| There are few holiday events, celebrations or | | | | and told to go back whence he came. Jack asked |
| rituals like Halloween. Especially for kids, it is a time | | | | the devil for a light because the road back was so |
| for them let loose and pretend, feel emotions | | | | dark. The Devil tossed him a burning ember from |
| they wouldn't often feel, and spend time with | | | | his hell fire and jack carried it in a hollowed out |
| their friends in an unstructured environment. It's | | | | turnip he was eating. Ever since, as legend has it, |
| one tradition we should hold onto and enjoy more. | | | | Jack is wandering around in the dark with his |
| What started centuries ago in Ireland as All Saints | | | | lantern. |
| Day to honor Catholic Saints, became All Hallows | | | | In North America, turnips were not in huge supply. |
| Eve and evolved to a strange ritual with an | | | | Instead pumpkins were used for Jack O' Lanterns |
| almost slang expression, Halloween. Rather than | | | | and are a big part of the Halloween tradition |
| warding off evil spirits, Halloween in modern times | | | | today. Irish residents were always afraid of Jack |
| for kids is more of an opportunity to scare and | | | | returning or some other ghost of the departed |
| be scared safely. It is the only celebration of the | | | | would appear. They would wear costumes to |
| year where whole communities become one big | | | | frighten them away and would also leave food at |
| family and youths walk the dark streets to collect | | | | their doorstep to keep the ghosts occupied. That |
| candy and show off their kids Halloween | | | | was the start of the trick or treat ritual that |
| costumes. | | | | most kids take part in today when they walk the |
| Although few people know much about Halloween, | | | | neighbourhood streets on Hallow's Eve. The trick |
| it is one of those events that captures the | | | | part was probably in honor of old Jack. |
| imagination of many. It has spawned a multimillion | | | | Today, the celebration is fairly tame but kids still |
| dollar industry built around merchandise such as | | | | walk the streets wearing ghoulish clothing and |
| Halloween costumes, candy confectionaries, | | | | knocking on neighbor's doors and there's plenty of |
| theatre and movie entertainment, and for | | | | parties across the country. There's pranks too, |
| collecting funds for charities. It is one of the few | | | | which was a part of the Celtic tradition too. |
| times kids get free reign of their imagination and | | | | Probably more of Jack's work. |
| can let loose their inhibitions. At school, Halloween | | | | Halloween Costumes-On the topic of Halloween |
| is celebrated with plays and games, and visits | | | | costumes, there are hundreds of ideas for |
| outside the school to haunted houses. | | | | costumes and many people enjoy making their |
| Halloween Origins-The Celtic tradition of Halloween | | | | kids costumes. There's always the Darth Vador, |
| is thought to have been brought to America and | | | | Pirate, Witch, Superman, Princess, Batman, |
| Canada from Irish immigrants in the 1840's. Long | | | | Skeleton, Ninja, Cowboy, Dracula costumes, and |
| ago the Celtic people set October 31st as | | | | many other costume themes born out of the |
| summer's end and the beginning of a new year. | | | | movie industry. This year's preferences may be |
| They had belief where the disembodied spirits of | | | | the Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Narnia |
| all those who had died in the last year would | | | | Medieval Warriors, but the cost of this apparel |
| return in search of living bodies to possess for | | | | might frighten you. |
| the next year. They extinguished all lights and | | | | For a less amount you might want to consider |
| fires and made their homes cold. They would don | | | | sports costumes. There are youths sports outfits |
| ghoulish costumes and parade around the | | | | that you can use as Halloween costumes or even |
| neighbourhood to frighten away those spirits | | | | as kids pajamas. Not only are kids thrilled dressing |
| looking for bodies to possess. | | | | up as a football player for instance, but they can |
| The Jack' O Lantern is perhaps the foremost | | | | actually sleep in them after the Halloween parties |
| symbol of Halloween closely followed by ghosts. | | | | and tradition is over. If you have several kids to |
| Before modern manufactured Halloween | | | | put in costumes this Halloween, you might want |
| costumes, the ghost was one of the most | | | | to make them last a while. And kids rarely want |
| common costume themes for the Hallow's Eve | | | | to put on the same costume they had last year, |
| evening out. The Jack O' Lantern comes from | | | | and they grow out of them too. |
| Celtic lore about a hard drinking and stingy | | | | Instead, you'll want to make the most of your |
| Irishman named Jack who met the devil in a pub | | | | purchase by having something they can use again. |
| on Halloween. Jack was a tricky soul and was | | | | Football uniforms with NFL football team and |
| about to fall prey to the devil after drinking too | | | | College Football team logos and player numbers |
| much. He made a deal with the devil by offering | | | | are a big thrill for boys. Some uniforms even |
| up his soul for one more drink. The devil had to | | | | come with shoulder pads and plastic helmets. |
| change himself into a coin so Jack could pay for | | | | They're not for real contact football, but for the |
| that drink. But Jack just pocketed the coin in a | | | | child to play with Dad in the backyard or just dree |
| sack that had a silver cross in it and the Devil | | | | up for the living room. Dad will like having them |
| couldn't do a thing. Later, the Devil returned to | | | | dressed up before the big game on Sunday and |
| collect Jack's soul while he was walking a country | | | | especially if they're going to an NFL or College |
| road in the Irish countyside. The ever-tricky Jack | | | | football game. |
| asked the Devil to climb a tree and pick an apple | | | | Yes, Halloween is a fun time and you don't have |
| and the Devil complied. When the Devil was in the | | | | to overdo it with the usual ghosts and goblin |
| tree, Jack carved a cross in the tree so the Devil | | | | theme, or by buying the latest expensive |
| could not come back down. | | | | Hollywood promoted monster or slasher character |
| When Jack finally died years later, he went to | | | | and related merchandise. The football costumes |
| heaven but was turned away because of all his | | | | actually keep the memories of Halloween alive |
| drinking, tricking and miserable ways. Even at the | | | | longer. |
| gates of hell, Jack was turned away by the Devil | | | | |