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Jack O'Lantern

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Plusieurs légendes circulent sur cette citrouille.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        À l'origine c'était des navets. Les gens croyaient que les esprits et les fantômes sortaient de leur tombe le soir d'Halloween.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ils se mirent à évider des navets pour leur donner des têtes affreuses, et mirent des chandelles à l'intérieur pour être utilisées comme lanterne la nuit d'Halloween pour effrayer les esprits.

La légende de Jack O'Lantern :

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Jack O'Lantern raconte l'histoire de Jack, un maréchal ferrant porté sur la bouteille, il eut la malchance de rencontrer le diable la nuit d'Halloween, il tenta de convaincre Jack de lui donner son âme. Jack le persuada de prendre un verre avec lui avant qu'il n'accepte le pacte.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Pour payer son verre, le diable se transforme en pièce de six pence, mais Jack empoigne la pièce et la glisse dans son sac qui contenant aussi une croix d'argent.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Le diable ne pouvant plus se transformer est prisonnier sous la forme d'une petite pièce.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Jack libéra le diable à condition qu'il promette de ne pas réclamer son âme avant dix ans.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Dix ans plus tard  ...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Dix ans plus tard, Jack croisa le diable au détour d'un chemin, ce dernier réclame son dû.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               "Je vais venir, mais avant veux-tu me donner une pomme de cet arbre" demande Jack.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Le diable grimpe sur les épaules de Jack pour prendre une pomme.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Jack sort alors son couteau et sculpte une croix sur le tronc de l'arbre. Le diable se retrouva coincé sur une branche. Jack le rusé obtient alors du diable la promesse de ne plus jamais lui demander son âme. Se voyant pris au piège, le diable accepta.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  À sa mort, Jack se voit refuser l'entrée du paradis à cause de son penchant pour la bouteille, de son avarice et de toutes ses farces.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Jack se rend chez le diable pour lui demander de le faire entrer en enfer, celui-ci lui rappelle qu'il ne peut pas prendre son âme.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   "Mais où vais-je aller ?" demande Jack

"Retournes d'où tu viens" lui dit le diable !

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Il faisait nuit noire, un grand vent soufflait. Jack, en désespoir, marchanda avec le diable de quoi l'éclairer sur la route. Le diable lui lança un charbon ardent qu'il avait sorti du feu de l'enfer.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Jack mis le chardon ardent dans un navet pour éviter qu'il ne s'éteigne sous l'effet du vent.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Depuis, Jack est condamné à errer comme une âme en peine au milieu des ténèbres, sa lanterne à la main, jusqu'au jugement dernier.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Cette lanterne improvisée fut par la suite remplacée par une citrouille.

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