The Young Chronicle: For 1st Graders October 31st, 2014 | Page 4

YOUNG CHRONICLE November 1st , 2014 Jack-o’-Lanterns SAY NO! You have all seen these spooky carved You kiss your family Pumpkins, haven’t you? But the original Jack O'Lantern was a Turnip and not a Your siblings, grandparents, Pumpkin. Pumpkins did not exist in Your Mom and Dad Ireland. These lanterns were used to But if a stranger asks for a kiss, ward off evil spirits. Say NO, because that’s bad. The Tale of Stingy Jack and the Jack O' Lantern You hug and cuddle your dolls and toys Jack O'L antern legend goes back hundreds of years in Irish And even your pet cat or dog History. Many of the stories, center round Stingy Jack. Here's But if someone you don’t know the most popular story: Tries to hug or cuddle you, Stingy Jack was a miserable, old drunk who took pleasure in playing tricks on just about everyone: family, friends, his mother and even Say NO, because it’s wrong. the Devil himself. One day, he tricked the Devil into climbing up an Apple tree. After the Devil climbed up the tree, Stingy Jack hurriedly placed Christ’s crosses around the trunk of the tree. With your Grandma and Grandpa, Unable to touch a cross, the Devil was stuck in the tree. Stingy You hold hands Jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died. As you walk, jump and prance. Once the devil promised not to take his soul, Stingy Jack removed But if a stranger tries to grasp your hand, the crosses, and the Devil climbed down out of the apple tree. Say NO and take a stand. Many years later, Jack died, he went to Heaven and was told by Saint Peter that he was mean and cruel. Stingy Jack was not So, if you don’t like someone’s behaviour or touch, Don’t take fright. Instead tell your Mom or Dad. Just say NO, because that is right! allowed to enter heaven. He then went down to Hell and the Devil. The Devil kept his promise and would not allow him to NO! enter Hell. Now Jack was scared. He had nowhere to go, but to wander about forever in the dark Netherworld between heaven and hell. He asked 3 the Devil how he could leave him in the dark. The Devil tossed him an ember from the flames of Hell. Jack had a Turnip with him, as it was one of his favourite foods. Jack hollowed out the Turnip, and placed the ember, inside the Turnip. From that day onward, Stingy Jack roamed the Earth without a resting place, lighting his way as he went with his ‘Jack O'Lantern’. On Halloween, the Irish hollowed out Turnips, and placed a light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. In the 1800's a couple of Irish immigrants came to America and realised that Pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve out. So they used Pumpkins for Jack O'Lanterns. Recommended Reading for Halloween http://www.readingrockets.org/articles/books/c361 Recom m ended M ov ie for Hallow een http://fun.familyeducation.com/slideshow/halloween/54314.html?page=1