Iowa State University Family Housing 133 University Village, Apt. D, Ames, IA 50010, publishes the UFH Commentor monthly. People both inside and outside the community may submit items for publication
directly to the University Village office or by e-mail APARTMENTS@iastate.edu, subject to space considerations and review by the editing committee. Please include your name and phone number with submissions.
The deadline for the November issue is October 15, 2004.
Why Do We
Celebrate Halloween?
Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic
festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts,
who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now
Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France,
celebrated their new year on November 1. This day
marked the end of summer and the harvest and the
beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that
was often associated with human death. Celts
believed that on the night before the new year, the
boundary between the worlds of the living and the
dead became blurred. On the night of October 31,
they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that
the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to
causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought
that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it
easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make
predictions about the future.
The American tradition of "trick-or-treating" probably
dates back to the early All Souls' Day parades in
England. During the festivities, poor citizens would
beg for food and families would give them pastries
called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray
for the family's dead relatives.
The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has
both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years
ago, winter was an uncertain and frightening time.
Food supplies often ran low and, for the many people
afraid of the dark, the short days of winter were full of
constant worry. On Halloween, when it was believed
that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people
thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left
their homes. To avoid being recognized by these
ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their
homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake
them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts
Halloween continued on page 2.
Plan now to attend the annual Fall Festival in
October. You won’t want to miss the fun! Watch
the sign boards and your e-mail for more details.
Learn how to winterize your apartment at a
demonstration held the last week in October. The
date will be announced soon.
The University Family Housing Council will
meet October 6 and October 20 from 7-8:30 pm in
the University Family Housing office (133). Come
find out how you can make a difference in your
community.
The City of Ames will be celebrating Halloween on
Saturday, October 30, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Before Halloween you will be given an orange
paper with a pumpkin printed on it. If you want to
have trick-or-treaters stop at your apartment,
place the sign in a visible place on your
apartment, such as a window.
Remember to unhook your garden hose from
your faucet now that freezing weather is here.
If you had a garden plot this year, remember to
clean your plot before October 31. Please
remove all items, such as wood trellises, metal
posts, fences, strings, and row markers.
Community News
Halloween continued…
away from their houses, people would place bowls of
food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and
prevent them from attempting to enter.
Halloween was brought to the United States during the
1800s by the Scotch and Irish immigrants. In the late
1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween
into a holiday more about community and neighborly
get-togethers, than about ghosts, pranks, and witchcraft.
At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both
children and adults became the most common way to
celebrate the day. Halloween lost most of its
superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of
the twentieth century.
Verl and Dee Dee Long are the new resident
managers in Schilletter Village. They live in
apartment 8-C and are in charge of apartments
162-165 UV, 167-169 UV, 7-20 Schilletter.
Verl and Dee Dee moved to Ames from
Blairsville, Georgia, a small town in the Blue
Ridge Mountains. Verl is studying higher
education administration at Iowa State
University and will finish his master’s degree in
May. Verl and Dee Dee have two children. Their
son, Austin, is two years old, and their daughter,
Rose, is 12 months old.
Verl and Dee Dee love to find good deals at
garage sales. They also enjoy driving around
Iowa and seeing the countryside, specifically the
small communities. As a family, they enjoy
playing games and meeting people from other
countries and areas of the world. Dee Dee said,
“I have really enjoyed getting to know the new
residents, and we look forward to meeting all the
residents in our area.”
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To make sure your heater is working properly,
turn the thermostat up to a high temperature
and verify that the heater is putting out warm air.
Turn down the thermostat after you check the
heater. If you have a problem with your heater,
call the Service Center at 294-3322.
Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of
trick-or-treating was also revived. Trick-or-treating was a
relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to
share the Halloween celebration. Today, Americans
spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on Halloween,
making it the country's second largest commercial
holiday.
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To make sure your trick-or-treating is safe and fun,
review the following tips:
•
Go trick-or-treating while it is still light
outside.
•
Plan your route with your family and pick
well lighted streets.
•
Carry a flashlight and use reflective tape on
your costume, so you can be easily seen.
•
Cross streets at corners and avoid crossing
between parked cars.
•
If you must wear a mask, remove it
while crossing the street. A mask
can make it difficult for you to see
clearly.
•
Wait until you are home to
sort, check, and eat your
treats.
Community News
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With the stress of the semester at full speed,
here are some tips on reducing stress in
your life:
1. Reduce caffeine intake.
2. Eat healthier food.
3. Don’t treat stress symptoms with
stimulants (e.g. alcohol, sedatives).
4. Use dietary supplements wisely.
5. Eat breakfast.
6. Drink plenty of water.
7. Make sleep a priority.
8. Be aware of your body (don’t attribute all
physical and psychological problems to
stress).
9. Walk daily.
10. Schedule medical and dental
appointments regularly.
Tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash are abundant at
this time of year. If you are struggling with how to
prepare yet another cucumber or tomato, try one of
these recipes.
Roasted Summer Squash
1-1/2 pounds of yellow squash cut into large pieces
(about 5 cups)
½ teaspoon vegetable oil
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground red pepper
Combine all ingredients in a zip-top plastic bag.
Seal the bag, shake to coat the squash. Please the
squash on a jelly roll pan coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes. Stir the squash
after 10 minutes.
Tomato and Avocado Salad
2 ripe avocados, peeled and sliced
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
2 large tomatoes cut into wedges
1 cup Italian salad dressing
Lettuce leaves (optional)
In a bowl, combine the avocados, tomatoes, and
onion. Add salad dressing, and stir to coat. Chill for
20 to 30 minutes. Serve over lettuce.
Marinated Cucumbers and Tomatoes
Combine 1 cucumber (thinly sliced), 2 tomatoes
(sliced), and ¼ cup vinaigrette. Cover and chill.
Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper, if desired.
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