Halloween conjures up
images of small people dressed as ghosts and goblins traveling from house to
house in search of candy.
The
tradition of trick-or-treating was actually brought to America in the 1840's by
Irish immigrants escaping the Great Potato Famine. On Halloween, Irish peasants
begged the wealthy for food and played tricks on those who refused them. To
avoid being tricked, the wealthy handed out treats - a practice that is now our
present day trick-or-treating.
The
Irish can also be credited with Jack-o-lanterns. An old Irish tale tells of a
man named Stingy Jack. He was unable to enter heaven due to his stingy ways and
wandered the world looking for a resting place. On his journey, Jack used a
piece of burning coal in a hallowed out turnip - our modern day jack-o-lantern.
The turnip carving turned into pumpkin carving when the Irish tradition reached
America.
Who
knew the Irish played such a significant role in our current day traditions.
Today, Halloween has become a tradition enjoyed by young and old, no matter your nationality. Happy Halloween!
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