Spooky season: Family traditions and Graveyard Brownies to die for!

EVERY year on October 31 since my children were toddlers, I have put up a Halloween tree and filled plastic pumpkins with treats for them. I love celebrating any special occasion and have always tried to instil in my children the same enthusiasm for festive fun.

As a parent, there's something special about seeing your little monsters' faces light up when they are handed pumpkins filled with their favourite treats or enjoy a spooky-themed movie.

But have you ever wondered where this spooky celebration originated?

Halloween, as we know it today, has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on October 31, the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, and spirits of the deceased would return to earth. The Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off any malevolent spirits.

As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the early Christian church attempted to replace the pagan traditions of Samhain with Christian holidays. All Hallows' Eve, later known as Halloween, was celebrated on the evening of October 31, marking the eve of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). Over time, the traditions and customs of Samhain were incorporated into the celebration of Halloween, resulting in the spooky, supernatural holiday we know and celebrate today.

Fast forward to my household, where Halloween is a big deal.

My children are all grown up now, but I still fill plastic pumpkins with treats and a small gift for them. My children, and I must admit - my husband and I included, have a blast enjoying and snacking on the treats throughout Halloween.

Our family has not tied any spiritual meaning to Halloween. Many people today celebrate Halloween as a secular holiday, focusing on the fun aspects, such as costumes, trick-or-treating, and spooky decorations, without any spiritual or religious connotations. Our family's approach to Halloween is a great example of how the holiday can be enjoyed in a lighthearted and festive way.

It's a special tradition that I cherish, and I'm excited to see how my children will continue to celebrate Halloween as they have families of their own one day.

This year, I will be making Graveyard Brownies to add to the treat selection.

Recipe

I must confess I buy the box of brownie mix and make it according to the instructions given, but if you would like to make it from scratch, then these Graveyard Brownies are a fun and easy dessert to make.

Ingredients:

For the brownies:

• 210g unsalted butter (plus more for greasing)
• 400g caster sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 125g unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 250g cake flour
• 250g dark chocolate chips (or semi-sweet)

For the frosting:

• 200g icing sugar
• 115g unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

For the decorations:

Crushed Tennis biscuits or Oreo cookies (for the "dirt") - Gummy worms (for the "worms") - White chocolate or frosting (for the "headstones")

Instructions:

1. Make the brownies: Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 20cm square baking tin with butter and line with baking paper. Mix the sugar, eggs, cocoa powder, vanilla essence, and salt in a large bowl. Add the flour and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.

2. Make the frosting: Mix the icing sugar, butter, and vanilla essence in a bowl until smooth.

3. Assemble and decorate: Cut the cooled brownies into rectangles. Frost the top of each brownie with the frosting. Sprinkle crushed Tennis biscuits or Oreo cookies on top to resemble "dirt."  Use white chocolate or frosting to create "headstones." 

You could add gummy worms. There are no rules, decorate and have fun.

Enjoy your Graveyard Brownies, they are to die for!