Trick'O'Treat!       

The history of "Trick'O'Treating"
 can be traced back to the early celebrations
 of All Soul's Day in Britain.
 The poor would go begging and the housewives
would give them special treats called "soulcakes".
 This was called "going a-souling",
 and the "soulers" would promise
to say a prayer for the dead.
Over time the custom changed and the town's
children became the beggars.
As they went from house to house they
would be given apples, buns, and money.
 During the Pioneer days of the American West,
the housewives would give the children
candy to keep from being tricked.
The children would shout "Trick or Treat!".


Irish Myth of the History of the Jack-O-Lantern

An Irish myth tells of a drunk named Stingy Jack,
 who one day invited the Devil to have a drink.
 He convinced the Devil to
change into a sixpence in order
to pay for the drink,
but instead of paying for the drink he pocketed
 the sixpence beside a silver cross which prevented
the Devil from changing back.
Jack made a deal with the Devil
 before letting him free.
For one year the Devil could not harass Jack.

Next Halloween the Devil met Jack again,
 and he tricked the Devil into
climbing an apple tree for an apple
 but then cut the sign of a cross into the
trunk of the tree preventing
 the devil from coming down.
Jack forced the devil to swear he would
 never come after Jack's soul.
 The devil reluctantly agreed.
And so Jack was left alone.
Jack died within the year and
was turned back from the Gates of Heaven
 because of his stinginess and drunkenness.
He went to
the Gates of Hell and the Devil told him
 to go away, as Jack had made him promise
 not to claim his soul.
Jack didn't want to leave because it was
dark and he couldn't find his way.
 The Devil tossed Jack a glowing coal
 and Jack put it inside a turnip,
and ever since with this Jack-O'-Lantern,
Jack has been roaming the faces of this earth.

Scottish children hollow out and carve
 large turnips and put candles in them.
 Irish children use turnips or potatoes.
In parts of England they use large beets.
 When the Scotch and the Irish came to the
 US they found pumpkins,
 which of course make a perfect
Jack-O'-Lantern






Thank you
Mindy