Spooky season is here, and every day Halloween gets closer. It came with immigrants – Irish immigrants to be exact. But instead of trick-or-treating, the act of collecting candy was called “souling.” Poor beggars would ask for “soul cakes” from the rich and in exchange, they would pray for their souls.
In Ireland, Halloween was originally called Samhain, and it was believed that that was the day the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest. This was a Pagan holiday, and when Catholocism spread to Ireland, the name was simply changed to Hallows Eve, the day before Hallows Day, or Saints Day.
Jack O’Lanterns also come from Ireland. According to Vintage News, an Irish legend tells the story of a man named Jack who tricked the devil and was kicked out of Hell and Heaven. He put a candle in a turnip and is still wandering Earth to this day. Somehow, pumpkins were switched with turnips. It’s probably a good thing -carved turnips look terrifying
Halloween has been a popular holiday at Aspen High School. Ghost stories have always floated around.
According to John Fisher, the woodshop teacher who has been at AHS since 1970, lots of students used to think the maze was haunted
“Well, [the maze] was a lot rougher before the Big Gym, [and] those hallways were not really finished.” Fisher said, “It was concrete flooring, concrete walls, and I don’t think they really painted them. It was just kind of creepy looking,” Fisher said.
So look out for ghosties in the maze, and keep a carved turnip nearby. Or maybe this year, go souling instead of trick or treating and ask for soul cakes.