LADY BUG: IN MUCH OF WESTERN WORLD, HALLOWEEN FIRST HARVEST HOLIDAY

In much of the Western world, Halloween -- the night of magic and merrymaking, when ghosts and goblins and tricks-or-treaters go from door to door -- is the first harvest holiday. Colors of the evening are black and orange, but could be shades of green, for the customs go back to the time of the ancient Celts and are as Irish as the Shamrock.

To most Americans, Halloween would not be the same without pumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns. Halloween, according to Ray Rothenberger, University of Missouri horticulturist, goes back to the Celts of Britain and Northern France as well as the Irish. It was believed on Oct. 31, all spirits of ancestors arose and congregated for assignments during the coming year. Anyone who went out that night carried a lantern.

In Scotland it was the custom to hollow out large turnips or rutabagas and place candles inside them. Originally, holes were put in the sides only to shed light, but later these became faces, possibly to frighten evil spirits. Possibly, too, these were the forerunners of the attractive clever faces that are painted on pumpkins today.

One explanation for the name "jack-o'-lantern" is the story that tells of a man named Jack who was so mean, stingy and tricky that after he died he went to the devil. He was so bad that even the devil did not want him. When he arrived, he was eating a turnip. The devil threw him a burning coal and said, "Put this inside your turnip and it will be your lantern." The story goes that to this day Jack can be seen carrying his lantern and still looking for a place on earth to stay.

Whether celebrating Halloween or Thanksgiving, the decorations would not be complete without pumpkins. Whether they become a jack-o-lantern, a part of a floral arrangement, a pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, or another pumpkin dessert, they are a vital part of these holidays.

About 80 percent of the pumpkins sold for fresh use are sold in October. Pumpkins are diverse in many ways. Sizes vary from a huge world champion weighing 840 pounds to the variety jack-be-little, which can be held in the palm of the hand. Most pumpkins are some shade of orange, but a little white one called little-boo, is now on the market.

More and more white ones are appearing this year. One pumpkin grower reported all his large orange ones were stolen, but not one of the white ones was taken.

To raise giant pumpkins, farmers plant special seeds. Some giant pumpkins can gain as much as 20 pounds a day. Pumpkins belong to the same family as squash, watermelons, cucumbers, cantaloupes and honeydews, but will not cross with them. However, authorities tell us they can cross with some squash, such as acorn, summer crookneck, white bush scallop and even ornamental gourds.

Perhaps because of its basic relationship to the mysticism of Halloween, the pumpkin has also found symbolism in fairy tales and legends. No other vegetable has had such pronounced influence on children's stories.

We may have been awed by its romantic transformation in Cinderella, or horrified at its use as a cage to confine the wife of Peter, the pumpkin eater. A pumpkin head provided dramatic impact in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," and sympathy in some of the sequels to "The Wizard of Oz."

There are many stories regarding the traditions and legends of Halloween. One says that at midnight on Halloween all pumpkins leave their vines and dance across the fields.

People originally wore costumes on Halloween to hide from the ghosts of the lost souls that were thought to roam the earth on that night. The ghosts were trying to right the wrongs that had committed before they died, so that they could be accepted into heaven.

The custom of wearing costumes may date from the early 12th century. Many of the churches back then had parades in which the people dressed up as their patron saint, angels or devils, in honor of All Saints' Day, the day following All Hallows' Eve, or Hallos'een.

The tricks part of Halloween comes from the tradition in the years in our country when the night before Halloween was known as Mischief Night. All kinds of crazy events happened that night -- flour was spread on front porches and footsteps came from nowhere and disappeared. Sometimes real damage was done, but today's "tricks" are much tamer.

Instead, children go from door to door in their neighborhoods, doing clever tricks, telling jokes or singing little songs, for which they receive goodies, treats and coins for their efforts. Most of the coins are collected for the United Nations International Children's Education Fund for the poor children of the world.

Have a happy, safe and fun halloween.