PUMPKIN "Jack-o-Lantern"

Wandering how did the pumpkin became a symbol for halloween??

People have been making jack o'lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern."

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack's lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o'lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack o'lanterns.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL!!

Gov't declares November 27 and 28 as regional holidays only in ARMM

Last October 30, 2009 the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that the Malacañang Palace has declared November 27 and 28, 2009 (Eid'l Adha) as regional holidays in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) by virtue of Proclamation No. 1808-A.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque thus clarified that November 27 and 28, 2009 are not to be observed as holidays throughout the country.

Roque said that the new issuance effectively amended the earlier Proclamation No. 1808, issued earlier on April 21, 2009, which had declared November 28 and 29 this year as national holidays.

He advised the country's employers that as a result of Proclamation No. 1808-A, the pay rules for regular holidays will not apply during the said dates except in ARMM.

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