Halloween/ Samhain
Lack O the Lantern. Duchas.ie
There was once a man named Jackie the Cobbler and he was very fond of money.
He lived alone in a little house and spent his time repairing boots.
One time he was short of money and the devil knew that it was easy to tempt him,
so he called to his house and He said to Jackie, “what would you do to get some money?”
Jackie said he would do anything in order to get it.
"Would you sell your soul for it" said the devil.
Jackie said he would if he got enough money.
"I'll give you" said the devil "as much as you can use and I'll let you live 100 years if you come with me at the end of that time."
“Very well” said Jackie.
“Well” said the devil. “You must sign that bargain.”
“I will” said Jackie, “but you must sign your part too, if you will give me three wishes and you must not know what they will be.”
“Very well said the devil” - so they both signed the bargain and the devil went away.
Jackie kept on at his trade and he had lots of money for everything and he was not getting a day older looking. Things went on that way for nearly 100 years. Then the old people who
knew Jackie were surprised that he was so young looking all the time.
When the 100 years were up the devil came again to Jackie and said to him,
"Jackie your time is up now you must come with me."
“I know” that said Jackie,” but there is a great friend of mine here, that I am finishing a pair of shoes for. Will you wait till I am finished"
"I will" said the devil.
"Take your ease" said Jackie "and sit there for yourself while you are waiting."
When the devil was sitting in the chair Jackie worked his first wish and stuck him to the chair. The devil knew he was held. He told Jackie to release him and promised he would let him live 100 years more and have more money than ever and be as young looking as ever, at the end of the time.
The devil went away very cross and told Jackie he would not fool him again. Jackie worked on at his trade for another 100 years. So when the time was up the devil came again. It was in the month of August and Jackie had a splendid orchard.
The devil said to Jackie "it is a pity to be leaving them after you."
"Tis" said Jackie "people say that the finest apples in the country are in it. "
"We will take a few for the road so" said the Devil. When they went in Jackie worked his second wish. That the devil may stick to the tree. The devil knew he was fooled the second time. He asked him to release him again and he promised Jackie another 100 years and more money than he could spend. Jackie released him and the devil went away crosser than before. Jackie worked at his trade. He built a new house and had piles of money. One other chance he had only and he was very troubled for that 100 years.
So when the 100 years were up he knew the day the devil was to come and he had a sack bag prepared. The devil came and told him his time was up and asked him to come. Jackie said he was waiting for him. He took the sack with him and when they went about a mile of the road he told the devil he had very bad feet and if he would take him on his back for a bit it would be a great rest for him. The devil did at once as he was anxious to have him in his power. When he took him a mile he laid him down as he was getting too heavy. Jackie said he would take him down on his back for a while now so Jackie was thinking hard what he would wish the third time. By luck he came across a barn where there were men flailing corn. He took him in amongst the fellows who were flailing the corn and told them to flail the devil out of the bag and he would pay them well.
They drew their flails on him and the devil shouted to Jackie to let him escape and he would never again have anything to do with him. Jackie opened the bag and let him go and he went home himself and lived only one month. When he died he went up to heaven and met Saint Peter at the gate. Saint Peter asked him where he was going. Jackie said to Heaven. Saint Peter said "sure you sold your soul to the devil and you know anyone who had anything to do with the devil could not go to heaven. Go down now to Hell."
Jackie went to hell and kicked the big iron gate the devil asked who was there. He said "Jackie the Cobbler." The devil told him go away that he would not be let into Hell and he told the porter not to let him in or he would kill them all.
So Jackie went the second time to heaven and Saint Peter asked him where was he going again and Jackie said he would not be let into Hell. So Saint Peter "you will not be left in here either, but wait for a few minutes till I come back." He went away and brought back a lantern and handed it to Jackie and told him to go round the world fooling people like himself was fooled till the end of time.
Collector; Sheila Ryall, Co Kerry.
Jack O the lantern
Winter Inks
I love to be creative over the winter months, and lucky for us the Shaggy ink caps are out and about and ready to make ink.
Simply leave the ink caps at any stage of growth in a bowl for about a week, do not add anything and hay presto, as if by magic the mushroom evaporated, leaving the stem and a plateful of black ink, remove or sieve all the solid matter and store in a jar, Add some vodka if you want to preserve it for a long time.
In forest school we also made some Oak apple Ink, which id the gall wasp nests left on the ark trees, Only use after the gall wasp has drilled a hole out of the nest and left. The galls usually fall to ground around then. Then crush up the gall and leave in a jar with water and a metal nail, this helps the process.
We also used turmeric powder and water to make a lovely yellow paint.
Masks
Using the same inks, we made Halloween masks with the younger group, the Little Twigs. Attaching dried leaves using a stapler and you can either use a stick to hols the mask or attach some elastic to wear it.
Here is a link for Templates, of a fox, wolf, deer and owl masks.
Halloween Games
Apple string Game: Tie string onto the apple stack and tie into a tree or as we used to in the past onto a door frame. Keeping hands behind your back try to take a bite from the apple.
Apple Bobbing: Fill a deep bowl or bucket with water and add some apples, with hands behind back try to bite the apple out.
Find the money: Fill a bowl with flour or water and add some coins to the bottom of the bowl, again with hands behind back try to retrieve the money using your mouth.
