2. Halloween Jack o’Lantern Origins and Traditions

3. Origin Story öHalloween began two thousand years ago in Ireland, England, and Northern France with the ancient religion of the Celts.

4. Paganism öThe Celts believed in Paganism. Pagans believe in many gods, and in being connected to nature.

5. Ancient Celts celebrated their New Year on November 1 st. öThis day marked the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a hard time of the year when people often died.

6. Samhain (sow-in) öOn the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

7. Costumes öPeople thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes…

8. So they wore costumes. öThis way, the ghosts couldn’t recognize them!

9. Dia De Los Muertos Many other cultures also celebrate a day of remembering the dead. Sugar Skull Dia de los muertos. Mexican tradition of remembering ancestors who have died.

10. Obon Celebration Many other cultures also celebrate a day of remembering the dead. Japanesse Obon Lanterns Lanterns to light the way home for the souls of the the dead.

11. Stingy Jack öAs the religion of Christianity became popular, some of the Celtic traditions got mixed together and the story of Stingy Jack was formed.

12. Stingy Jack was a bad man. He was always playing tricks on people and would never share. One day the devil came to take him because he was so mean. Jack tricked the devil, and trapped him in a tree. The Devil convinced jack to let him down in exchange he wouldn't take him to hell. Stingy Jack

13. When Jack was old he died and went to heaven. Jack wasn't allowed in heaven because he was a bad man. So he went to hell, but the Devil said he couldn't come in because of his promise. The Devil was still angry at Jack, so he turned his head in to a hollow turnip and put an ember from hell inside to light his way. Jack's punishment was to wander the earth as a Jack o’lantern forever. Stingy Jack

14. The Jack-O-Lantern öThe Irish used to hollow out turnips with candles in them to light their way at night and to scare away Jack or any ghosts..

15. When they arrived in America they found that pumpkins were both plentiful and easier to carve than turnips.

16. Today: öChildren carry on the tradition and carve Jack O’Lanterns out of pumpkins.

17. Now, Jack-O-Lanterns are used for decorating people’s homes.

18. People have recently started carving less traditional Jack-O-Lanterns

22. Today, instead of being scared, people go to parties…

23. Parents take their kids trick-or- treating.…

24. And eat lots of candy!

25. If you don’t give candy to a trick-or-treater…

26. This could happen to you!

27. Important Notes: Drawing face expressions is one way to show feelings in your art work. A Jack O’ Lantern is a face expression carved into a pumpkin. Jack O’ Lanterns come from the legend of Stingy Jack.

28. Pumpkin Shapes