A couple of years ago, I started volunteering to help local refugee students get acclimated to “high school life” in America. I had been working closely with a group of five Freshmen who had stepped foot on American soil only a few months prior. Four of the refugees were Karen (from Burma) and one was from the Congo.

Being that it was mid-October, I decided to ask whether or not any of them were going to do anything for Halloween… and about ten-seconds later, realizing how presumptuous my question was, I rephrased: “Does anyone know what Halloween is? You know, trick-or-treating?”

Blank stares.

Finally, the kid from the Congo asked me in broken English what trick-or-treating was? I began to explain…

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Halloween has come and gone. We can look back fondly of our memories of pumpkins carvings, spicy chili, and crazy costumes. Check out our Flickr set of the Annual Rule29 Halloween festivities. I feel obliged to give a shout out to Grip Design for attending, and Faust Design, while unable to attended did submit an eerily awesome virtual entry of their pumpkin carving skills. But now we’re moving on to the next big holiday and as the stash of left over candy slowly disappears it’s time to thinking of more wholesome food and Thanksgiving, bring on the mashed potatoes, stuffing, and Turkey!!

It’s now the official start of the Hand Turkey Challenge. Like last year, download the template below, use a little creative magic and draw a sweet hand turkey, scan and email back to us at mail@rule29.com. We’ll post all of the entries for YOU TO VOTE ON, and one lucky hand turkey will win a $50 iTunes gift card as our way to show our thanks to you and runner up will win a $25 dollar itunes gift card. Check out all of last years’ goblling creations at our Flickr set. Please have your Turkeys back to us by close of business the 24th. May the best turkey win!

Download Template