We all know that Halloween is derived from All Hallows Eve, an old Catholic church tradition. Many might even know that it relates back to a 5th century Celtic tradition, called Samhain, that celebrated the end of their summer and the end of their year on October 31st. November 1st was known as Celtic New Year and it was said that all the souls of those who had died during the year would come back on the last day and wander around looking for a body to possess in the afterlife. Spooky no doubt.

But what about that enduring icon of Halloween, the Jack O'Lantern? Nary a doorstep isn't adorned by one of those glowing gourds carved in everything from ghoulish to goofy motifs. The ones pictured here are designed and carved by Debbie's boys; Connor (6) and Tanner (10). Pretty good, huh? Who doesn't have a fond memory of scooping out the stringy guts and feverishly carving away in anticipation of that magic moment when a simple candle will make the ordinary pumkin into something special?

It turns out that we have to go back to Ireland again for the legend of Jack, a notorious drunken trickster. You see, Jack was so clever that he played tricks on the devil himself. There's a few different versions of the story, and they usually involve Jack's use of a cross. In one case he convinced our horned friend to climb a tree and get an apple for him. While beelzabub was up in the tree, Jack carved some crosses in the trunk so the devil couldn't come down. Then he made him promise never to take Jack's soul. Ah, but the devil always gets his due.

When the hard drinking Jack's liver finally gave out and his judgement day came, he was turned away from the pearly gates because of all the tricks he had played. As he had promised, the devil couldn't take him either. So, Jack was left to wander the darkness between Heaven and Hell for eternity. A grinning Devil tossed him a glowing coal from the fires of Hell to help Jack light his way. So, Jack placed the coal in a hollowed out turnip to make it last longer........ What? A turnip?

Yes, a turnip. There weren't any pumkins in Ireland. But during the great potato famine in Ireland during the 1840's, America got a big influx of Irish immigrants. They brought the legend of Jack with them. It didn't take long to see that the pumkin was custom made to carry on the tradition of the Jack O'Lantern. It was a lot easier to hollow out than a turnip to boot!

Some final trivia: Jack O'Lantern (short for Jack of the Lantern) was first used in print in 1750 to describe a night watchman. It was also commonly used to refernce the strange light known to hover over Irish marshland (also Will O' the Wisp). Could that be the famous "swamp gas" used to explain UFO sightings here in the States? Is Jack an Alien? Could there be some connection between the legend and some ancient alien encounter?.....

.....something to ponder on the up coming Celtic end of summer spook fest, when history-geeks become history-ghosts! Boo!