LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Halloween Customs: Irish Catholics
built 220 days ago
[One] famous Halloween custom of Jack-o-lantern most probably has come from Irish folklore. As the Halloween story goes, a man named Jack who was a complete drunkard, tricked Satan into climbing a tree. Jack carved a cross on the tree trunk, trapping the devil in the tree. Jack then made a deal with Satan that if Satan never tried to tempt him again he would let him down the tree. After Jack died, he was denied entrance in heaven because of his bad deeds and he was ... denied entrance in hell since he tricked Satan. The devil gave him a single ember to light his way through the complete darkness.
Source:
A Halloween custom which has survived to this day in Ireland is the baking (or more often nowadays the purchase) of a barmbrack (Irish "báirín breac"). This is a light fruit cake into which a plain ring is placed before baking. It is said that whoever finds this ring will find his or her true love during the following year. See ... king cake
Source:
Immigrants to the U.S., particularly the Irish, introduced secular Halloween customs that became popular in the late 19th century. Mischief-making on this occasion by boys and young men included overturning sheds and outhouses and breaking windows, and damage to property was sometimes severe. In later years, the occasion has come to be observed mainly by small children, who go from house to house, often in costume, demanding "trick or treat" (the treat, often candy, is generally given and the trick rarely played).
Source:
Immigrants to the US, particularly the Irish, introduced secular Halloween customs that became popular in the late 19th century. Poor behaviour on this occasion included overturning sheds and outhouses and breaking windows and damage to property was sometimes severe.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Irish Catholics