the evenings are dark, so you don’t guiltily feel as if you should be outside experiencing the season. The season is dark and cold, and perfect for snuggling up on the sofa with a cup of tea and a witchy film. Mmmm-mm!
In addition to these things, I will be running around making excited guinea pig noises all Halloween season, because it’s just so INDECENTLY EXCITING.
*FaerieD is a witch, belly dancer, artist and costumier who writes about spirituality and stuff at her blog Faeriedaughter. Hunt her down at her blog www.faeriedaughter.wordpress.
I love the Witch's Brew pumpkin soup – haven't seen it return this year though. Might just have to make my own!
I want to see pics of the tutu!
And now I'm craving soup
Perfect, right down to the guinea pig squeals. LOL I love that sound. Reminds me of my childhood… my sister and I always had little guineas.
I have never had pumpkin soup… and I've never had Witch's Brew Pumpkin soup but would especially love to try it. Do you think you could post the recipe one of these days in October? I'd love to give it a whirl.
Thanks so much.
Brightest blessings,
Bird
The witch's brew is made by the Covent Garden soup company and it hasn't hit the shops again this year. I've never made pumpkin soup either but I'm willing to give it ago! I'll let you know how it turns out
I SO want a Halloween tutu!!
AWESOME!!
It's amazing! My long term plan is to make some year round tutu's as well – I love the one that Nicole Kidman wears in Bewitched. That's on my list.
Pumpkin is not that famous in Germany, so I never get the chance to try anything pumkinny that is canned or store-bought (except for pumpkins, of course). My mother never used to cook with pumpkin, and my father only ever ate pickled pumpkin (eeew!). I tried it for the first time maybe four years ago and have been in love with it ever since. I like the texture and the flavour and how it can be savory as well as sweet (I made my first batch of spiced pumpkin purree for cake etc. a few days ago) – and the best thing is that once there is pumpkin in the stores, Halloween is right around the corner! And now I'll go and sew lost souls to our livingroom curtains. ^^
It's the same in England too, Diandra. Pumpkin is in the shops for about 2 weeks at Halloween and you can't find it any other time. I haven't even seen canned or pickled pumpkin. It really doesn't sound good pickled.
I wonder where you can find soup like this over here? Any ideas? online??
lets see that halloween tutu! I want to make one of my own! Yours will be my inspiration.. because you are awesome.. and I want to be you!
lol