Where did Halloween come from?

It's some pagan ritual that has evolved into the huge commercial dream we now know as Halloween. Walmart ran out of candy for goodness sake. They had to break out the Christmas stash.

Celtic Ireland B.C. Tribes of Celtic farmers believed there was one day a year when the season of life met the season of death. When the spirits could rise from their graves and walk amongst the living. That day was called Samhain, the Celtic word for Summers end. Ordinary Celts lit great bon fires and disguised themselves to confuse the spirits. In the 8th Century, Pope Gregory III established "All Hallows day", Nov 1st. A day honouring all saints. Europeans accepted the new holiday but saw no reason not to enjoy their traditional rituals as well. Soon Samhain became known as "All Hallows Eve". From there it was a short walk to the name that we know today - Halloween. Halloween came to America in the mid 19th Century with an influx of a million immigrant Irish. Bla bla bla . . . . it is an even longer story but that is the short version . . . . believe it or not.

Pumpkin carving is a popular part of America's Halloween celebration. Come October, pumpkins are everywhere from doorsteps to dinner tables. Despite the widespread carving that goes on in this country every autumn, few Americans really know why or when the jack o' lantern tradition began. Or, for that matter, whether the pumpkin is a fruit or a vegetable. Idiots. Read on to find out!

People have been making jack o' lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.
Soon after, 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.

Lots of people don't like Halloween but I say, lighten up and let the kids have their fun.

Kaiden, Enjoy it, 'cause Halloween doesn't live in Australia.