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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
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！
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
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！
在西方國家，每年的10月31日，有個“Halloween”，辭典解釋為“The eve of All Saints'Day”，中文譯作：“萬聖節之夜”。萬聖節是西方國家的傳統節日。這一夜是一年中最“鬧鬼”的一夜，所以也叫“鬼節”。
一：The origin of Halloween
The legend of the origin of Halloween, there are many versions, the most common view, that is before the birth of Christ from the Medieval Western Europe countries, including Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This person called several of the Medieval Western Europe Druitt people. Druitt in the November 1 New Year, New Year's Eve, young people who set druid team, wearing all kinds of weird mask, carrying a carved radish good light (the late custom pumpkin light system, Medieval Western Europe first there is no pumpkin), they walk in the villages between. This was actually a kind of harvest celebration; also said to be "Halloween", the legend who died that year, the eve of Halloween spirit will visit the world, said that people should be allowed to visit the ghost that the ghost of a successful harvest and to render a hearty welcome. All fire and lights, the one to frighten away the ghost, but also for the ghost light line, to guide their return.
The legend of the origin of Halloween, there are many versions, the most common view, that is before the birth of Christ from the Medieval Western Europe countries, including Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This person called several of the Medieval Western Europe Druitt people. Druitt in the November 1 New Year, New Year's Eve, young people who set druid team, wearing all kinds of weird mask, carrying a carved radish good light (the late custom pumpkin light system, Medieval Western Europe first there is no pumpkin), they walk in the villages between. This was actually a kind of harvest celebration; also said to be "Halloween", the legend who died that year, the eve of Halloween spirit will visit the world, said that people should be allowed to visit the ghost that the ghost of a successful harvest and to render a hearty welcome. All fire and lights, the one to frighten away the ghost, but also for the ghost light line, to guide their return.
Central Europe in the Middle Ages, there had been destroyed by the pagan history of Christianity. However, before the ritual celebration of New Year's Eve never really eliminated, but in the form of witchcraft. This is why we are Halloween, but are also left witches broom, black cat, spells and other marks.
譯文：萬聖節的由來
關於萬聖節由來的傳說有許多版本，最普遍的認為，那是源於基督誕生前的古西歐國家，主要包括愛爾蘭、蘇格蘭和威爾士。這幾處的古西歐人叫德魯伊特人。德魯伊特的新年在十一月一日，新年前夜，德魯伊特人讓年輕人集隊，戴著各種怪異面具，拎著刻好的蘿蔔燈（南瓜燈係後期習俗，古西歐最早沒有南瓜），他們遊走於村落間。這在當時實則為一種秋收的慶典；也有說是“鬼節”，傳說當年死去的人，靈魂會在萬聖節的前夜造訪人世，據說人們應該讓造訪的鬼魂看到圓滿的收成並對鬼魂呈現出豐盛的款待。所有篝火及燈火，一來為了嚇走鬼魂，同時也為鬼魂照亮路線，引導其回歸。
關於萬聖節由來的傳說有許多版本，最普遍的認為，那是源於基督誕生前的古西歐國家，主要包括愛爾蘭、蘇格蘭和威爾士。這幾處的古西歐人叫德魯伊特人。德魯伊特的新年在十一月一日，新年前夜，德魯伊特人讓年輕人集隊，戴著各種怪異面具，拎著刻好的蘿蔔燈（南瓜燈係後期習俗，古西歐最早沒有南瓜），他們遊走於村落間。這在當時實則為一種秋收的慶典；也有說是“鬼節”，傳說當年死去的人，靈魂會在萬聖節的前夜造訪人世，據說人們應該讓造訪的鬼魂看到圓滿的收成並對鬼魂呈現出豐盛的款待。所有篝火及燈火，一來為了嚇走鬼魂，同時也為鬼魂照亮路線，引導其回歸。
在中世紀的中歐，曾有過基督教摧毀異教徒的歷史。可是新年夜前的祭祀慶典從未真正消除，不過以巫術的形式出現。這也就是為什麼我們現在的萬聖節裡，還留有巫婆的掃帚、黑貓、咒語等痕跡。
