Many cultures have a version of Halloween – a celebration of the harvest, the changing of the seasons, and the end of life. While American Halloween traditions have been influenced by other cultures like Mexico’s Dia De Los Muertos, the greatest influence comes from ancient Gaelic traditions that have morphed over the generations, all originating from the festival of Samhain.
The Samhain festival was said to be the one day during the year when those who had died took the long journey to the underworld. During this time, they were able to mingle in the land of the living. However, the friendly ghosts were only part of what was said to be lurking: all forms of demons, faeries, and monsters were said to escape from the open gates of the underworld. In order to appease the supernatural creatures roaming their world, the Irish would set bonfires to guide the spirits to the afterlife and way from the living, and were known to include an animal sacrifice for good measure.
The use of masks and costumes was also common in Gaelic tradition as both a way to disguise oneself from the evil spirits roaming the land and to pay honor to them by dressing in their likeness. Another tradition that remains popular today is the carving of vegetables, traditionally turnips, to look like goblins or spirits, which could bring luck and keep spirits at bay. These traditions migrated to the Americas and turned into the carving of pumpkins.
How did the festival of Samhain morph into Halloween? Some speculate that it was the Catholic influence on the region, which encouraged the celebration of All Saints Day and focused on praying for the souls of the dead while avoiding the evil spirits that wondered the earth on All Hallows Eve (now called Halloween). Some of those traditional Gaelic traditions still remain, but the fear surrounding Halloween night’s ghosts and goblins was a product of Catholic influence. Keep an eye out for a wandering spirit and carve a turnip for good luck!
Looking for a last minute Halloween costume? No fear, dear readers – I’ve got you covered! For the past 2 years, my friends and I have thrown a Harry Potter-themed Halloween party we like to call “Potterween.” It’s filled with cauldron cakes, love potion, HP trivia, balloon owls, and a wand-making station, among other festivities. The best part, though, is dressing in a Harry Potter costume (and seeing what character everyone else decided to be!). I am still living on a student budget and try to be as creative (and cheap!) as possible when it comes to my Halloween costumes. In this post, I am going to show you two budget-friendly ways to bring a little HP magic into your own Halloween costume!
Luna Lovegood
Materials needed: blazer, patterned skirt, brightly colored tights/leggings, striped socks, converse-type shoes, spectrespecs, “Butterbeer” cork necklace, copies of the Quibbler
Luna Lovegood is one of my favorite HP characters and I loved the idea of wearing a rather crazy ensemble to Potterween. A nice thing about this costume is that you don’t have to match the colors that Luna is wearing exactly – as long as you have bright colors and wonky patterns on the base elements of the outfit (blazer, skirt, tights, shoes) and finish off the look with her signature spectrespecs, you’re good to go! What I owned: I already owned a pink blazer and pink leggings, which I decided to wear in lieu of blue tights. I also had crazy knee-high striped socks (actually purchased in the UK!) and converse-style shoes. What I bought: The only item that I actually pursed for this costume was the skirt. I went thrift store scavenging and ended up finding my fabulous flowered skirt for only $5. My friend went as Umbridge this year and found a $4 pink twill blazer that could also be used for this Luna costume. What I made: I made the spectrespecs and let me tell you guys, they were SO EASY. I found this printable on Pinterest, cut them out, and taped them on to a pair of fake glasses I had already owned (I think they were about $4 from H&M). You could also get some old sunglasses and knock out the lenses. I also made the “Butterbeer” cork necklace by threading a cork from a wine bottle onto a chain that I already owned. I made my own copy of the Quibbler by printing this template and taping it on to a DVD case (it fit a little better than a book). Now you just need to wander around in a constant daydream state and ask people about nargles to make the look complete!
Fawkes the Phoenix
Materials needed: red/gold outfit (dress, pants, skirt, top), red/gold wings, mask or makeup, gold glitter, black lipstick
I wanted to go as a nontraditional character this year. I thought about the snitch but was having a difficult time finding anything gold (this must be the year of silver). I ran across a couple photos of people dressed as Fawkes on the internet and thought it would be a fun idea! The Fawkes costume is pretty easy and open to interpretation – basically, his feathers are red and gold, so as long as you ~mostly~ stay in that color palette and find some wings and a way to make your face look like a beak, you’ll be set to go! What I owned: I settled on dressing as Fakwes partially because I owned a multi-colored red and gold maxi dress. I also wore a yellow cardigan that I already owned because it’s cold in Michigan right now, guys. I wore a simple pair of black flats, but you could always dress it up a little more with some sparkly red or gold shoes. What I bought: I ended up finding the perfect pair of red wings at Target for $10. I loved that they had wrist straps so that they were easy to wear and looked like actual bird wings. I also ended up purchasing a simple black mask from Meijer. I thought it looked pretty birdlike, and I knew I would be running low on time to get ready for the party. If you would rather do your own Fawkes makeup, I found this fantastic video tutorial. I also ended up getting a 50 cent gold glitter eye shadow to use underneath the mask (word of warning, though – glitter is SO HARD to get off) and black lipstick (I found one from Makeup Revolution called “100% Vamp”) to finish the beak look. What I made: I actually didn’t make much for this costume! You certainly could sew your own wings or create your own beak with makeup. Overall, this was a fairly easy costume that turned out to be pretty, comfortable, and a hit at Potterween!
I hope this gives you some creative ideas for your own Halloween costumes, fellow HP fans!
While studying abroad at Oxford, I spent the long Easter holiday weekend in Edinburgh, Scotland where I hiked Arthur’s seat, found a fantastic Mexican restaurant, and went on a fabulous (and inexpensive) haunted Edinburgh ghost tour. The whole city of Edinburgh feels ancient and most definitely haunted with graying stone walls and walkways, a cool mist coming off of the ocean, and the drizzle of rain.
While there are a lot of tours to choose from, we found a cheap tour that included a mini-flashlight and met right in the center of town (it also ended at a haunted pub, which was a bonus!). Here are a few of the spooky spots I visited on our nighttime tour:
Old Calton Burial Ground
I actually stumbled upon this haunted location before taking the tour, as the gorgeous gothic graveyard is home to philosopher, David Hume’s tomb and has a lovely view of the city. This site looks like a scene out of a ghost film. Even the rain stains on the crumbling gravestones are ominous (see the horrifying face that appeared over time – pointed out to us by our friendly haunted guide in this photo).
Calton Hill
In the seventeenth century, locals claimed that Calton Hill hid a major faerie settlement buried deep underground. Scottish faeries are not your friendly Tinker Bell types. Folklore often warns of their trickster nature and surprising power. For a full set of rules when interacting with faeries, check out this great blog post at the Official Scotland Website. Even if you don’t happen to run into a faerie, Calton Hill contains historic monuments and a beautiful view high above the city.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Historically, Greyfriars Kirkyard was a peaceful cemetery. This all changed in 1998 when a homeless man broke into Sir George Mackenzie’s grave looking for a dry place to sleep. What he allegedly released is a poltergiest, a vicious spirit who has physically attacked visitors since. One famous story tells the tale of an exorcist who visited the cemetery in hopes of returning the violent spirit back into its grave. Instead, the exorcist found the evil spirits were too strong and feared they would kill him. Unfortunately, they did. Only two months later he died suddenly of a heart attack. This area is closed off (for good reason), but a peek through the iron gates was enough for this ghost hunter.
Edinburgh Vaults
The Vaults that run inside of the great Edinburgh South Bridge have had many uses since they were built in 1788. From storage to refuge from the plague, eventually the Vaults became home to Edinburgh’s underbelly and saw its share of deaths including a number of murders. Today, the Vaults are one of the most haunted locations in Edinburgh and have been featured on a number of ghost hunting TV shows including the U.K.’s Most Haunted and my personal favorite, Ghost Adventures. The Vaults are refuge for the aggressive “Mr. Boots” ghost who follows tours and often attacks female visitors, as well as the playful, Jack, a child spirit who tries to hold visitor’s hands.
The White Hart Inn
After a long walk through haunted Edinburgh on a cold April night, we were happy to warm up and wrap up our tour in a pub (albeit, a pretty haunted one), The White Hart Inn. As one of Edinburgh’s oldest pubs with some rooms dating back to 1516, the pub is haunted by a large black mass, often spotted on its way into the cellar where it has been rumored to move barrels and frighten staff.
If you’ve actively been reading this blog, you probably know that I spent a glorious semester living in York, England, which is pretty much the best city in the world. Another interesting fact about York is that it’s supposedly the most haunted city in all of Europe (seriously, you guys – the International Ghost Research Foundation did a study on it in 2002 and found 504 hauntings. 504!!!). One reason for the many ghostly sightings is the fact that York has existed for a long time. It was founded in 71 AD by the Romans and has been involved in almost every conquest of England (the Romans, the Vikings, the Normans). There have been battles and bloodshed through York’s extensive history, which have perhaps led to many restless souls. York totally capitalizes on this and offers many opportunities to take ghost walks through the city. I was fortunate enough to participate in 2 ghost walks while living there (pictured above is a photo op with our creepy Victorian guide) and have some excellent stories to share with you all! Grab a blanket and a piping hot mug of tea, and maybe leave the lights on for this ghostly tour of York…
1. The College Street House
Way back in the 14th century, the Black Death was running rampant across Europe. It was tradition to mark the houses of those infected with a red “X” across the door, saving others from entering. Our first haunted location, the College Street House, takes place in the context of the bubonic plague. The College Street House was occupied by a normal family: a mother, a father, and a child. The mother and father both became ill and succumbed to the disease, while the 6-year-old girl, thought also to have the plague, was locked in the home with the dead bodies of her parents. The authorities were wrong, however, and the girl was not sick. Instead, she was boarded up in the house and slowly died of starvation. To this day, ghost tour guides claim to hear crying coming from the home, and sometimes see a shadow of a young girl in the upstairs bedroom window.
2. The Treasurers House
The tale of the Treasurers House is one of the most famous ghost stories in all of York. To give you a little background: the Treasurers House that stands today was built in 1562, home to the descendants of Thomas Young, Archbishop of York. The house had several private owners before being acquired by the National Trust. The story goes that a Roman road had been discovered in the cellar of the home. A teenage apprentice named Harry Martindale was repairing a pipe in the cellar when he began to hear the music of a trumpet. This sound grew louder and louder until a legion of Roman soldiers marched through the wall. They were only visible from the knees up, as the road would have been lower when the Romans were living in York. It was determined the Martindale’s descriptions of the Roman clothing matched those of the Roman soldiers living in York in the 5th century. The Treasurers House was also featured on the first episode of Discovery Channel’s Ghosthunters.
3.The Golden Fleece
The Golden Fleece is one of the oldest inns and pubs in York, dating back to 1503. It’s located just opposite a famous street called The Shambles (fun fact: Diagon Alley was based on The Shambles for the Harry Potter films!). The Golden Fleece also claims to be the most haunted public public in all of York. Naturally, my friends and I went there for drinks on Halloween. We didn’t experience anything spooky ourselves, but did hear some interesting stories. The ghost most commonly reported by visitors is Lady Alice Peckett, wife of the former owner Lord Mayor John Peckett. Witnesses have also reported seeing the ghost of a World War II pilot. Though his cause of death is uncertain, he is believed to have either committed suicide or fell from a second floor window. Another sighting is known as One Eyed Jack, a man who wears a 16th/17th century red coat and carries a pistol. There’s also the sad tale of a young Victorian boy who was trampled by horses. This boy was a pickpocket, and guests often report feeling tugging on their jackets or finding that money or possessions have gone missing. There are many stories across the internet of ghostly encounters people have had at The Golden Fleece, and it was even filmed for the show Most Haunted. Next time you’re in York, book a room and stay there if you dare…
If you ever find yourself in York, I highly suggest taking a Ghost Walk. They are fun, informative, and just creepy enough. Have a happy and spooky Halloween, blog readers!
It used to be fairly easy to find online sources of British candies and chocolates that could be shipped to the States. However, just this last February, Hershey filed a lawsuit claiming that one of the biggest importers of British chocolate, Let’s Buy British Imports, was violating trademark laws since many of the brands they were selling had American versions already sold in the States. While we try to share U.K. goods that can be found in the States, due to this recent lawsuit, it is now difficult to find many of these items on this side of the pond. Let this list be your shopping guide during your next trip overseas.
Shan’s U.K. Trick-Or-Treat picks:
Maltesers
I have to admit that after trying just one malteser, I was helplessly addicted. The inside is like a light, crispy wafer/rice crispy hybrid coated in a thin layer of chocolate. It simply melts in your mouth. Many compare it to a Whopper, but it is much more delicate and buttery.
Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Chocolates
While Cadbury does have a version of this chocolate bar in the States, it is a vastly inferior recipe to that sold in the U.K. They use more fat and less preservatives, making the texture less sugary and more thick and rich. Dairy Milk brand chocolates are the perfect example of this. Don’t let the name fool you, they don’t taste like milk, but are especially creamy and melty chocolate bars.
Rae’s U.K. Trick-Or-Treat picks:
Mars Bar
The first chocolate bar I ate upon my arrival in England was a Mars Bar and it’s been one of my favorite candies ever since. The Mars Bar has a delicious caramel and nougat center and is covered in dense, delicious chocolate. It’s similar to a Milky Way but SO much better.
Mint Aero Bar
Aero Bars are delicious. They are light and crunchy but still oh so satisfying! My favorite flavor is mint. It’s such a fun candy because it’s so light and crunchy but also very smooth, with an intense mint flavor. Pro tip: try Mint Aero hot chocolate. You’ll never look back.
Yorkie Bar
I studied abroad in York, so you know that the Yorkie Bar had to make my list! The slogan (“it’s not for girls!”) is slightly offensive, but hey, it makes me want to break gender stereotypes and eat it even more! It’s a very hearty chocolate bar and comes in a variety of flavors but honestly, the original version is my absolute favorite.
Jelly Babies
Jelly Babies are similar to fruit snacks or fruit chews, but, like most other U.K. candy, way better. They’re shaped like babies, which is kind of weird, but bonus points for being mentioned regularly on Doctor Who!
We hope you get to experience these delicious treats for yourself! We are drooling just thinking about them.
Lots of sugary love from your favorite Anglophile bloggers!
The U.K. is known for comedy. One of my favorite parts of living in England was the exposure to so many different comedians via television, film, and various comedy clubs. Every year, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival takes place in August and along with music, dance, theatre, and art programs also hosts a large number of comedy shows from both British and international comedians. Some of these comedians are household names (think Demetri Martin, Hannibal Buress, and Steve Coogan) but the festival is really known for featuring new up and coming British comedians. What I love most about the British comedy scene is the fact that many of these comedians get to interact with each other on and off of the stage. They appear on panel shows such as 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock The Week, and Never Mind The Buzzcocks and also regularly show up on radio programs including BBC Radio 1’s Breakfast Show. I have created this post to share some of my favorite British comedians with you, and have also noted where you can find more of their work (because trust me, you will definitely want to see more of them!).
James Acaster
James Acaster is one of my more recent comedian discoveries. His voice has a certain monotonal quality that just makes the delivery of his jokes that much funnier. He also stays serious while on stage, creating a juxtaposition between the stories he tells and the way in which he tells them. Also, his hair is awesome and I love his sweaters.
Where can I see more of James Acaster? You can find James on episodes of 8 Out of 10 Cats and Never Mind The Buzzcocks, both available on YouTube. James also made a short series on YouTube called Sweet Home Ketteringa about revisiting his hometown – you can see that on YouTube.
Joe Lycett
Joe Lycett is generally one of the funniest people on this planet. He has such a calm demeanor but a massively passionate and fiery personality. Not only is he a superb comic, but he’s hilarious on both Instagram and Twitter, so definitely make sure to follow him. Joe isn’t afraid to laugh at himself, which is the sign of an excellent comedian. Joe was also recently named Attitude Magazine’s top 10 hottest male, so there’s that!
Where can I see more of Joe Lycett? Joe is a regular on panel shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats and Never Mind The Buzzcocks, available on YouTube. He also appears on various BBC Radio 1 shows and fellow comedian Josh Widdicombe’s XFM radio show, all of which can be found as podcasts.
Josh Widdicombe
Josh Widdicombe was one of my earliest British comic discoveries and I’ve loved watching his career grow. Josh makes keen observations about the world and is able to seamlessly incorporate them into his comedy routines. In a way, he sort of mirrors our inner voices, the running commentary of “what in the world is happening and why” (expect in a much more hilarious way). He knows exactly when to stop, pause, and speak, causing audiences around the world to laugh like crazy.
Where can I see more of Josh Widdicombe? Josh currently hosts his own XFM radio show, which is available as a podcast. You can also see him on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock The Week, and Never Mind The Buzzcocks on YouTube. This November, his comedy show Josh will start airing on the BBC in the UK, so hopefully we’ll be getting it in the US pretty soon!
Seann WalshÂ
Seann Walsh is crazy, and I say that in the best way possible. He is so full of energy! He has wild hair and an even wilder personality. I love watching Seann on stage because he is so physical – he really gets into his jokes, running around the stage and acting out his stories. He’s always up for a challenge, and is one of my favorite comedians to watch on panel shows.
Where can I see more of Seann Walsh? Seann has appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock The Week, and Never Mind The Buzzcocks, all of which can be found on YouTube.
Chris RamseyÂ
Chris Ramsey is so full of life! You can tell that he is genuinely passionate about comedy and loves to make people laugh. Like Joe, he’s able to joke about himself (and especially loves poking fun at being from the North). He’s a clever comedian, and knows how to include the audience in his routines. For me, my favorite part of his routines is when he gets really upset about commonplace things – he is absolutely hilarious!
Where can I see more of Chris Ramsey? Chris appears on many panel shows, including Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Mock The Week, and Celebrity Juice, which can be viewed on YouTube. He starred in a BBC series called Hebburn, which is unfortunately not yet available in the US (maybe soon, Hulu?!).
I hope you enjoyed this comic tour through the UK! Comment on our blog or tweet us (@ukintheeveryday) with your favorite British comedians!
As I mentioned in our “Spooky Reads by U.K. Authors” post, I am a big fan of the Halloween season and loved every second of my master’s thesis-writing process because I chose a topic I really enjoyed: rhetorically analyzing the wild ghost hunting tactics of the boys on Ghost Adventures. Needless to say, I watched a lot of Ghost Adventures episodes in the name of research and found that some of my favorites were indeed set in the U.K.
Since I can’t make it abroad this fall to go on my own ghost hunt, I’ve compiled a list of Ghost Adventures episodes that take us across the pond to explore some of the most haunted locations in the U.K. These episodes are all available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon Instant Video, so you can bring these haunted U.K. locations home with you. All of these locations feature amazing historical places with unique supernatural folklore: everything I love all in one series. Add yelling aggressively at ghosts and you have a recipe for reality TV success.
This was the first episode I ever watched and it just happened to premiere a few weeks after I returned from my semester abroad in Oxford. I had spent the Easter holiday weekend in Edinburgh and had even gone on a ghost tour after dark. While we didn’t go into the Edinburgh Vaults, I was excited to see Zak and his crew explore a few of the graveyards we’d visited. The vaults were home to the seedy Edinburgh underworld and sheltered the poor during times of war and disease. Of course this dark, eerie location is haunted.
“Ancient Ram Inn”
Location: Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, England (2009)
This episode provided a lot of great examples that I used in my thesis to show how gender is navigated in ghost belief. The Ancient Ram Inn has some old, demonic spirits stirring and Zak’s team performs a traditional pagan ritual to encourage the spirits to make their presence known. Their pagan guide? A woman named Lady Snake. How can this not be one of my favorite episodes? There are rumors that the Ancient Ram Inn is haunted by a witch, its caretaker is a frightening, stereotypically spooky tour guide, and there is something called a “succubus” spirit lurking in the basement. Perfection.
“Fort Horsted”
Location: Gillingham, Kent, England (2012)
This old WWII fort has its own set of underground tunnels with a space known as the “Demon Area” – sounds promising! The fort saw the horrors of war and was built atop a Saxon burial ground, which makes this a truly haunted location.
“Hellfire Caves”
Location: West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England (2012)
Our friend Lady Snake returns to host a pagan ritual to help the Ghost Adventures crew connect with British royalty and the pagan spirits that haunt the hellfire caves. In the back of the cave is a river, named the river styx after the famous Greek river leading to Hades, which is said to be a conduit for spirits returning to earth. Aaron wears a cape and the claustrophobic underground setting makes this an especially spooky episode.
Ireland is the perfect place to set this Halloween special, as it is home to the origins of our Halloween traditions. This episode features a house haunted by a demonic cat, a locale that hosted the Hellfire club (rumored to have been the breeding ground of some of the U.K.’s most famous historical figures who enjoyed a bit of devil worship), and a haunted house where it is said the devil himself stayed overnight. I’d prefer a shady European hostel, thank you very much…
New episodes of Ghost Adventures premiere on the Travel Channel every Saturday night at 9 p.m. ET. Fingers crossed that this year’s Halloween special takes us back to the haunted U.K.!
My friend and I just discovered what has to be one of the greatest things in life: nerdy workout shirts. I got a Sherlock tank and she got a Doctor Who tee. They are absolutely hilarious and a testament to the fact that our love of British television features prominently in all areas of our lives, even working out. When I’m at the gym, I like having a distraction – something to help me forgot that I am sweating like crazy and am only halfway through my workout. Lately, I have been rewatching Doctor Who at the gym. If you have Hulu or Netflix, you can get the app on your smartphone/ iPad and watch your favorite shows using your gym’s wifi or (if there’s no wifi) your data. Doctor Who helps motivate because of its high energy – from the minute I hear the theme music, my feet are ready to start moving. Also, it doesn’t hurt that I get so engrossed in the story I feel as though I am actually running from Daleks or chasing the Doctor across space and time. I am going to highlight my favorite Doctor Who workout episodes for you (one from each season). Put on your trainers, hop on that elliptical, and take a tour across the universe with me!
1. “The End of the World” (S1E2)
“The End of the World” is set 5 billion years in the future. There is a countdown to the destruction of the earth, and while working out, you feel as though you’re running to help save the planet. Who wouldn’t want that kind of motivation?!
2. “Tooth and Claw” (S2E2)
As a warning, “Tooth and Claw” is frightening and may cause you to loudly gasp or jump (I nearly fell off the elliptical). This is the PERFECT episode to watch at the gym because it’s so exciting! It will keep on the edge of your seat and make you forgot about how sore your legs are or how far you’ve run. Just be careful! 😉
3. “The Runaway Bride” (S3E1)
“The Runaway Bride” is a great workout episode for many reasons. First, it involves quite a lot of actual running, and it’s quite frightening/ exciting at the end (it will keep you guessing!). It’s also our first introduction to Donna, who is absolutely hilarious and will help condition your abs from laughing so much.
4. “Silence in the Library/ Forest of the Dead” (S4E8-9)
Both of these episodes are very good on their own but together, they are AWESOME. I have a rule that I can only watch old Doctor Who episodes at the gym, and I could not WAIT to get back on the elliptical to finish this two-parter. There are so many different elements to these episodes, and you don’t quite know how they’re going to come together until the very end. Also, I went faster than usual because I was so freaked out by the Vashta Nerada in the space suits so hey, that’s a positive for me!
5. “Amy’s Choice” (S5E8)
“Amy’s Choice” is great because it’s almost like a series of mini-episodes. Each section of the episode will keep you intrigued, making you forgot about your workout clock. The episode also moves pretty quickly, suddenly making your workout over much quicker than expected!
6. “The God Complex” (S6E11)
This episode is very creepy, guys. There’s a minotaur! There’s brainwashing! There are weeping angels! The hotel keeps twisting and turning with guests unable to get out. This episode makes me feel that if I can just keep running until the end, I’ll make it out alive…
7. “The Bells of Saint John” (S7E6)
To be fair, “The Bells of Saint John” is one of my favorite Doctor Who episodes in general, which is partially why it makes this list. It’s also exciting, but in a different kind of way. It’s not as fast-paced or as sinister as some of the other DW episodes, but it’s very eerie and intriguing. It’s the intrigue of the episode that keeps me going during my workout.
8. “Flatline” (S8E9)
“Flatinline” features more very creepy villains that take form in murals painted on walls. Clara and the Doctor are separated for most of the episode, and she has to use her own brain and foot power to stop the creatures. Getting so immersed in the episode that you feel like you’re running away from weird mural creatures is a great way to burn some calories!
Get out there and burn off some calories with the Doctor!
This cool vintage-y sign outside of The Fox & the Crow made it very clear what I was to find inside: cheese, cheese, and more delicious cheese.
I was instantly intrigued when I heard the name, “The Fox & the Crow.” For those who’ve had the pleasure of traveling over to the U.K., you may have noted that pubs and shops often feature the names of animals. This old naming tactic was first established during an era were illiteracy was rampant, making the animal imagery easy to decipher and remember for local pub-goers. While The Fox & the Crow is not known as a local pub, it is known for its tasty local, American, and imported cheeses (from all over the world, not just from the U.K.). It is no secret that I am a cheese fanatic and that one personal goal of mine since returning from England is to scour America for an affordable source of U.K. cheeses and this is my new favorite spot.
I stopped by during happy hour (every weekday from
4-6 p.m.) and didn’t quite know what to expect. Would their seemingly affordable offerings actually be enough to fill me up for dinner? I was nervous when I was told the featured cheeseboard was “mini” – a frightening word for any American diner. However, what I was presented with looked the opposite of “mini” and was a work of art. I had my choice of two artisan cheeses – generous slabs of cheese with plenty of accoutrements (last week they added kiwi-berries to my cheese board, which look like grape sized kiwis and were sweet and tart). I felt so fancy sitting outside in their charming gated patio, sipping my wine, and trying not to dive headfirst into the cheeseboard. The whole meal cost me $11 and really felt like a decadent treat.
A not so mini “mini-cheese board” from the Fox & the Crow in Fort Collins, Co.Here is my cheese board featuring: a sharp white cheddar (made in America) but with the taste of my favorite British cheddar, dried dates, house-made crackers, lingonberries, and a gooey slice of Brie (made in France, which neighbors the U.K…close enough for me! It was so delicious). They even placed delicate dollops of honey around the plate, which I was surprised to find tasted amazing when I dipped my sharp white cheddar cheese into it. Who would’ve thought?
Their fully stocked cheese cases feature new offerings every week or so. Some of the U.K. cheeses I’ve seen featured include Stilton, Ticklemore (fantastic name for a cheese company), and a beautiful Irish cheddar made with lines of porter inside. What is great about the Fox & the Crow is that their cheesemongers really know their stuff and are a trustworthy bunch: something I didn’t know was a requirement when looking for a good cheesemonger. I simply told them cheeses that I usually enjoyed and they picked the board out for me. And it was perfect – they seemed to know my tastes simply by asking what I usually picked out for myself. They know the history and flavor profile of each cheese and seem to always have something in stock that is from the U.K. or has a similar flavor to one of my favorite U.K.-style cheeses. I stay up to date on their cheese offerings by following their Instagram account, which makes me terribly hungry looking at their beautiful photos.
I know you’re asking yourself, “Shan, can’t you just find imported cheeses in your local grocery store?” Yes, many grocery stores feature an artisan cheese selection, but those poor cheeses have been tightly plastic-wrapped and manhandled across the Atlantic, arriving in the store in an unnatural shape and still far too expensive for my taste. They also lack the variety found at a cheese shop.
1) I love supporting local businesses; 2) The Fox & the Crow takes gentle care of their cheese, thoughtfully pairing it with fruits and nuts, and they make it a special culinary event;
I rest my case. Please check out The Fox & the Crow if you’re in the Fort Collins, Colorado area. They are located at 2601 S Lemay Ave Unit #21. Visit their website at http://www.thefoxandthecrow.net/.
The use of masks and costumes was also common in Gaelic tradition as both a way to disguise oneself from the evil spirits roaming the land and to pay honor to them by dressing in their likeness. Another tradition that remains popular today is the carving of vegetables, traditionally turnips, to look like goblins or spirits, which could bring luck and keep spirits at bay. These traditions migrated to the Americas and turned into the carving of pumpkins.
U.K. in the Everyday 