| No one knows for sure when the first | | | | when the Devil comes to claim his soul. Thinking |
| Jack-o-lanterns were made. In ancient times the | | | | quickly, Jack tempts the Devil to climb a tree for |
| Celts celebrated the feast of Samhain | | | | an apple. When the Devil climbs the tree, Jack |
| (pronounced: SOW'en) in Ireland and Scotland, and | | | | carves a cross into the tree, preventing the Devil |
| that holiday eventually became known as | | | | from getting down. Jack then forces the Devil to |
| Halloween. The Celts believed that on that day | | | | promise never take his soul, and the Devil, |
| the spirits of the dead roamed the earth and | | | | reluctantly, agrees. |
| would visit the homes where they once lived. | | | | Jack eventually dies and tries to get into heaven, |
| Costumes and lanterns carved from turnips, | | | | but heaven won't have him because he's spent a |
| potatoes and beets were used to frighten away | | | | lifetime being dishonest, drinking, tricking, and being |
| evil spirits, as they are today. The lanterns | | | | mean. So Jack goes to hell and tries to enter, but |
| eventually became known as Jack-o-lanterns. | | | | he can't enter there either because he'd made the |
| When Christianity spread through Britain and | | | | Devil promise never to take his soul. So the Devil |
| Ireland, Samhain gradually became known as All | | | | tells Jack he has to leave the way he came, by a |
| Hallow's Eve or Halloween. A tale began to be told | | | | dark and treacherous path. Frightened, Jack begs |
| in Ireland of a man named Jack, who almost lost | | | | the Devil for a light, and the Devil throws Jack a |
| his soul to the Devil but who tricks him instead. | | | | coal from hell. Jack puts the coal into a half-eaten |
| Different versions of the tale exist, but in one | | | | turnip to make a lantern, and turns to roam his |
| version, Jack, a n'er-do-well, gets so drunk one | | | | path endlessly with nowhere to rest. |
| Halloween that the Devil comes to steal his soul. | | | | In Ireland and Scotland, on Halloween people would |
| Jack delays by asking the devil if they can have | | | | place carved or painted turnip or beet lanterns on |
| one last drink before descending to hell. The Devil | | | | their doorstep to warn off evil spirits with the lost |
| agrees, but Jack then says he doesn't have | | | | soul of Jack. When the Irish emigrated to the |
| enough money for the drinks, but if the devil is | | | | Americas, they brought with them their Halloween |
| willing to change himself into a coin, they can pay | | | | traditions and began carving pumpkins in place of |
| for the drinks and then the Devil can change back | | | | turnips, potatoes and beets, but they are still |
| again. The Devil agrees and when he changes into | | | | known as Jack-O-Lanterns. |
| a coin, Jack quickly places the coin into his wallet | | | | Social network users, click for myspace |
| next to a cross, preventing the Devil from | | | | comments such as compliments, cool comments, |
| changing back. Jack then strikes another bargain | | | | love, flirty, birthday, holidays, religion, funny, cute, |
| with the irate Devil, telling him he will release him | | | | etc. You can also use myspace graphics .If you |
| only if he promises not to bother Jack for some | | | | love Halloween, click Myspace Halloween Layouts |
| time. | | | | to add to your profile. |
| Years later, Jack is walking down a country road | | | | |