About HalloweenThis page provides history and other fun facts about this fascinating holiday. Feel free to share with other Halloween enthusiasts! |
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Legend of Jack O'Lantern | Origin of Halloween | 10 Fun Facts
According to Irish folklore...
A man named Jack, well known for his drunkenness and quick temper got very drunk at a local pub on All Hallows Eve. He met the Devil outside the pub because the Devil wanted his soul. Jack asked him one more drink but he didn't have the money to pay.
So the Devil took the shape of a coin and Jack put it into his wallet that had a cross-shaped catch. Jack agreed to free the Devil under one condition: he should let him live for another year. The Devil accepted.
First Jack was good then he slipped back into his evil ways. The following year the Devil reappeared and asked Jack to accompany him. Jack told the Devil to take an apple from a tree; when the Devil climbed up, Jack carved a cross on the tree and the Devil was trapped again. This time Jack asked the Devil ten more years of life in exchange for his freedom: again the Devil had to accept.
Unfortunately Jack died almost a year later. In paradise he was not accepted. In hell, the Devil recognized him and refused him admission; but, since he wasn't so bad, he gave Jack a piece of coal to help him find his way in the dark of limbo. Jack put the piece of coal into a turnip and it became known as "Lack O'Lantern". On All Hallows Eve you can still see Jack's flame burning as he searches for a home.
The Irish used to carve turnips or beets as lanterns and use them on Halloween night as festival lights. When they emigrated to the USA, they brought their traditions with them: they couldn't find turnips in America but they found a lot of pumpkins which were suitable substitutes to make a Jack O'Lantern; since then, pumpkins are an essential part of Halloween celebrations.
The Origin of Halloween
(a.k.a. "Samhain", "All Allows Day")
The origin of Halloween goes back very far- all the way back to the ancient Celts. The Celts lived in the British Isles during ancient times. The last day of the year on the old pagan calendar, October 31st, served the triple purpose of bidding goodbye to summer, welcoming winter, and remembering the dead. This day was called "Samhain". On the evening of October 31st and the day of November 1st, the Celtic priests, known as Druids, honored Samhain- the god of death. On October 31st, Druids also predicted the future.
According to Celtic legend, Samhain controlled the spirits of the dead and could allow them to rest peace fully, or make them go wild on this night. The Celtic believed that on the night of October 31st ghosts come out of their tombs. The spirit of the dead returned! Druids made big fires to frighten away the spirits of evil and death. The Celtic people dressed in scary costumes to frighten the evil spirits. They dressed as witches, ghosts and skeletons. They also played games to bring good luck in the new year.
After the Roman invasion in 43 AD, Samhain also became a harvest festival. Rome had a festival honoring the goddess Pomona who ruled fruits and garden. The Romans pictured her as a beautiful maiden, her arms filled with fruit, and a crown of apples on her head. Nuts, fruits and apples were part of the Samhain ceremonies. Apples were considered to be sacred and lucky. The colors of Halloween are orange and black. They represent the harvest (orange) and death (black).
Also after the Roman invasion, Christian rites substituted pagan rites. For the Christians, the first day of November was the day of All Saints. It was called All Allows Day (the day of All Saints). The evening of October 31st was All Allows Eve. This was shortened to Halloween. The druid religion went on for a long time in Ireland and Scotland. Halloween continued to be important in both places.
In the XIX (19th) century, Irish immigrants brought their Halloween costumes to the United States. Now Halloween is one of the biggest festivities in the USA. The date of Halloween, October 31st, is on every calendar.
10 Fun Facts about Halloween
As posted by the BBC in England...
| Fact One: About 99% of pumpkins marketed domestically are used as Jack O'Lanterns at Halloween. |
| Fact Two: In the United States, 86% of Americans decorate their homes for Halloween. |
| Fact Three: Legendary magician Harry Houdini died in Detroit of gangrene and peritonitis resulting from a ruptured appendix on Halloween in 1926. |
| Fact Four: Spalding claims to be the pumpkin capital of Britain, because it's the home of the country's biggest producer. David Bowman grows two million a year! |
| Fact Five: Did you know - there are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with orange? Hard to believe for such an important color? |
| Fact Six: It is believed that the Irish began the tradition of Trick or Treating. In preparation for All Hallow's Eve, Irish townsfolk would visit neighbours and ask for contributions of food for a feast in the town. |
| Fact Seven: The record for the fastest pumpkin carver in the world is Jerry Ayers of Baltimore, Ohio. He carved a pumpkin in just 37 seconds! |
| Fact Eight: Vampires think Halloween is tacky and don't bother going out that night. |
| Fact Nine: The original Halloween film directed by John Carpenter in 1978 cost just $320,000 to make. It ended up making over $50m worldwide. |
| Fact Ten: People have believed for centuries that light keeps away ghosts and ghouls. Making a pumpkin lantern with a candle inside may keep you safe from all the spooky spirits flying around on Halloween. |