Happy Hallowe'en
Spent a wonderful Saturday last weekend carving pumpkins. We had gone to the local farm that grows acres of them, plus they have a corn maze and hay rides leading up to October 31st. It's always a fun thing to do in the *Fall, even if there aren't any kidlets involved. I love wandering through the rows and vines to find just the right one...or three.
Later, as I was merrily carving away, I couldn't help but wonder why we do this crazy pumpkin thing every year...besides the fun factor, of course. A bit of research and now I know.
Long story really short: Once upon an Irish myth there was a fellow named Jack. He tricked the Devil for his own gain. When he died, God wouldn't allow him into heaven and the Devil wouldn't let him into hell, so he was destined to roam the earth forever. To ward off any unwanted visits from Jack, or any evil spirits for that matter, folks carved scary faces into turnips, put a lit candle inside and placed these in their windows...Jack O' Lanterns. Time goes by, many Irish immigrate to the US and wow, look at all those great pumpkins! Much easier to carve than a turnip or potato. It also helped that around this time of year, pumpkins were at their best and plentiful.
Okay, that's the basic story of why pumpkins, but why at Hallowe'en? Way, way back in time, there was a celebration in olde worlde Britain and Ireland called Samhain. It was (and still is) a festival that marked the end of Summer and the beginning of the pagan new year (sort of like our New Year's Eve nowadays maybe). They wore disguises to hide from any of the dead or evil souls who might be lurking. So, add in the forklore of Jack, the plethora of pumpkins to carve, costumes, and the time of year...and there you have it: Hallowe'en.
All I know is, I have some very scary pumpkins (and a Halloweenie dog) guarding my front steps, so don't come calling around here Jack!
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*I always capitalize the four seasons. We acknowledge the months, days and holidays, though for some reason unknown to me, we aren't supposed to capitalize the four actual seasons of the year. I disagree, hence you will always see Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter when I write.
Later, as I was merrily carving away, I couldn't help but wonder why we do this crazy pumpkin thing every year...besides the fun factor, of course. A bit of research and now I know.
Long story really short: Once upon an Irish myth there was a fellow named Jack. He tricked the Devil for his own gain. When he died, God wouldn't allow him into heaven and the Devil wouldn't let him into hell, so he was destined to roam the earth forever. To ward off any unwanted visits from Jack, or any evil spirits for that matter, folks carved scary faces into turnips, put a lit candle inside and placed these in their windows...Jack O' Lanterns. Time goes by, many Irish immigrate to the US and wow, look at all those great pumpkins! Much easier to carve than a turnip or potato. It also helped that around this time of year, pumpkins were at their best and plentiful.
Okay, that's the basic story of why pumpkins, but why at Hallowe'en? Way, way back in time, there was a celebration in olde worlde Britain and Ireland called Samhain. It was (and still is) a festival that marked the end of Summer and the beginning of the pagan new year (sort of like our New Year's Eve nowadays maybe). They wore disguises to hide from any of the dead or evil souls who might be lurking. So, add in the forklore of Jack, the plethora of pumpkins to carve, costumes, and the time of year...and there you have it: Hallowe'en.
All I know is, I have some very scary pumpkins (and a Halloweenie dog) guarding my front steps, so don't come calling around here Jack!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
*I always capitalize the four seasons. We acknowledge the months, days and holidays, though for some reason unknown to me, we aren't supposed to capitalize the four actual seasons of the year. I disagree, hence you will always see Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter when I write.
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