Halloween has a rich tradition throughout the world, and has different meanings and stories depending on the culture. Jack-o-lanterns have become a Halloween staple. Jack-o-lanterns are traditionally carried by guisers on All Hallows Eve in order to frighten evil spirits. There is a popular Irish Christian folktale associated with the jack-o-lantern, which in lore, is said to represent a soul who has been denied entry into both heaven and hell: On route home after a nights drinking, Jack encounters the Devil and tricks him into climbing a tree. A quick-thinking Jack etches the sign of the cross into the bark, thus trapping the Devil. Jack strikes a bargain that Satan can never claim his soul. After a life of sin, drink, and mendacity, Jack is refused entry to heaven when he dies. Keeping his promise, the Devil refuses to let Jack into hell and throws a live coal straight from the fires of hell at him. It was a cold night, so Jack places the coal in a hollowed out turnip to stop it from going out, since which time Jack and his lantern have been roaming looking for a place to rest. In Ireland and Scotland, the turnip has traditionally been carved during Halloween, but immigrants to North America used the native pumpkin, which is both much softer and much larger – making it easier to carve than a turnip.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:16:08 +0000
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