An Irish Blessing for Halloween!

Is it any wonder with a name like Jack O' Lantern that it is the Irish who gave us the carved pumpkin?  O'Brien, O'Shaunessy, O'Doyle, O'Lantern.... O' means "of"  as in son of.  "Mc" also means of as in "son of."  Son of Cabe?   Caba is hood, cape  or cloak?  I believe they were soldiers, mercenaries. 

I have read in Ireland they carved gourds, squashes and turnips for Halloween. 

Click on the Jack O' Lantern and use your mouse to carve a face.  Then click on Done! 

Visit my website for Central Ohio Celtic links. 

Shamrock Club of Columbus

Daughters of Erin

Columbus Feis

Dublin Irish Festival

Gealic League of Central Ohio

Beggars Night is on Halloween for the first time in many years in most Central Ohio communities.  According to the Columbus Dispatch Beggars night being before Halloween was because Columbus historically had a Halloween Party on October 31!

Columbus

Dublin

Hilliard

Powell

Riverlea

Westerville

Worthington

According to the Columbus Dispatch, the Columbus Halloween party was discontinued in the 1950's because it got out of hand! 

An Irish Blessing for Halloween

At all Hallow's Tide, God keep you safe
From goblin and pooka and black-hearted stranger,
From harm of the water and hurt of the fire,
From thorns of the bramble, from all other danger,
From Will O' The Wisp haunting the mire;
From stumbles and tumbles
and tricksters to vex you,
May God in His mercy, this week protect you.

Visit my website for a new  Irish Blessing each month.   

Celebrating Halloween comes from the Celts who lived in Ireland long ago.