What is the story behind the legend of jack-o

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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).

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