Aarondale Herald Southern Charm. Gracious Living.

October 2016, Issue I

As the air grows cooler and the leaves begin to change, it seems that overnight, front doorsteps

across northern Virginia are graced with colorful pumpkins and cornstalks. For many of our residents who lived overseas, perhaps you can

recall spending this time of year celebrating Oktoberfest, a popular Bavarian celebration with music, bratwurst and beer. For most of us, the start of means that , now considered the second most popular holiday in the

United States, will soon be upon us. Preceded in popularity by Christmas, Halloween is now associated with elaborate displays, holiday lights, and both children and adults wearing elaborate costumes. The word Halloween has its roots in the Catholic church derived from All

Hallows Eve, the day before All Saints Day, celebrated on November 1st.

Historians believe that Halloween dates back to the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, when summer officially ended on October 31st. Halloween customs are celebrated all over the world. In Spain, Mexico, and Latin American countries,

they celebrate All Souls Day. In Great Britain, they celebrate the autumn rite, while Canada and Ireland have celebrations more closely to traditions here in the United States.

You may have memories of how you spent Halloween as a child with customary American traditions. Perhaps it began the night before, with an evening known as Mischief Night and harmless pranks such as soaping windows. Also known as Goosey Night, Cabbage Night, Devil’s Night, or Gate Night, this informal “holiday” was often discouraged for fear the pranks would get out of hand. On

October 31st, Halloween, you may recall celebrating with warm and freshly made cinnamon donuts, bobbing for apples, and costumes worn for an evening of trick-or-treat. This year, Aarondale will celebrate Halloween with a visit from the Immanuel 2nd grade volunteers for pumpkin decorating, a Halloween themed lunch with art activities, and bluegrass music provided by the “Frog Pond Pickers”. Aarondale Retirement & Assisted Living Community

6929 Matthew Pl., Springfield, VA 22151

The Aarondale Management Team An Evening Interim Director: under the Daniel Gordon Harvest Moon Director of Nursing: In 1908, the song Sam Arthur “Shine on Harvest

Moon” debuted at Asst. Dir of Nursing: the Ziegfeld Follie. Godfred Baisal Over a century old, this song is Marketing Director: most often associated with the season of fall. Listening to Amanda Waggy the lyrics, one conjures images of a cool fall evening, as a young couple is walking hand in hand to the sound of crisp Executive Chef: fallen leaves crackling beneath their feet. In 1938, Will Mark Hinkle Rogers and Mary Hart starred in a movie by the same name. However, the term “Harvest Moon” actually pertains to the Life Enrichment Director: full moon that occurs in September closest to the autumn Heidi Travis equinox, occurring this year on September 16, 2016. Harvest

Festivals occur throughout the Lead Concierge fall season in the United States. Mary Ellen Federovitch While some actually celebrate a harvest, it is most notably a time Dir. Of Plant Operations for friends and family to gather Ron Clarke as the weather cools in September and October. The Aarondale community will celebrate “An Evening under the Harvest Moon” on October 26th from 4:30-6:30 with entertainment provided by the “Not So Modern Jazz Quartet” and a delicious seasonal menu.

Aarondale Debuts A New Tradition On a glorious, sunny afternoon on September 25th, residents, staff and family members of the Aarondale community embarked on their inaugural debut at the “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” in Reston, VA.. The flowers that they carried not only signified each individuals diverse reason for walking, but also symbolized the promise to honor, remember, care and fight for a cure. Team Aarondale is a new tradition that we hope will continue to grow.

The Northern Virginia Senior Olympic Committee promotes “Living Healthy Longer”. This year, the NVSO games were held September 10-21st throughout the Northern Virginia Community. Participants are required to be 50 years of age or older as of December 31, 2016. Events are broken down in 5 year, 10 year, 20 year or no age groups and many participants are well into the nineties.

Our resident Eva has long been a participant and medalist on the local, regional, and national levels of the senior games. This year, Eva participated 90 + division in Mexican Train Dominoes and Cribbage and won gold medals in track and field, bettering her time from previous years and in bowling.