Saturday, October 31, 2009

Jack-o'-lantern


An old Irish folktale tells of a greedy farmer named Jack, who was approached one day by the Devil. He tricks the Devil into climbing a tree, then traps him there by carving a cross into the bark. Jack allows the Devil to leave only after a promise to never take his soul.

Years pass and Jack eventually dies, however he was far too greedy to gain entry into heaven. Jack approaches Hell but is denied entry as well. When he asks how he will see in the gloom between worlds, Satan mockingly throws him a coal from the fires of Hell that will burn for eternity. Jack hollows out a pumpkin to place the coal inside, then wanders the Earth, forever searching for a resting place.

Happy Halloween everyone.

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