DouTHE HISTORY OF HALLOWE 'EN AND THE JACK O 'LANTERN .AN ARTCLE BY JOHN BOYD.
DoHallowe' en is one of my favourite holidays . As a Wiccan it's an incredible celebration of the dead . It is the end Sabbat in The Wheel Of The Year . It is a time of great feasting and magick as
well as a time for preparation .
The origins of Hallowe 'en date back to the Celtic festival of Samhain ( sow – en ) . The Celts who
lived 2000 years ago in the area now known as Ireland , celebrated their New Year on Nov. 1st . The
festival deals directly with the dead. Samhain celebrations defines the role of Death in the cycle
of life , and the importance of its lessons in our personal realities .
It was a time for tying up loose ends and putting thing to rest . This day marked the end of summer , the harvest , and the beginning of the dark , cold winter months that mirrored human death . Grazing days over , herds were gathered from the fields and were either selected for slaughter or put up for winter . Farmers would harvest the crops , and gave anything that was left back to Mother Earth as offerings . Unpaid debts and arguments were settled , so as not to jinx personal Karma for luck in the coming year .
The main reason for the Samhain celebration is tend to the dead . We help the souls of those that have died in the last year to cross over to the Astral Plane ( spirit realm) , and welcome the new souls for the next year to enter the Physical Plane ( Earth realm ) . The Celts believed that on
the night of October 31st , the veil between the spirit world and our world was at it's thinnest , and that the spirits could travel the country to spoil crops and cause trouble . Bonfires were
ablaze across the countryside as the Druids would channel spirits on this night with ease . The spirits would pass on messages , make future predictions , and then would be sent to peaceful rest . The Celts gave the spirits their praise through offerings of food and song , to appease and comfort the souls of the dead so as not to be trapped in Limbo walking the earth .
During Samhain the Celts would dress up in animal skins and masks and would try telling their fellow clansmen fortunes. They would feast throughout the night and would use the flames of the
sacred Samhain fire , to re – light the home hearths . The messages and predictions made by the spirits would give comfort and hope to the Celts as they faced the long, dark Winter ahead.
In AD 43 the Romans had taken and ruled the Celtic islands and territories for 4 centuries . In this time the Romans incorporated two of their festivals into the Samhain ceremonies . One of the
Roman festivals is believed to be where the custom of bobbing for apples originated .
Feralia was a day in late October when Romans held great festivals and sacrifices to the dead. The other was a feast for the Roman goddess of fruit and trees Pomona . The apple was the symbol
of Pomona and good luck . The Romans would hang the fruit from ropes or put them into barrels of water and try to catch them in their mouths .
As the 1st century approached , Christianity had been accepted into the Celtic lands . In the
seventh century , the Pope instituted that November 1st be known as All Saints Day. This was an attempt , by the pope to replace the Celtic festival of Samhain , with saints and martyrs being
honored after death as a sanctioned holiday .
Centuries later the church would make November 2nd All Souls Day , a day to honor the dead . In England parades were conducted as part of the festivities . Poor citizens would beg for food, and people would give them treats called " soul cakes " and in return they would pray for the family's dead relatives . The church embraced the act as a deterrent against the ancient customs of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits . "Going a souling " was the time for children to go from door to door and be given beer , food , and money . Like Samhain this new holiday was celebrated with parades , bonfires , and people dressing up as angels , saints , and devils . Upon leaving their homes people would wear masks to blend in as a fellow wandering spirit . The three days , Samhain or All – Hallows Eve , All Saints Day and All Souls Day , were called Hallowmas .
As Europeans were coming to North America they also brought the traditions of Hallowe'en . As
the beliefs and customs of the natives and the European immigrants mixed a version of the Colonial Hallowe'en emerged . The festivities included pranks , plays , songs , dancing , telling ghost stories and peoples fortunes . It still wasn't celebrated all over North America until the late 19th
century .
It was the time when the continent was flooded with Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine
of 1846 . Taking the Irish and English traditions , people started dressing up and going through the
town knocking on doors begging for food or money . This is how the tradition of " trick or treat " began . The holiday was then revamped to become a community or neighborhood event and less about spirits , pranks , and witchcraft .
In the early 1900's Hallowe'en became more about children and adult parties and dressing up . Parents were encouraged by leaders and media at the time to rid the frightening and grusome
stigma attached to the holiday . The holiday lost most of it's charm of being filled with superstitions and religious practices . In the 20's and 30's vandalism started to be associated with
Hallowe'en and parties were moved indoors . With the baby boom of the 50's the practice of being a
holiday for the young was shared and trick or treating resumed . People would offer children treats in exchange for any tricks or vandalism being played on them .
Since that time the tradition of Hallowe'en has become the second largest commercial holiday in North America . Yearly sales for the day exceed $ 9 .7 billon combined from Canada and the United States . Hallowe'en continues to grow and create new traditions in the 20th century for future generations to celebrate .
THE HISTORY OF THE JACK'O'LANTERN.
People have been carving Jack 'O' Lanterns for centuries . Pumpkins can be found on doorsteps and in windows come October 31st . The custom came from an ancient Irish legend . It deals with a man , the Devil and a turnip .
A long time ago , there lived an Irish man named Jack . He was such a miserly , angry , grotesque
individual that people called him "Stingy Jack" . One Hallowe'en night Jack was in a local pub when the Devil appeared to him . The Devil said to Jack , " You have been such a vile person that I'm here to take your soul to Hell ! ! " True to his name, Stingy Jack replied , " Since it's such a long way , would you mind buying me a drink for the journey " ? The Devil laughed , agreed to the request and turned himself into a sixpence for Jack to buy the drinks with . Jack then quickly
put the coin in his change purse , where he kept a silver cross , and prevented the Devil from
changing back . Jack freed the Devil after he made a promise not claim Jack for 1 year , and never take his soul for all eternity . The Devil was changed back upon agreeing and left in a blaze
of fire .
The next Hallowe'en arrived and once again so did the Devil to take Jack away . Jack was wandering the dark Irish moors in the moonlight humming to himself in a drunken state . When
he came to the cross roads the Devil appeared and said , " No more tricks Stingy Jack , this time
your coming with me ". Jack spun around and said , " Would you please give me some food for the
trip" ? The Devil climbed a tree that stood nearby to get an apple . When the Devil was climbing , Jack pulled out his pocket knife and quickly carved a cross in the trunk of the tree . Trapped , the Devil was forced by Jack to promise not to come looking again for ten years . Jack chuckled to himself and mocked the Devil before disappearing into the darkness . No one knows how the Devil got down from the tree .
A few years later Jack died a natural death . Being such an unsavory person , God would not allow Stingy Jack into Heaven . When Jack stood outside the Gates of Hell , the Devil appeared and
started laughing hideously . The Devil kept his word and didn't claim Jacks soul and banished him from Hell . Jack asked for a light to guide his way . The Devil reached in , grabbed a burning coal from the fires of Hell , and tossed it to Jack . From his pocket , Jack grabbed a turnip and carved it into a lantern to hold the burning ember . Since that time , the tortured soul of Stingy Jack has been roaming the darkness . The Irish called the wandering spirit " Jack of the Lantern " .
In Ireland and Scotland , people started to carve scary faces on turnips or potatoes . They would light them with coals and set near doors or in windows to frighten away Stingy Jack and
the roaming spirits on Hallowe'en eve . When Irish immigrants came to North America in the 1840's ,
they brought the tradition . Upon arriving they found that pumpkins make the best fruit to carve
the perfect Jack 'O' Lantern .
HALLOWE'EN SUPERSTITIONS .
Our society has always been cautious , and October 31st has become linked to being an extremely superstitious day , Friday the 13th being the first . Over the centuries the myths and folk lore has
continued to grow along with the celebration and traditions of Hallowe'en . Here are a few of the more accepted superstitions which people have strong beliefs about .
– If a black cat crosses your path you will have bad luck for a year . Black cats were seen to be
incarnations of the Devil and consumed by evil spirits .
– If you see a spider on Hallowe'en it means that the spirit of a loved one is watching over you .
– If you walk around the outside of your house 3 times backwards before the sun sets on October
31st , you will be protected from all forms of evil .
– If candle flames turn green or go out on Hallowe'en , it means that a spirit is close by .
– Should a bat fly into your home on Hallowe'en it is an omen that either spirits are close , or
spirits let the bat in .
– If you hear footsteps behind you on Hallowe'en do not turn around for it may be a spirit
following you . If you do turn around , you may join the dead soon .
– Wearing your clothes inside out and walking backwards on Hallowe'en , would grant your wish
of seeing a witch in the sky at midnight .
– Burying animal bones in the yard and keeping pictures of animals by the doors on October 31st
wards off evil spirits .
– A bat that circles your house three times on Hallowe'en is an omen that someone will die soon .
– Pulling out your pockets and leaving them hanging would protect you from the owls diving
down to eat the souls of the dying on Hallowe'en .
– Ring a bell to chase away evil spirits on October 31st .
– If a single girl slept with a sprig of rosemary and silver coins under her pillow on Hallowe'en ,
she will dream of her future husband .
– Carry nuts as magic charms on Hallowe'en to keep evil and Satan , a nut gatherer , at bay.
– If you run around your house 3 times with the Ace of Spades in your hand at midnight on
Hallowe'en , on the third pass you'll come face to face with the Devil .
– Attending a Dumb Supper or Mourning Tea and sitting in silence during the ceremony , invites
spirits to join you at the table .
well as a time for preparation .
The origins of Hallowe 'en date back to the Celtic festival of Samhain ( sow – en ) . The Celts who
lived 2000 years ago in the area now known as Ireland , celebrated their New Year on Nov. 1st . The
festival deals directly with the dead. Samhain celebrations defines the role of Death in the cycle
of life , and the importance of its lessons in our personal realities .
It was a time for tying up loose ends and putting thing to rest . This day marked the end of summer , the harvest , and the beginning of the dark , cold winter months that mirrored human death . Grazing days over , herds were gathered from the fields and were either selected for slaughter or put up for winter . Farmers would harvest the crops , and gave anything that was left back to Mother Earth as offerings . Unpaid debts and arguments were settled , so as not to jinx personal Karma for luck in the coming year .
The main reason for the Samhain celebration is tend to the dead . We help the souls of those that have died in the last year to cross over to the Astral Plane ( spirit realm) , and welcome the new souls for the next year to enter the Physical Plane ( Earth realm ) . The Celts believed that on
the night of October 31st , the veil between the spirit world and our world was at it's thinnest , and that the spirits could travel the country to spoil crops and cause trouble . Bonfires were
ablaze across the countryside as the Druids would channel spirits on this night with ease . The spirits would pass on messages , make future predictions , and then would be sent to peaceful rest . The Celts gave the spirits their praise through offerings of food and song , to appease and comfort the souls of the dead so as not to be trapped in Limbo walking the earth .
During Samhain the Celts would dress up in animal skins and masks and would try telling their fellow clansmen fortunes. They would feast throughout the night and would use the flames of the
sacred Samhain fire , to re – light the home hearths . The messages and predictions made by the spirits would give comfort and hope to the Celts as they faced the long, dark Winter ahead.
In AD 43 the Romans had taken and ruled the Celtic islands and territories for 4 centuries . In this time the Romans incorporated two of their festivals into the Samhain ceremonies . One of the
Roman festivals is believed to be where the custom of bobbing for apples originated .
Feralia was a day in late October when Romans held great festivals and sacrifices to the dead. The other was a feast for the Roman goddess of fruit and trees Pomona . The apple was the symbol
of Pomona and good luck . The Romans would hang the fruit from ropes or put them into barrels of water and try to catch them in their mouths .
As the 1st century approached , Christianity had been accepted into the Celtic lands . In the
seventh century , the Pope instituted that November 1st be known as All Saints Day. This was an attempt , by the pope to replace the Celtic festival of Samhain , with saints and martyrs being
honored after death as a sanctioned holiday .
Centuries later the church would make November 2nd All Souls Day , a day to honor the dead . In England parades were conducted as part of the festivities . Poor citizens would beg for food, and people would give them treats called " soul cakes " and in return they would pray for the family's dead relatives . The church embraced the act as a deterrent against the ancient customs of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits . "Going a souling " was the time for children to go from door to door and be given beer , food , and money . Like Samhain this new holiday was celebrated with parades , bonfires , and people dressing up as angels , saints , and devils . Upon leaving their homes people would wear masks to blend in as a fellow wandering spirit . The three days , Samhain or All – Hallows Eve , All Saints Day and All Souls Day , were called Hallowmas .
As Europeans were coming to North America they also brought the traditions of Hallowe'en . As
the beliefs and customs of the natives and the European immigrants mixed a version of the Colonial Hallowe'en emerged . The festivities included pranks , plays , songs , dancing , telling ghost stories and peoples fortunes . It still wasn't celebrated all over North America until the late 19th
century .
It was the time when the continent was flooded with Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine
of 1846 . Taking the Irish and English traditions , people started dressing up and going through the
town knocking on doors begging for food or money . This is how the tradition of " trick or treat " began . The holiday was then revamped to become a community or neighborhood event and less about spirits , pranks , and witchcraft .
In the early 1900's Hallowe'en became more about children and adult parties and dressing up . Parents were encouraged by leaders and media at the time to rid the frightening and grusome
stigma attached to the holiday . The holiday lost most of it's charm of being filled with superstitions and religious practices . In the 20's and 30's vandalism started to be associated with
Hallowe'en and parties were moved indoors . With the baby boom of the 50's the practice of being a
holiday for the young was shared and trick or treating resumed . People would offer children treats in exchange for any tricks or vandalism being played on them .
Since that time the tradition of Hallowe'en has become the second largest commercial holiday in North America . Yearly sales for the day exceed $ 9 .7 billon combined from Canada and the United States . Hallowe'en continues to grow and create new traditions in the 20th century for future generations to celebrate .
THE HISTORY OF THE JACK'O'LANTERN.
People have been carving Jack 'O' Lanterns for centuries . Pumpkins can be found on doorsteps and in windows come October 31st . The custom came from an ancient Irish legend . It deals with a man , the Devil and a turnip .
A long time ago , there lived an Irish man named Jack . He was such a miserly , angry , grotesque
individual that people called him "Stingy Jack" . One Hallowe'en night Jack was in a local pub when the Devil appeared to him . The Devil said to Jack , " You have been such a vile person that I'm here to take your soul to Hell ! ! " True to his name, Stingy Jack replied , " Since it's such a long way , would you mind buying me a drink for the journey " ? The Devil laughed , agreed to the request and turned himself into a sixpence for Jack to buy the drinks with . Jack then quickly
put the coin in his change purse , where he kept a silver cross , and prevented the Devil from
changing back . Jack freed the Devil after he made a promise not claim Jack for 1 year , and never take his soul for all eternity . The Devil was changed back upon agreeing and left in a blaze
of fire .
The next Hallowe'en arrived and once again so did the Devil to take Jack away . Jack was wandering the dark Irish moors in the moonlight humming to himself in a drunken state . When
he came to the cross roads the Devil appeared and said , " No more tricks Stingy Jack , this time
your coming with me ". Jack spun around and said , " Would you please give me some food for the
trip" ? The Devil climbed a tree that stood nearby to get an apple . When the Devil was climbing , Jack pulled out his pocket knife and quickly carved a cross in the trunk of the tree . Trapped , the Devil was forced by Jack to promise not to come looking again for ten years . Jack chuckled to himself and mocked the Devil before disappearing into the darkness . No one knows how the Devil got down from the tree .
A few years later Jack died a natural death . Being such an unsavory person , God would not allow Stingy Jack into Heaven . When Jack stood outside the Gates of Hell , the Devil appeared and
started laughing hideously . The Devil kept his word and didn't claim Jacks soul and banished him from Hell . Jack asked for a light to guide his way . The Devil reached in , grabbed a burning coal from the fires of Hell , and tossed it to Jack . From his pocket , Jack grabbed a turnip and carved it into a lantern to hold the burning ember . Since that time , the tortured soul of Stingy Jack has been roaming the darkness . The Irish called the wandering spirit " Jack of the Lantern " .
In Ireland and Scotland , people started to carve scary faces on turnips or potatoes . They would light them with coals and set near doors or in windows to frighten away Stingy Jack and
the roaming spirits on Hallowe'en eve . When Irish immigrants came to North America in the 1840's ,
they brought the tradition . Upon arriving they found that pumpkins make the best fruit to carve
the perfect Jack 'O' Lantern .
HALLOWE'EN SUPERSTITIONS .
Our society has always been cautious , and October 31st has become linked to being an extremely superstitious day , Friday the 13th being the first . Over the centuries the myths and folk lore has
continued to grow along with the celebration and traditions of Hallowe'en . Here are a few of the more accepted superstitions which people have strong beliefs about .
– If a black cat crosses your path you will have bad luck for a year . Black cats were seen to be
incarnations of the Devil and consumed by evil spirits .
– If you see a spider on Hallowe'en it means that the spirit of a loved one is watching over you .
– If you walk around the outside of your house 3 times backwards before the sun sets on October
31st , you will be protected from all forms of evil .
– If candle flames turn green or go out on Hallowe'en , it means that a spirit is close by .
– Should a bat fly into your home on Hallowe'en it is an omen that either spirits are close , or
spirits let the bat in .
– If you hear footsteps behind you on Hallowe'en do not turn around for it may be a spirit
following you . If you do turn around , you may join the dead soon .
– Wearing your clothes inside out and walking backwards on Hallowe'en , would grant your wish
of seeing a witch in the sky at midnight .
– Burying animal bones in the yard and keeping pictures of animals by the doors on October 31st
wards off evil spirits .
– A bat that circles your house three times on Hallowe'en is an omen that someone will die soon .
– Pulling out your pockets and leaving them hanging would protect you from the owls diving
down to eat the souls of the dying on Hallowe'en .
– Ring a bell to chase away evil spirits on October 31st .
– If a single girl slept with a sprig of rosemary and silver coins under her pillow on Hallowe'en ,
she will dream of her future husband .
– Carry nuts as magic charms on Hallowe'en to keep evil and Satan , a nut gatherer , at bay.
– If you run around your house 3 times with the Ace of Spades in your hand at midnight on
Hallowe'en , on the third pass you'll come face to face with the Devil .
– Attending a Dumb Supper or Mourning Tea and sitting in silence during the ceremony , invites
spirits to join you at the table .
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