Halloween handbook

Halloween events at UMSL:

Sigma Tau Gamma holds haunted house The Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity will hold a haunted house for local children at the Bel-Ridge Community Center on Natural Bridge Rd. beginning around 5:00 p.m.

RHA hosts Haunted Hall "Haunted Hall" at the old Normandy Hospital site on Natural Bridge Road will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 28. Members of RHA will supervise the event, which is open to children from area schools. Donations of candy may be dropped off through Oct. 28 at N105 Villa Residence Hall on South Campus. Call 6355 for info.

CNC events October 28: Pumpkin Carving Contest and Halloween Party at the Catholic Newman Center, located at 8200 Natural Bridge, Rd. at 7:30pm. October 31: Haunted Garage set-up at CNC at 5pm.

Did you know...

Think you know everything about Halloween? There may be some things on this list you already know about, but there could be at least one new thing you learn. * The rottweilers in "The Omen" were originally going to be German Shepherds. * Cujo was shot as several different versions, one including a German Shepherd instead of a St. Bernard. * A cup of candy corn has fewer calories than a cup of raisins. * According to the Gallup poll, one in ten Americans says he or she has seen or been in the presence of a ghost. * In France, over 30,000 werewolf cases were tried between 1520 and 1630. * The biggest pumpkin in the world tipped the scales at whopping 1,337.6 lbs. * In 1962, the Count Dracula Society was founded. * Halloween candy sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States. * If you see a spider on Halloween, it is the spirit of a loved one watching over you. * Realtor beware- it is illegal to sell a haunted house in New York without telling the buyer first. * People who are afraid of Halloween have samhainophobia. Now that you have learned some new facts, throw them into your next Halloween conversations. These facts are also good icebreakers.

Fake Blood

Has a vampire ever looked at you and laughed? Do your friends tell you that you have ketchup on your chin every Halloween? Are you having a hard time making fake blood look real? If you have already tried stores, give this recipe a try before you give up:

Realistic Looking Mint Stage Blood:

2/3 cup Corn Syrup 1/3 cup Water 5 Tablespoons Corn Starch 3 to 5 Teaspoons Red Food Coloring 2 or 3 Drops Green Food Coloring 1 Drop Peppermint extract, if desired.

Mix the cornstarch thoroughly with the water. Add the corn syrup. Mix well. Add red food coloring into the mixture, using only 3 teaspoons at first. Then add a couple drops of green food coloring to take the 'pink' edge off the red coloring. If the mixture is too light, add one or two teaspoons more red food coloring. Add an extra drop of green food coloring if the mixture gets too pink again (real blood is slightly on the dark red to reddish brown side when its not fresh from the heart). Add one drop of peppermint extract if you want a minty blood mixture. The concoction tastes quite pleasant and can be used as makeup or a "Glass of Wine" for your vampire to drink. Milk can be added (instead of or with the cornstarch) to keep the blood from being too transparent. White glue was also given as a suggestion, but if you go that route, do not use the mixture on or in your mouth. Always be careful when tasting something new.