The History and Customs of
HALLOWEEN
In Celtic Ireland, in 400 BC, October 31st was regarded as the end of summer and the year. They called this holiday Samhain, the Celtic New year.
They believed that on this night the spirits of those that have died could return and possess the bodies of those still living. Because the living did not want to be possessed, they would extinguish all the fires in their houses to make them dark and cold and undesirable for the spirits
Then they would put on masks and run into the streets making all kinds of noise and causing destruction to scare away the spirits.
The early Christians believed that the spirits of the dead did not possess the living but entered into heaven. They called November 1st All Saints Day and the night before was called All Hallows Evening or Halloween.
The Story of the Jack o Lantern It is said that Jack was a stingy drunkard who met the devil in a bar one Halloween night. He asked the devil to buy him a drink in exchange for his soul. The devil turned himself into a sixpence and Jack quickly put him into his pocket where he also had a silver cross so the devil could not escape. Jack made the devil promise to not claim his soul for 10 years. The devil agreed and Jack released him. Š 1997 . Jack-O-Lantern.com
Ten years later the devil returned to claim Jack’s soul. Jack asked him if he could get him an apple from a tree before they went and, since the devil saw no harm in that, went up the tree to get the apple. Jack quickly placed a cross on the tree, trapping the devil. He made the devil agree to never claim his soul. The devil could see no other choice so he agreed. Jack removed the cross and the devil left. When Jack died he went to Heaven and found that the gates were closed to him because of the life he led. He then went to Hell but the devil would not let him in either because he had agreed never to take his soul. “Where am I to go then?”, asked Jack. “Go back from where you came” said the devil. But the way back was dark so the devil threw him a burning ember straight from the fires of Hell. It was windy so Jack carved a turnip and put the coal inside to light his way. Ever since, Jack has been doomed to wander in darkness with his lantern. He is known as Jack of the lantern or Jack o’ lantern. © 1997 . Jack-O-Lantern.com
Souling is an old practice where a person would ask for money and in exchange would say prayers for the soul’s safe journey to heaven of the soul of the giver’s choice. Halloween lost any religious significance many years ago. These days it is a social occasion and is looked upon as a day of fun, fancy dress and harmless pranks. Today many people do not consider Trick or Treating from door to door to be safe so they choose to have Halloween parties instead. Traditional foods that are served are apples, doughnuts, lollies, popcorn balls and any ghoulish creations that people can invent. People wear fancy dress and decorate with black, orange and purple streamers, jack o lanterns, spiders, bats, witches, ghosts, etc. Why did people wear masks at Halloween? Where did Halloween originate? What is November 1st called? What is souling? What vegetable was used for Jack’s lantern?