Hungry Jack-o'-Lantern <<<>>> <1 of 12 Hungry Jack-o' > How did Halloween get its name? Halloween was originally called All Hallows' Eve which means the evening before All Saints' Day. "Hallow" is an Old English word for "saint". This was shortened to Hallowe'en and finally to Halloween. Satanists have adopted Hallowe'en as one of their three main seasonal days of celebration. The others are Walpurgus Nacht on MAY-1 and the Satanist's birthday. All-Saints-Day and All-Hallows-Eve were never celebrated together. it has always been the day after. Halloween, the last day of October, has a special significance for children, who dress in funny or ghostly costumes and knock on neighborhood doors shouting "Trick or Treat!" Pirates and princesses, ghosts and witches all hold bags open to catch the candy or other goodies that the neighbors drop in. Halloween originated as a celebration connected with evil spirits. Witches flying on broomsticks with black cats, ghosts, goblins and skeletons have all evolved as symbols of Halloween. They are popular trick-or-treat costumes and decorations for greeting cards and windows. Black is one of the traditional Halloween colors, probably because Halloween festivals and traditions took place at night. In the weeks before October 31, Americans decorate windows of houses and schools with silhouettes of witches and black cats. When did Halloween start to be celebrated ?. Salem Witch Trials = A bunch of Christians over a hundred years ago randomly accusing other Christians of signing their souls over to the Christian Devil and doing the Devil's work and murdering each other for it. Halloween = A single day of the year that occurs every year and was celebrated as a Christian celebration of the saints at one point but now has become a secular celebration of candy, adrenaline and playing dress-up. Occurs on the same day as Shaman, the Celtic new-year and festival of the dead which is celebrated by modern day neo-pagans and witches, none of whom have anything to do with the Christian Devil. Thousands will flock to Salem on Halloween weekend to revel in the city's well-known history of witches and supposed hauntings that continue to this day, and it's an easy trip from downtown Boston on the MBTA's commuter rail. Catch the train at North Station for $5.25 one way. Upon arrival in Salem, you can walk from Salem Depot to downtown shopping, dining, attractions, the waterfront and other Haunted Happenings, Salem's month-long schedule of Halloween events. Some moms were fine with trick-or-treaters, as South Main Street long as they were not yet teenagers. “I would say that once they enter high school (9th grade), they are too old for it,” shared Kelly, mother of two. “I think at that point, they should have a party or something where they can dress up with their friends.” Brigetta, mother of three, agrees. “We have teenagers come to our door in daily clothes,” she said. “I tell them politely that trick-or-treating is for the younger children and that I am sorry. If they are with a group (like parents/siblings) I do always treat. I guess it just annoys me that if you can drive you shouldn’t be trick-ortreating!” I think it's too old to trick or treat unless you are going to friends houses - but you are never too old for the Night itself. I dress up and go to parties - I still go to haunted houses and corn mazes. And I always have a drink to toast to my wonderful Mother, Mom always had a sense of humor so wherever she is, she's pleased that the Reaper chose to escort her out during that holiday. Do you know why the "trademark" Halloween colors are orange and black? Why not any other color combination? Is there anything special about orange and black together? these two colors are on the opposite energy spectrums, so to speak. Orange is a very lively and happy color, the color of fall bounty and the warmth of fire. Orange is often called the "social" color, as it creates the Feng Shui energy to promote lively conversations and good times in your home. Black color, on the other hand, is the color of mystery and void. The color of a space with no beginning and no end, a space with an infinite creative energy incomprehensible to the human mind. Full of the feng shui energy of mystery and sophistication; black color also holds the energy of power and protection. Every October, carved pumpkins peer out from porches and doorsteps in the United States and other parts of the world. Gourd-like orange fruits inscribed with ghoulish faces and illuminated by candles are a sure sign of the Halloween season. The practice of decorating “jack-o’-lanterns”—the name comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack— originated in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as an early canvas. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it became an integral part of Halloween festivities. Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern." In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack's lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o'lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack-o'-lanterns. What is the story behind the legend of jack O’’Lanturns and where did it gets its name. It is not certain how the custom of making jack-o'lanterns at Halloween came about. However, it is thought to come from the British Isles, where turnips, mangelwurzel or beets were used.[1][2] Turnip lanterns, sometimes with faces carved into them, were made on the Gaelic festival of Samhain (31 October–1 November) in the 19th century in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.[3] Samhain was a time when fairies and spirits were said to be active.[4] The purpose of these lanterns may have been threefold. They may have been used to light one's way while outside on Samhain night; to represent the spirits and otherworldly beings; and/or to protect oneself and one's home from them.[5] Bettina Arnold writes that they were sometimes set on windowsills to keep them out of one's home.[6] However, others suggest that they originated with All Saints' Day (1 November)/All Souls' Day (2 November) and that they represented Christian souls in purgatoy.[7] Turnips were originally used. They were used because they looked like skeletons head. These were considered to contain (the heads) wisdom and the spirit and were stuck to the door to scare away the demons by the Celts. The Irish did it to remember Stingy Jack who wandered the earth with a turnip with a light in it because he either. A record-setting 71.5% of Americans planned to celebrate Halloween in 2012, up from 68.6% in 2011 and 64% in 2010. Total Halloween spending was expected to reach almost $8 billion, a healthy increase from the $7 billion spent last year. That increase could be because post-recession shoppers are looking for value, and Halloween is much less expensive -- and sometimes more fun -than other holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Shoppers look to get a big bang for the buck, and Halloween delivers. What's the cost of a few bags of Halloween candy? Nearly three-quarters (73.5%) of Americans agreed they would hand out candy in 2012, spending $21.05 each. Nearly half (49.5%) said they would decorate their home or yard. In fact, spending on Halloween decor ($19.79 per person) was second only to that spent for Christmas. Almost as many (47.8%) said they would carve a pumpkin. Nearly a third (32.9%) planned to take their children out trick-or-treating. (Note: These are figures from 2011. The NRF didn't ask these questions in the 2012 survey.) Involvement in other Halloween activities was up when compared to past years. More planned to get a costume for themselves (45% vs. 43.9% in 2011 and 40.1% in 2010) or go to a party (36% vs 34.3% in 2011 and 33.3% in 2010).