The Irish brought the tradition of the Jack O’Lantern to America. But, the original Jack O’Lantern was not a pumpkin.The Jack O’Lantern legend goes back hundreds of years in Irish History.
As the story goes, Stingy Jack was a miserable, old drunk who liked to play tricks on everyone: family, friends, his mother and even the Devil himself. One day, he tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree.
Once the Devil climbed up the apple tree, Stingy Jack hurriedly placed crosses around the trunk of the tree. The Devil was then unable to get down the tree.
Stingy Jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died. Once the devil promised not to take his soul, Stingy Jack removed the crosses and let the Devil down.
Many years later, when Jack finally died, he went to the pearly gates of Heaven and was told by Saint Peter that he was too mean and too cruel, and had led a miserable and worthless life on earth. He was not allowed to enter heaven. He then went down to Hell and the Devil.
The Devil kept his promise and would not allow him to enter Hell. Now Jack was scared and had nowhere to go but to wander about forever in the darkness between heaven and hell.
He asked the Devil how he could leave as there was no light. The Devil tossed him an ember from the flames of Hell to help him light his way.
Jack placed the ember in a hollowed out Turnip, one of his favorite foods which he always carried around with him whenever he could steal one. For that day onward, Stingy Jack roamed the earth without a resting place, lighting his way as he went with his "Jack O’Lantern".
On all Hallow’s eve, the Irish hollowed out Turnips, rutabagas, gourds, potatoes and beets. They placed a light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. These were the original Jack O’Lanterns.
In the 1800’s a couple of waves of Irish immigrants came to America. The Irish immigrants quickly discovered that Pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve out. So they used pumpkins for Jack O’Lanterns.
南瓜园的初秋,跑进了七只野老鼠,他们正在逃避一只可怕的大猫。他们冲进了层层叠叠的绿色南瓜藤和南瓜叶,上面正结满了又大又圆的南瓜。 Early autumn in the pumpkin garden,there came seven wide mice escaping from a big and terrifying cat。 They rushed into green vines and leaves aplenty with big and round pumpkins。 高傲的.猫就像无头苍蝇一样四处寻找但一无所获,最后只好灰溜溜地走了。 The prideful cat hunted around like a chicken with its head cut off in vain and finally left in dismay。 “万岁,我们现在安全了!” “Hooray,we are safe now!” 当他们出来时,被眼前的情景给深深地吸引了。大南瓜叶像荷叶一般大,而南瓜经过一个夏天的日照已呈金黄色。 When they came out,they were deeply attracted。 The giant pumpkin leaves were as huge as the lotus leaves while the pumpkins were orange through a summer’s sunlight。 最小的一只老鼠伸出了鼻子,非常近地靠近一只南瓜,他闻了一下便笑了: The smallest mouse’s nose jutted out and got very close to a pumpkin。 He smelled with a smile: “太棒了,好甜呀!这肯定是我见过的最大的南瓜了!我饿了,我猜它呆在我肚子里会比较好!” “Great,it’s sweat!It must be the biggest pumpkin I’ve ever seen。 I am hungry now。 I guess it must be better in my belly!” 另外六只老鼠也饿了: “逃跑消耗能量!” Other six mice were hungry to “Running costs energy!” 他们冲到那只南瓜前,用锋利的牙齿咬开洞洞。他们吃啊,吃啊,吃啊,不仅品尝了美味的南瓜肉还有可口的南瓜籽。最后,他们的肚子变得滚圆滚圆才心满意足地作罢! They rushed to the pumpkin and bit holes with their shape teeth。 They ate,ate and ate not only the delicious meat but also the seed。 Finally they stopped eating and felt good for their full and round bellies。 他们打着饱嗝从南瓜里爬出来,当看见自己伟大的作品时全都笑了: Then they burped and climbed out of the pumpkin。 When they saw their great work,