The October Villager 2017 Included in this Villager What is Halloween? 4 Fun Halloween Activities in Gainesville Game Day Safety University Athletic Events Halloween Safety Tips Career Resource Center Upcoming GFH Event JFN-ism What is Halloween? You probably have noticed from the plethora of spooky themed decorations that October is famously known for Halloween. A little unknown fact about my family is that Halloween is one of our favorite holidays. We would dedicate all of October to decorating the house, carving Jack O’ Lanterns and making the perfect trick-or-treating costumes. As my sister and I grew in age, our Halloween traditions never changed. One of my favorite traditions is going to the local pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin, ready to be carved. Halloween is all fun and games for my family, but there is a distinct origin of Halloween and how it became a holiday is not as cheerful. The origins of Halloween date back to Ireland, over 2,000 years ago, to the ancient Celtic “Festival of Samhain”. November 1st marked the end of their valued crop season and the beginning of the harsh winter. It was believed that, on October 31st, the line that divided the world between the living and the dead be- came blurred, and ghost could roam the lands. The fear of this hybrid ghost/human world would cause the Celts to dress in costumes, some of which were made from slaughtered animals, in order to “blend” in. This is where the tradition of wearing costumes on Halloween comes from. Along with damage and destruction, the ghosts were believed to help predict the future of the Celts, which made the day so valuable. This Samhain festival was the first known “Halloween”. As the world developed, so did these traditions. During the potato famine, many people from Ireland traveled to America for refuge. As the saying goes, old habits die hard, and the tradition of “Halloween” was brought to America along with the immigrants. The added ritual of “trick-or-treating” came about due to the level of poverty of the Irish immigrants who would go door-to-door with potato sacks asking for food or mon- ey. At first, Halloween was rejected by many, due to the large population of Protestant belief, and Hallow- een’s association with the supernatural. With time, Halloween started to grow farther from witchcraft, and ghosts, and more into a collaboration and celebration of ones community. Today, Halloween has kept it’s more light-hearted fun traditions and is celebrated across the country. Most of the practices today revolve around a multitude of candy, varieties of costumes and haunted decora- tions. The belief and fear surrounding the “ghost walk” is treated more of as a fable used to scare children, rather than a fact, but who knows? Maybe ghosts do walk the earth on the 31st…..I’ll leave that up for you to decided. Source: History.com Staff. “History of Halloween.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www.history.com/ topics/halloween/history-of-halloween. 4 Fun Halloween Activities in Gainesville Newberry Haunted Corn Maze: Are you a thrill seeker? Ready to get scared? Then the Newber- ry Haunted Corn Maze is just the place for you this Halloween season. You can choose to walk the corn maze and/or take a hay ride, but beware of what lurks in the dark….. Date: 9/22-10/28 Times: 5pm – 11pm Friday, 3pm – 11pm Saturday, 2pm – 5 pm Sunday Location:20015 West Newberry Road Newberry, Florida 32669 Prices: Adults $15 (price includes corn maze and haunted house), Children 10 and Un der $10, Children 3 and under are free, Hayride- $5, Bull- $5, RC Car Driving Track- $5, ( no refunds) For more info visit: http://newberrycornfieldmaze.com/ Boo at the Zoo: Boo at the Zoo is a safe, fun , trick-or-treating event for kids of all ages. Head out to the Santa Fe teaching zoo for 14 candy-filled stations and some great photo ops. Admission is 1 canned item to donate. Date: 10/31 Time: 3pm-7:30pm UF Ghouls, Goblins, and Greeks: Every year the UF Panhellenic council puts on a fun-filled Hal- loween packed event across 16 different sorority houses on sorority row. This event is FREE and family-oriented. Come out to sorority row for music, games, food and so much more! Date: 10/27 Time: 5pm-8pm Pumpkin Patch Picking: Ready to get into the fall spirit? Head out to the pumpkin patch to pick yourself a couple pumpkins! Carve Halloween faces into them, bake with them, or even decorate your home with them, the options are endless! For more information on locations and times visit: http://fun4gatorkids.com/Whats- Happening/Pumpkin-Patches/ Game Day Safety By: Brady Nettina University of Florida Emergency Management Intern The first Gator home football game this season was Saturday, September 9. With home games, there are a number of changes around campus, for football games, which residents should prepare. Whether you plan to watch the Gators play in The Swamp or not, you may be affected by the increased traffic on and around campus. Parking restrictions are lifted or changed in certain lots. Check with your Housing staff to ensure that your parking spot is available on Game Day – you may need to move your vehicle. If you have guests coming to watch the game, there are several lots around campus that are open for visitors on a first come, first serve basis. Traffic patterns are also affected. University Avenue between NW 22nd Street and NW 17th Street will close three hours prior to kickoff and will remain closed until two hours after the game has finished. If you are going to the game, be sure to adhere to game day policies. Starting last sea- son, UF instituted the Clear Bag Policy. This policy keeps fans safe by increasing the effective- ness of bag searches prior to the games. The University of Florida Athletic Association also lists the prohibited items on their website. Lastly, remember: Florida is hot! Stay hydrated throughout the day and at the game. Drink plenty of water, and avoid or limit your alcohol intake. Apply sunscreen and wear a hat, to protect yourself from the sun. If you experience any medical issues during the game, there are aid stations located throughout the stadium that can provide assistance. More Game Day information can be found at http://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/ _gameday_football_.aspx. University Athletic Events: October UF students get in FREE to all Gator athletic events, other than football, with their Gator1 ID Card. 10/12 UF Women’s Soccer vs FSU Time: 6:00 pm Location: Pressely Stadium 10/14 UF vs Texas A&M Football Time: 7:00 pm Location: Stadium 10/15 UF Volleyball vs Kentucky Time: 1:00 pm Location: ’O Connell Center 10/19 UF Soccer vs Kentucky Time: 6:00 pm Location: Pressely Stadium 10/20 UF Swim/Diving vs Texas/Indiana Time: 6:00 pm Location: ’O Connell Center 10/21 UF Swim/Diving vs Indiana/Texas Time: 10:00 am Location: ’O Connell Center 10/26 UF Soccer vs South Carolina Time: 7:00 pm Location: Dizney Stadium 10/27 UF Swimming/Diving vs Georgia Time: 10:00 am Location: ’O Connell Center 10/27 UF Volleyball vs South Carolina Time: 7:00 pm Location: ’O Connell Center 10/28 UF vs Georgia Football Time: 3:30 pm Location: Stadium (Check website for more details. Times and locations are subject to change) http://floridagators.com/index.aspx Halloween Safety Tips Halloween is a time of fun and excitement. Everyone wants to have a safe and happy Halloween for themselves, their guests, and especially their children. Following a few safety guidelines and us- ing some common sense can help you make the most of your Hal- loween season. Here are some simple tips to make your Hallow- een frighteningly fun: 1. Plan to Trick-or-Treat when it is still light outside. 2. Trick-or-Treat with a group of people. 3. Plan your route with your group ahead of time, picking familiar areas and streets that are well lighted. 4. Carry a flashlight and use reflective tape on your costume so you can be easily seen. 5. If buying a costume, look for one made of flame-retardant material. 6. Wear a costume in which it is easy to walk. 7. Avoid wearing masks as they may make it hard to see. Why not use makeup instead? But if you must wear a mask, take it off before crossing the street. 8. Wear a watch you can read in the dark or bring your phone to read the time. 9. Carry only flexible props. 10. Cross streets at corners and resist the urge to cross between parked cars. 11. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic. 12. Only approach houses that are lit. 13. Stay away from and don’t pet animals you don’t know. 14. Carry a cell phone to call home or 911. 15. Wait until you get home to sort, check, and eat your treats. Do not eat anything that is not packaged in the original factory seal. For further information on Halloween safety or other safety tips, please contact the University of Florida Po- lice Department Community Services Division at (352) 392-1409. Career Resource Center The Career Resource Center offers a wide variety of workshops and career fairs to help UF Students with their professional development. From major exploration to preparing for job searches or interviews, we have an event that will help you get where you need to be.