Halloween, a popular holiday celebrated on the night of October 31st, has its roots in ancient pagan rituals. The origins of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter. During Samhain, it was believed that the boundary between the living and the dead was thin, and that the spirits of the dead would return to earth to cause havoc. In order to ward off these evil spirits, bonfires were lit and people would wear costumes and masks to disguise themselves from the wandering ghosts. When the Roman Empire conquered Celtic territories in the first century AD, they merged their own festivals with the Celtic traditions. One such festival was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans honored the dead.
We’re only two people, so I can’t describe the literal dozens of other dishes offered at Magic Dragon Cuisine. The Kung Pao squid and spicy tangerine chicken both sounded delicious though.
On one side of my plate, there sat a sizzling pile of crustaceans coated in a creamy white wine sauce that tasted distinctly Chinese probably the ginger even though it sounds kind of Italian when I type it out. LEMONY CHICK BITS The lemon chicken at Magic Dragon was sweet, citrusy, crunchy, and delicious all at the same time, and the portion was large enough to cover dinner, the next day s lunch, and a little appetizer that evening.
One such festival was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans honored the dead. Over time, the Christian church attempted to replace these pagan rituals with their own celebrations. In the 9th century, November 1st was declared All Saints' Day, a day to honor all Christian saints and martyrs.
Magic Dragon Cuisine serves a wide variety of high quality Chinese dishes
I’m not going to lie. I had my doubts when I first sat down at Magic Dragon Cuisine. The spacious restaurant was nearly empty, but to be fair, my wife and I had shown up at about 4:30 on a Sunday afternoon. Not a good sign, but I tried to give the place the benefit of the doubt.
WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS: Located in a historic building in Santa Maria’s Landmark Square, Magic Dragon Cuisine has an extensive menu, packed with just about every possible plate of Chinese food. Stop by 800 S. Broadway to try it yourself or visit magicdragoncuisine.com to order online and have it delivered.
PHOTO BY NICK POWELLSHRIMPIN’ AIN’T EASY : It’s always hard for me to settle on a meal when the menu is as extensive as Magic Dragon Cuisine’s, but this double-flavored shrimp dish let me pick two things at once. The wine shrimp was fine shrimp, but the spicy was nicey!
Then I looked at the menu, and it was really long, with lots of pictures. The plates looked great, but most of the time, broad menus are full of bland food. There’s a saying in my family: “Specialists are the best-alists.” We’re fans of badly forced rhymes and generalities. This book of dinner options seemed like another red flag, but as I read the dish descriptions, they all sounded pretty good, with unique takes on your standard Chinese fare.
I started to get excited and ordered a plate of crab wontons immediately, before I noticed that I could make any entree a combination plate with soup, egg roll, dumplings, rice, and wontons added to the side for another $3.95. So we ended up with a lot of wontons, which was fine because they weren’t soggy with oil or stale from sitting under a heat lamp. They were light and crispy and utterly fantastic.
PHOTO BY NICK POWELLLEMONY CHICK BITS : The lemon chicken at Magic Dragon was sweet, citrusy, crunchy, and delicious all at the same time, and the portion was large enough to cover dinner, the next day’s lunch, and a little appetizer that evening. There was a lot of chicken is what I’m saying.
I let myself get more optimistic. They passed the first test. Bring on the soup.
That cup of hot and sour goodness was probably my favorite part of the meal. I could’ve had nothing but a big bowl of that broth and walked away happy. I’d always been an egg-drop kind of guy, but not anymore. Hot and sour for life, baby (although my wife did say her egg drop soup was great).
For my entree, I got the double-flavored shrimp. On one side of my plate, there sat a sizzling pile of crustaceans coated in a creamy white wine sauce that tasted distinctly Chinese (probably the ginger) even though it sounds kind of Italian when I type it out. Separated by a few pieces of broccoli and a decorative slice of carrot, there sat another pile of shrimp, this time simmering in a spicy red sauce with garlic, scallions, and peas. Both were great, and neither tasted like anything I’d ever had before.
My wife got lemon chicken because she always gets lemon chicken. She usually is an adventurous eater but not with Chinese food. I think she had mind-blowing lemon chicken as a child once and has been chasing the dragon ever since. This version was good but kind of typical.
PHOTO BY NICK POWELLWANTIN’ THEM WONTONS : Not all wontons are created equal. These were freshly fried, crispy, and stuffed with creamy cheese that I’m almost certain had bits of crab in it. Crab!
We’re only two people, so I can’t describe the literal dozens of other dishes offered at Magic Dragon Cuisine. The Kung Pao squid and spicy tangerine chicken both sounded delicious though.
They’ve also got about 20 vegetarian entrees, including a Szechuan hot garlic eggplant I plan to try next time.
While North China is clearly Santa Maria’s most revered Chinese restaurant, with rows of “Best Of” plaques lining its walls, Magic Dragon Cuisine holds its own as a worthy, perhaps underestimated, competitor.
Contributing writer Nick Powell is angling for triple-flavored shrimp. Send all the flavors to [email protected] .
Powell’s Picks
FILE PHOTO BY WENDY THIES SELL SCRATCH KITCHEN:• The wife and I were craving something extra fancy for dessert the other day and turned to Scratch Kitchen to satisfy the itch. We were not disappointed. Their peach upside-down cake was downright artisanal and paired beautifully with a house-made pear sorbet. D’oh! I should’ve said “pear”ed beautifully. Too late now. But it’s not too late for you all to try some excellent and unique treats at 610 North H St. in Lompoc.
• Looking to feed your belly and your brain? Head to Loring Winery for Wine and Wisdom: Adventures on the Frontier of Ignorance, an evening of wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres eating, and philosophizing lead by Professor Emeritus Joe White. The event takes place Saturday, July 27, from 6 p.m. until whenever the discussion gets dull. The tasting room is located at 201 Industrial Way, suite B, Buellton.
• Or, if you’d rather party hardy than debate the meaning of existence, celebrate the coming harvest season in Los Olivos at Zaca Mesa Winery’s Harvest Hoedown, also happening Saturday, July 27, from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy boot stompin’ diddies by Just Dave Country Band while sipping wine and scarfing down pork ribs, beef brisket, cornbread, coleslaw, and banana pudding. Tickets cost $60 for club members and $75 for other folks. Call (805) 688-9339 to reserve a spot.
• Stretch that pinky as far as it’ll reach at First and Oak’s Afternoon High Tea on Sunday, July 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. in Solvang. They’ll serve fine teas from Royal Albert pots with scones, tarts, sandwiches, and such. It’ll be right delightful. Call (805) 688-1703 to reserve a spot for $59 per person.
Contributing writer Nick Powell hasn’t had a good tea party since his daughter was 5. Send your fanciest hat to [email protected] .
• The wife and I were craving something extra fancy for dessert the other day and turned to Scratch Kitchen to satisfy the itch. We were not disappointed. Their peach upside-down cake was downright artisanal and paired beautifully with a house-made pear sorbet. D’oh! I should’ve said “pear”ed beautifully. Too late now. But it’s not too late for you all to try some excellent and unique treats at 610 North H St. in Lompoc.
The night before, October 31st, became All Hallows' Eve, later abbreviated as Halloween. During the Middle Ages, Halloween was still associated with the supernatural and the afterlife. People would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off evil spirits. However, as time went on, the religious significance of Halloween diminished and the holiday evolved into a more community-centered event. In the late 19th century, Irish immigrants brought Halloween traditions to America, where they became more popularized and commercialized. It was during this time that Halloween parties and costumes became a common practice, with children and adults alike dressing up and going door-to-door for treats. Today, Halloween is celebrated in many different ways around the world. It has become a night of fun and festivities, with activities such as costume parties, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating. While the origins of Halloween may be rooted in ancient pagan rituals, the holiday has transformed into a night of lighthearted celebration and enjoyment for people of all ages..
Reviews for "Halloween and Identity: Exploring the History of Costume and Disguise"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - Halloween from pagan ritual to party night was disappointing for me. I was expecting a more in-depth exploration of the origins and evolution of Halloween, but instead, it felt like a shallow overview. The documentary didn't provide enough historical context and focused too much on the modern celebration of Halloween. I felt like it missed an opportunity to educate viewers about the cultural significance of this holiday and relied too heavily on clichés and stereotypes. Overall, I found it underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a thorough examination of Halloween's history.
2. John - 1/5 stars - I was extremely disappointed with Halloween from pagan ritual to party night. The documentary lacked any substantial information and felt more like a promotional video for Halloween parties and costumes. I expected to learn about the true origins of Halloween and its cultural significance, but instead, it was filled with superficial interviews and repetitive footage of people celebrating. There was no depth or critical analysis in this documentary, and it failed to provide any educational or entertaining value. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time watching it.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - Halloween from pagan ritual to party night fell short of my expectations. I was hoping to gain a deeper understanding of the pagan rituals and ancient traditions that led to the development of Halloween. However, the documentary barely scratched the surface and spent too much time showcasing contemporary celebrations and Halloween-themed parties. While I enjoyed seeing people's creative costumes and hearing their personal experiences, I felt like the core essence of Halloween's history was overshadowed. It lacked the depth and substance I was looking for, leaving me feeling unsatisfied.