Halloween (or Hallowe’en ... also known as Samhain, Summer’s End, All Hallow’s Eve, and Witches Night) is a holiday celebrated annually on the night of October 31. It originated in Ireland and is said to be among the world’s oldest holidays. It has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture). The essential elements of Halloween—bonfires, costuming, trick-or-treating, telling ghost stories and attending parties—can all be traced back to as early as 2000 years ago.

 School has started, which means most children are encouraged to read more. Whether you have a child or grandchild who loves reading or not, try the following method for added interest and perspective: Select a book that has been made into a movie. The reward for reading the book is getting to watch the movie together afterward (add popcorn for extra enthusiasm). Children may become much more interested in reading after realizing how much of the storyline is often left out of films. Here is a list of films and their book origins that might be of interest:

Get ready for Superheros, Sequels and Wild Comedies

As part of my itinerary for a trip to Rome to celebrate my birthday I put the Cinecittà Studios, the hub of Italian cinema, on my list. As a film enthusiast, I could not miss the opportunity to explore memorabilia of great Italian directors, such as Fellini, or catch a film clip of my favorite Italian actress, Anna Magnani. With a convenient subway stop, Cinecittà was easy to locate and packed full of fascinating information.

Get ready for Superheros, Sequels and Wild Comedies