有時候歡度中外節慶，若能更加瞭解其中故事和含意，就更有意思了！
The Origin of the Jack-O'-Lantern
The jack-o'-lantern is integral to Halloween. Halloween, which falls on October 31st each year, originated with the Celts of ancient England and Ireland. The celebration—then called Samhain—signaled the end of the harvest and the start of winter. On the eve of All Saints' Day, the Irish hollowed out pumpkins and placed a light in them to ward off the spirit of Stingy Jack.
The name "jack-o'-lantern" derives from the legend of Stingy Jack. Stingy Jack was a mean drunkard who played tricks on everyone: his family, his friends, his mother—even the Devil himself. Once, he tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree. When the Devil had ascended the tree, Jack hurriedly placed crosses around its trunk. The Devil was unable to get out of the tree. Stingy Jack made the Devil vow not to take his soul when he died. After the Devil consented to his wish, Jack removed the crosses and let the Devil down.
Years later, Jack died. At the gates of Heaven he was told that he had led a wicked and miserly life on Earth. He was rejected from Heaven and so went down to Hell. The Devil kept his promise and refused Jack entry. With nowhere to go, Jack could only wander alone in the dark void between Heaven and Hell. His sole light was from a candle he kept inside a pumpkin.
At Halloween, you will see many jack-o'-lanterns on doorsteps and in windows. Remember Stingy Jack and always exercise prudence when making contracts, especially with the Devil.
──by John J. Bucher
感謝dodo mom分享的字卡網站 和 諾薇雅的小綠袋唷～
萬聖節南瓜燈的由來
南瓜燈是萬聖節不可或缺的。每年十月三十一日的萬聖節源自於古英格蘭和愛爾蘭的塞爾特民族。這項在當時稱作Samhain的慶典意謂著收成的結束與冬季的來臨。萬聖節前夕，愛爾蘭人會將南瓜挖空並把燈放入其中以驅離小氣傑克的鬼魂。
南瓜燈 (jack-o'-lantern) 的名稱由來是源自『小氣傑克』的傳說。小氣傑克是個自私刻薄又愛惡作劇的酒鬼，他的家人、朋友、母親、甚至是撒旦全都上過他的當。有一次，他騙撒旦爬上蘋果樹。當撒旦爬上了樹，傑克趕緊在樹幹周圍放滿十字架，撒旦便無法爬下樹。小氣傑克要撒旦發誓死後不得帶走他的靈魂。在撒旦同意之後，他才將十字架移走，讓撒旦爬下樹。
數年後，傑克掛了。因為他在世時又壞又吝嗇，天堂之門不肯讓他進入，於是他只好到地獄去。撒旦遵守諾言不讓他入地獄。傑克無處可去，只好在天堂與地獄間遊蕩。他唯一的光芒便是他放進南瓜裡的小燭火。
萬聖節時，你可以看見家家戶戶將許多南瓜燈放在門前的台階或窗戶上。切記小氣傑克的教訓，所以和別人訂定合約時要謹慎小心，特別是和撒旦呦！
參考資料：http://www.ivy.com.tw/ 常春藤解析英語
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