The story of Jack O’LanternJack O’Lanterns are now an American tradition, but the tradition originated from an Irish folktale. Jack, a trickster and drunkard, tricked the devil into climbing a tree. While Satan was in the tree, Jack carved a cross into the trunk, therefore trapping the devil in the tree. Jack made the devil promise never to tempt him again. The devil made this promise and was released from the tree. Jack had a good laugh and went on his way to continue his foolery. When Jack died, he was denied entrance to heaven because of his wayward actions on earth. Satan also denied Jack entrance to hell because of his trick years before. Jack was forced to return to earth, where he was eternally to wander alone in the dark. The only light he had was a burning ember from hell. Jack hollowed out a turnip and put the ember inside to use as a lantern. When the Irish immigrated to the United States around 1840, they found pumpkins to be more plentiful than turnips. The American tradition then became to carve a pumpkin, place a light inside, and continue the legend of “Jack’s Lantern”.

Where did Halloween originate? The origins of Halloween come from Great Britain, where the Celts lived 2000 years ago. The Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated on October 31, marked the end of the year. It was believed that at this crucial gateway into the next year, spirits could return to earth. To celebrate and prepare for the new year and to ward off the spirits, Druids, or Celtic priests, made bonfires in the center of the village. The tribal people and townsfolk would extinguish the flames in their houses. At the central fire, they dressed in animal skins to offer sacrifices to the Celtic gods, then re-lit their torches to bring good luck and blessings for the new year. The night, therefore, was full of darkness, spirits, and dressing in animal skins to offer sacrifices. Around A.D. 43 when the Romans conquered the Celts and subsequently ruled them for nearly 400 years, Roman Catholic tradition blended with the Celtic tradition. The Roman Catholic celebration of Feralia, a day in late October for commemoration of the dead, began to interfuse with Samhain. In the 7th century, Roman Catholic Pope Boniface IV officially designated November 1 as “All Saints’ Day”, an official Catholic holiday. All Saints’ Day, also known as “All Hallows Day”, was a day to honor the saints and martyrs of the Church. Samhain, still celebrated on October 31, began to be called “All Hallow’s Eve” – eventually colloquially called “All Hallow’een,” and finally, “Halloween.” Later, near A. D. 1000, the Roman Catholic Church designated November 2 as “All Souls’ Day” to honor the deceased.

From where did the tradition of costumes come? According to some accounts, the Celts believed spirits could possess a body on the night of October 31, so the people wore scary costumes and acted crazy (looting, vandalism) to scare away the spirits. Other accounts attribute the tradition to the wearing of animal skins while making sacrifices to the Celtic gods at the festival of Samhain.

How did Halloween come to be associated with witches and

work of the devil? By establishing All Saint’s Day, the Catholic Church had hoped to replace the Celtic tradition of Samhain. Instead of replacing the Celtic holiday, people began celebrating both. Shortly thereafter, belief in witchcraft spread throughout Europe. It was believed that on All Hallow’s Eve, the devil, witches, demons, and evil spirits would haunt the town and perform pranks in mockery of the two holy days to follow.

Trick-or-TreatLike other Halloween traditions, trick-or-treating has a blended background. Some accounts attribute the story to an Irish folktale of fairies who went door-to-door searching for an offering. If the resident refused to make an offering, the fairies played a trick on the person. Another account attributes the tradition to a ninth-century European custom called “souling,” in which Christians went door-to-door asking for soul cakes, or bread with currants. When given a soul cake, the Christian would say a prayer that the souls of the resident’s deceased family would leave purgatory and enter heaven. Children trick-or-treat today by going door-to-door dressed in a costume. They tell the resident, “Trick or treat,” in hopes of getting a small treat – usually candy. If the resident refuses to give a treat, the children will play a mean trick. In most of America, however, if a resident does not want to offer treats, they simply do not answer the doorbell. Children do not really play tricks on the resident

Haunted houses, ghost stories

In addition to Halloween parties where people dress in costume, drink hot apple cider, and bob for apples, Americans typically celebrate Halloween by telling ghost stories and visiting haunted houses. The houses, of course, are not really haunted, but are full of actors who jump out and scare the visitors.