Pumpkin party

20-10-2019

The history of this holiday began several centuries ago on the lands of modern Britain and northern France. Celtic pagan tribes lived on the territory, dividing the calendar year into winter and summer parts. Throughout the winter period, the sun god was held captive by Souin, who was the ruler of the dead and the prince of darkness.

On November 1, the Celtic people hosted the Souin Festival. According to an ancient legend, at night the doors to other worlds opened, and the inhabitants of hell safely penetrated the Earth. Bonfires were actively lit at night and in order to propitiate evil spirits, sacrifices were made to them. The beginning of our era was marked by the seizure of Celtic land by the Romans, who brought with them new traditions.

Now every year on the night of October 31 to November 1, adults dress up as mysterious, frightening heroes and have theme parties with "terrible" goodies. Children, also dressed in costumes, go from house to house, collecting sweets, with the words "Candy or death!".

One of the main attributes of the holiday is Jack's lamp. This is a carved head-shaped pumpkin with a backlight traditionally - a candle, but today electric backlight is often used.

This tradition has a long history. According to Irish legend, the money-hungry blacksmith, Jack, once offered the ruler of the Underworld to miss a glass with him in a tavern. When it came time to pay, the enterprising Irishman asked the Devil to borrow a coin. Then Jack quickly put it in his pocket, where the silver cross was just lying. The devil was trapped - no matter how hard he tried, he could not take his original face. In the end, the Devil achieved his release, promising in return for a year to touch Jack, and also after his death not to claim his soul.

For the second time, a cunning blacksmith circled Satan around the finger of the gullible, asking him to climb a tree for fruit. As soon as the unclean climbed the crown of Chryslath, Jack scribbled a cross on the trunk. So he bargained for another ten years of a carefree life. Jack could not take advantage of the privileges of a binge, because he soon died. After the death of the sinner was not allowed into paradise. Neither God nor the devil needed Jack. The restless Jack, in anticipation of the Day of Judgment, was forced to roam the earth, lighting his way with a piece of coal from Hell, which the Evil one finally threw him. Jack put a smoldering light into an empty pumpkin and set off on a journey. Hence the name of the lantern.

Thus, the tradition of making pumpkin lamps went from the Celtic custom to create lanterns that help souls find their way to purgatory.

For the first time "Jack lights" appeared in the UK, but initially they used turnips to make them.

When the tradition of celebrating Halloween spread in the United States, lights began to be made from pumpkins, more affordable and cheaper.