American culture: leaf peepers

As summer turns to autumn there are predictable behaviors we regularly encounter when the seasons change: American football starts, birds fly south for the winter, and the leaf peepers flock to New England.

Leaf peeper is an affectionate term for a person who travels in the fall to visit areas wooded with deciduous forests to view the changing color of the leaves. The most popular destination to view the autumn foliage is in New England. Where is New England? It's the area on the northeastern coast of the US that consists of the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. It's one of the earliest English settlements in the "New World" (North America).

Ironically, "to peep" is to look quickly and furtively (secretively) at something which is the opposite of what leaf peepers do, but the words sound agreeable and fun together so this humorous name is how those tourists are identified.

If you are considering becoming a leaf peeper yourself, you can get the autumn foliage reports at leafpeepers.com or YankeeFoliage.com. New England takes leaf peeping seriously!

Spooky days ahead

Halloween is October 31, the eve of All Saints’ Day, and it’s just around the corner (coming soon). Americans love Halloween because it gives us a good reason for all sorts of activities: costume parties, telling ghost stories, bon fires, watching horror films, bobbing for apples, or going out for tricks-or-treats (a children’s custom of visiting houses with the threat of pranks or mischief if they are not given a candy treat). Whatever your plans, you at least must have a pumkin to carve into a jack-o-lantern.

A jack-o-lantern is the most recognizable symbol of Halloween, where an image, usually a monstrous face, is carved onto a hollowed-out pumpkin. At night, a candle or light is placed inside to illuminate the effect. It doesn’t matter whether you’re artistic or not because any design on a jack-o-lantern evokes the mood of the season.

*photo courtesy of marthastewart.com

S’mores

August 10 is National S’mores Day! What is a s’more, you ask? Well, have you ever eaten something so delicious that you craved some more? Of course! A s’more is a summer campfire dessert that is almost a requirement at any barbecue or outdoor cookout in the USA.

S’mores, a contraction of the phrase some more, are a popular, sweet campfire treat made of roasted marshmallows and a layer of chocolate, sandwiched between two graham crackers. And they are so tasty that normally people want a second serving, or some more (s’more). S'mores are popular because the simple ingredients make a perfect balance of flavors: the marshmallow is gooey and sweet, the chocolate is smooth, and the graham cracker is crispy and crunchy.

The treat was originated by campers in the early part of the 20th century, using a rather new mass-produced product, marshmallows. Marshmallows were easy to transport, as were candy bars and graham crackers, and they could be toasted without difficulty on a stick over a fire to make a delicious treat in a situation where other types of sweets would have been difficult to prepare.

So mark August 10 on your calendar for S’mores Day and make sure you plan your barbecue with the essential ingredients on hand for this super sweet summer treat.

Derby Days

The greatest two minutes in sports takes place tomorrow, the Kentucky Derby thoroughbred horse race. Its 137-year history is marked by a number of traditions which are an important part of the Derby atmosphere and experience:

The Mint Julep, an iced drink made of bourbon, mint and a sugar syrup is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. The historic drink can be served in a silver julep cup but most attendees sip theirs from a souvenir glass printed with all previous Derby winners.

I don’t think people wear hats so much anymore these days but the Derby is one of the main hat fashion events of the season for women. Believed to bring good luck at the races, hats of all sizes, colors and designs can be seen on the day, ranging from the stylish to the ridiculous. However, it is all for fun.

The Derby is frequently referred to as "The Run for the Roses," because a garland (or blanket) of over 400 red roses is awarded to the Kentucky Derby winner each year. The red rose is the official flower of the event.

The racetrack, Churchill Downs, is located in Lousiville, Kentucky (pronounced
LOOW - evel). Kentucky, known as the “Bluegrass State”, got its name from the fertile soil which promotes growth of a bluish-green grass that is common in many pastures throughout the state. Kentucky dominates Thoroughbred breeding thanks to this special grass and water.

The traditions, excitement, glamour, and history together make the first Saturday of May, the Kentucky Derby, the most exciting two minutes in sports. Have you ever seen it?

Black Friday

Thursday, November 24, 2011 is Thanksgiving Day but do you know what the Friday after Thanksgiving is called? In the United States, we call it Black Friday.

If you’re crazy about Christmas shopping and finding bargains, special deals, or heavy discounts (often called doorbusters), then Friday, November 25, is the day for you. It’s considered the busiest shopping day of the year with most stores opening very early in the morning. This is the first year I know that many major retail establishments are opening at midnight. Midnight!

While the word "black" often has a negative association, black, in this case, relates to profitability, which is traditionally noted in black ink (losses are noted in red).

Anyway, at midnight on Thanksgiving, I won’t be in the shops. Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday that I can’t imagine leaving my home at midnight to begin Christmas shopping. Retailers say that people want this, and, for mobs of people, it’s a tradition to shop for doorbusters. Not for me.

Spooky Days Ahead

Halloween is October 31, the eve of All Saints’ Day, and it’s just around the corner (coming soon). Americans love Halloween because it gives us a good reason for all sorts of activities: costume parties, telling ghost stories, bon fires, watching horror films, bobbing for apples, or going out for trick-or-treat (a children’s custom of visiting houses with the threat of pranks or mischief if they are not given a candy treat). Whatever your plans are, you at least must have a pumkin to carve into a jack-o-lantern.

A jack-o-lantern is the most recognizable symbol of Halloween, where an image, usually a monstrous face, is carved onto a hollowed-out pumpkin. At night, a candle or light is placed inside to illuminate the effect. It doesn’t matter whether you’re artistic or not because any design on a jack-o-lantern evokes the mood of the season.

*photo courtesy of marthastewart.com

New Year’s Eve Ball

Since 1907, one of the great traditions on New Year’s Eve has been watching the Waterford Crystal ball “drop” in Times Square, New York City.

Each year, millions of eyes from all over the world are focused on the sparkling ball as it begins its descent at 11:59 p.m. It's always exciting to count down the final seconds of the year and celebrate the beginning of a new year filled with hopes, dreams, and plans. Up to one million people gather in Times Square on this night so NYC police are very serious about crowd control and safety.

I would love to be a part of that New York revelry, watching the ball "live", and counting......

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1......Happy New Year!!!