Laura

I’ll let you guess…

What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?

If you know me, I’m sure you already have some idea, after all.

It takes place at one of the best times of year, in the beautiful and enchanting season of Fall.

In my favorite month, for many reasons… 😉

Of course I would be up at 2AM carving pumpkins and listening to Monster Mash, what else did you expect?

Halloween! 🎃 Of course, of course. You know me well, after all. Don’t you?

Maybe you thought I was going to say Dia de los Muertos, and that’s an important one, for sure. So we’ll encompass a little bit of both…why not?

Halloween has its roots in the wonderful celebration of Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival which is still celebrated today (by some) that marks the end of the harvest season, marking the transition to the darker parts of the year.

Life, death, and rebirth. Transformation.

Come on, you already knew I was a tad crazy. 🤪 *why do we carve Jack-O-Lanterns, anyways?

Halloween also has a special spiritual significance. I’m sure most and many of you already know, as they always say…

“The days when the veils between the worlds are the thinnest.”

But, is it true?

I guess it depends on your beliefs surrounding such.

Energetically, spiritually, supposedly…it’s this time of the year when it’s great for honoring your ancestors, a powerful time for communication with souls who are no longer living in this realm, healing our own souls, and setting our deepest intentions. As we transcend into the darker parts of the year, when the world dies (except if you live in South Florida, maybe, lol). The darkness doesn’t have to be scary – it can be a time to rest, reflect, and embrace our shadow.

You have to admit, the air does feel a bit different during this time of the year, doesn’t it?

The humidity doesn’t help with that makeup, however – and I’m pretty sure I got a ton of it in my hair

*The tradition of pumpkin carving has roots in a European folklore tale about Stingy Jack, a miserable drunk and a trickster who fooled the Devil and made him promise not to take his soul upon death. There are multiple variations of this story.

Found randomly on Playground AI

One Halloween night while at a bar, Stingy Jack offered his soul to the Devil in exchange for one last drink. If the Devil could transform himself into a silver coin and pay for his drink, Jack would agree to hand over his soul. The Devil, never one to back down from a challenge, accepted the bet and transformed into a shiny coin. But instead of paying for his last drink, Jack pocketed the coin and trapped the Devil in his wallet alongside a silver cross, preventing him from transforming back.

Enraged, the Devil demanded Jack release him, but Jack only would on the condition that he would never claim Jack’s soul. The Devil, who was desperate to escape, agreed to Jack’s terms, and the two parted ways.

Years later, Jack drew his final breath and stood at the Gates of Heaven. He was denied entry due to the life he led as a trickster, a miser, and a drunk. Wah, wah, wah.

Stingy Jack then sought out the one being who he felt could help him – The Devil.

Well, I’m sure you know how that went.

In a cruel twist of fate, the Devil (kind soul that he is, hah!) handed Jack a glowing ember from the depths of Hell, a flickering flame that would forever light his way through the darkness. With this dim beacon in hand, Jack was condemned to wander the earth as a restless spirit, forever denied entry into Heaven or Hell.

From The Demon Hunter’s Compendium – A blog dedicated to the study of supernatural creatures and entities

A cautionary tale of greed and deceit that lingers in the realm of the living.

And so now, on Halloween, when the veil between worlds is thin, this is why we carve out pumpkins – to ward off Jack’s restless soul and other “evil” spirits.

Hmm, a wandering soul. Between the realms of Heaven and Hell. Why does this sound so eerily familiar?

So, what do you think? Is it really just a tale, after all?

We can talk about all the Death spirits, gods and goddesses another day, this post is already far too long, whew!

Much longer than I originally intended.

And it’s not to say I don’t love holidays like Thanksgiving and the like, I certainly do! I can fry a turkey like no other. I usually have to work, however. The perils of being a 24/7 worker! 🙄 yeah, whatever. Choices I suppose, right?

Thank you for reading and Happy Tuesday!

28 comments

  1. I had guessed Halloween lol, you and that knife though 🔪🔪🎃 🤣. I had never heard the tale of Stingy Jack, great story, thanks 👍

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  5. I had never heard this story about the origins of pumpkin carving before! How did I get to this point in life and never question that?! Fabulous post, and one I’ll likely be looking up again in October. 🙂

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    • There’s a few variations of it! I like it, it teaches a lesson in a somewhat funny (or scary) way, and also it points to something we observe even now. And thank you, I love origins – especially the one about the Singing Gecko, haha! That story will never leave my mind. 😊

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  6. Wonderful post and pumpkin story Laura, I too have never heard that tale before. I am surprised it has not been told in a movie or animation, or maybe it has! it could certainly make a good one. Best…Jay😊

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    • Thanks, Jay! Haha, yeah I guess it’s not a very known one it seems, there’s several variations of it apparently. Glad you found it interesting, at least! 😊

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  7. Amazing posts and absolutely charming photos 😉 I’ve heard that story so many times during English lessons in school and university, but you add a mythic shade to it. Definitely, I want to read and re-read it. I’ll probably share more in private later, but just know – I’m bewitched 🙂

    Personally, I probably like Yule/Christmas the most. I love seeing the soft lights shimmering in the dark, and burning logs. I always feel that the most magic is done during that time.

    But I adore Halloween as well. Actually, I’m out of my mind with autumn, spring, I’m the one with the cycles of Nature 😀

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    • Thank you so much! 😊
      Glad to know you’ve heard the story! And yes, privately for sure, I’ve got to write you back, today and these last few days in fact have been a bit of a lull for me, a tad sleepy overall haha.
      Christmas/Yule is a beautiful time of year, I do wish I could see snow more often! 😊 and it most certainly is a magical time of year ❤️
      Cycles of nature are always great to learn from, aren’t they? Haha 😆

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  8. Great story on Stingy Jack. For a great book based around La Dia de los Muertos my personal writer’s code always reminds me to suggest “Under the Volcano” by Malcolm Lowry. It’s a tormented book about a tormented soul, but it’s my favorite, and so I think that might be my favorite holiday as well. Thanks for mentioning it!

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    • Ooooh thank you so much for that! Nice to see another who appreciates Dia de los Muertos, I will have to check out that book. Tormented souls always have great stories and lessons to learn from.
      And you’re welcome! Thanks for that book recommendation. 😊 🙏

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