Happy Halloween!
the Stingy Jack myth
Hello Friends,
The old year is ending and the dark days are upon us. Light a Jack O’ Lantern to keep away evil spirits on All Hallows’ Eve!
The tradition of carving scary faces into vegetables is centuries old and may have originated in Ireland. One of the myths this tradition could be based upon is the legend of Stingy Jack:
One night Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him at the local pub. When they were finished, Jack said he forgot his money at home and convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin so he could pay for the drinks. But instead of paying, Jack slipped out of the pub and kept the coin in his pocket next to a silver cross. This prevented the Devil from changing back into himself.
Eventually, Jack set the Devil free, but only on the condition that he leave Jack alone for one year, and, should Jack die, the Devil would not claim his soul. The Devil agreed, and so Jack lived unfettered for a whole year.
The next year, the Devil returned. This time, Jack tricked him into climbing an apple tree to fetch a beautiful, red apple. Up the tree the Devil went. But when he reached the top, Jack carved a cross into the bark so the Devil could not climb down. The Devil whimpered and pleaded, and Jack said “I’ll free you if you promise not to bother me for ten more years, and if I die during that time, you must not claim my soul.” The Devil, wanting to be free to wreak havoc in the world, agreed.
But soon after, Jack died. When his soul reached the pearly gates, God refused him, not wanting to let such an unsavory character into Heaven. The Devil, angry at being tricked twice by a mere human, wouldn’t let Jack into Hell, thus keeping his word about claiming his soul. Instead, he sent Jack off into the night with nothing but a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the piece of coal into a carved out turnip, and has been roaming the earth, carrying his lantern, ever since.
The Irish called this haunted spirit “Jack of the Lantern” and eventually “Jack O’ Lantern.” Irish immigrants brought their myth to America, and although they initially carved faces into turnips, this tradition soon transferred to the pumpkin.
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I love Halloween, and while I’m waiting for the wee folk to arrive at the door, I play my favorite movies. Here are some fun and spooky shows I enjoy watching during the season. I don’t watch horror, so with some exceptions, these are family friendly. Enjoy!
Dark Shadows by Tim Burton: starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, and Michelle Pfeiffer. One of my all time favorites! Quirky, fun, with just enough darkness for the season. (A bit dark for younger viewers.)
Hocus Pocus: Everyone knows this kid’s movie, and if you don’t, check it out. Really cute with a terrific setting. Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy.
Good Witch: This is a Hallmark movie, and before you groan, give it a chance. I don’t like the Hallmark channel, but I discovered this movie while channel surfing one day, and it is really cute. There are seven movies in all, and I especially like the first three. Hallmark also made a Good Witch series, and while some of the episodes are okay, the movies are much better. The central message is love is the best magic, and who can argue with that? Starring Catherine Bell and Chris Potter.
Supernatural: This is a TV series that lasted 15 seasons, and in my opinion, the first five are the best of them. The show incorporates myths, angel lore, and pagan lore to tell the story of two brothers who criss-cross America fighting evil. It’s funny, poignant, and can be quite dark. I love the way it’s filmed—a kind of monochromatic patina—and the relationship between the brothers is at times quite touching. Starring Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. (Can be dark for younger viewers.)
Practical Magic: The standard for all Halloween lovers! I read the book by Alice Hoffman, but have yet to read the series! (Yikes, I better get on that!) The movie is really fun, but there are differences, obviously, from the book. Still, it’s one of my favorites to watch every season. Starring Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, Aidan Quinn, and Goran Visnjic.
Corpse Bride by Tim Burton: stop-motion animated musical film with voices by Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter. The animation is superb, and while I’m not really a fan of most musicals, I enjoy this one mostly because I love the story and the beauty of the art.
Sleepy Hollow by Tim Burton: Okay, yes, I’m a Burton fan! I’m also a huge Sleepy Hollow fan. I read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving every October, and when Burton’s version of the story appeared, I couldn’t wait to see it. It didn’t disappoint! It’s creepy in that folk-horror kind of way, and my stomach always gets queasy at the end. Starring Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, and a cameo by Christopher Walken as the Headless Horseman. (Dark for younger viewers.)
I hope you have a spooky, happy, and safe night.
Happy Halloween!
Jan
*Image by svetjekolem via Pixabay
*I got the Stingy Jack myth from History.com, but spruced it up a bit with my own embellishments. :)
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