(MCT) — One of the most fascinating tales about Halloween is how and why it began.

Celebrating our fear of ghosts and goblins began 2,000 years ago with the Celts, people who lived in an area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France.

The Celts celebrated the birth of the new year on Nov. 1, which they associated with the end of the harvest and the death of the old year.

They believed that on the night before the new year, the ghosts of the dead returned to walk the streets and create mayhem, including playing practical jokes and damaging the crops.

They also believed that during the Oct. 31 holiday of Samhaim, named for their Lord of the Dead, otherworldly spirits returned to earth to help their holy men predict the future.

Because they knew little of the science needed to understand the natural world around them, the Celts found the prophecies of their Druid priests comforting.

During this time, an Irish legend developed about a man named Jack who was denied entrance to Heaven when he died because he was a miser. The devil didn't want Jack, either, so he was forced to roam the earth holding a lantern until Judgment Day.

The Irish, wishing to avoid Jack's ghost, carved out turnips and potatoes and placed candles inside for protection. When the Irish people immigrated to America, they brought along the tradition. After seeing pumpkins for the first time, they replaced other vegetables and our jack-o'-lantern tradition was born.

My thanks to my colleague Lisa Abraham, Beacon Journal food writer, who directed me to a Web site that featured this permanent jack-o'-lantern at www.freshpreserving.com/filebin/craft/021-Jack-O-Lantern%20Jar.p df. I modified the directions for our use.

Supplies you will need:

1 Ball quart jar and lid.

Masking tape.

Orange and green acrylic paint and foam brush.

Natural raffia.

Silk leaves

Battery-operated candle.

Draw the eyes, nose and mouth for the pumpkin face on masking tape. Cut out shapes and place on the outside of the jar.

Paint jar with orange paint. When dry, add another coat. Paint band with green paint. Repeat and let dry.

When orange paint dries, remove masking tape.

If you are using a candle to light the jack-o'-lantern, do not insert the center lid in the band. The candle will need oxygen to stay lit. If using a battery-operated votive candle, insert the center lid before you screw on the band.

Tie raffia around the lid and tuck silk leaves inside the raffia.

Place a votive candle in a holder and ask an adult to place it inside the jar and light it. If using a battery-operated votive candle, place it inside the jar.

Place band and lid on jar.