Thirteen Days of Samhain: Day 6

On the sixth day of Samhain, the Goddess gave to me:

Six jack o’ lanterns

At this time of year, pumpkins, winter squash and other hearty fare take center stage. We cook with them and are nourished by their hearty goodness. We also love to decorate with them, both displaying them in cornucopias and carving jack o’lanterns.

American folk tradition, that came over from the British Isles, tells us that jack o'lanterns were carved to scare away evil spirits. Those of us who work with spirits know that most spirits are not harmful. So instead, we carve jack o'lanterns to guide the dead to the spirit world.