Why would Jake have too, or want too jump over a candle stick ?

Question

Why would Jake have too, or want too jump over a candle stick ?

Answer 1

Not "Jake", it is "Jack".

And it just completes the rhyme.

Answer 2

It was "Jack."

I guess it was the Pagan tradition of fire-jumping, you know, for fertility and good luck, that sort of thing.

If you could jump really high, then you showed that you were more athletic and more beddable, I guess.  Or at least you showed that you had good enough luck to keep from burning your clothes even though you're drunk on mead, jumping over flames.

I don't know.  They didn't have Wiis or i-anythings.  They barely had books.

They had to make their own fun.

Answer 3

Some one told me that jumping over candlesticks was a way of casting witchcraft spells...  

Answer 4

Jack be Nimble Rhyme

Nursery Rhyme & History

Origin and History to the words of Jack be nimble

The most commonly agreed origin for the Jack be nimble rhyme is the connection to Black Jack, an English pirate who was notorious for escaping from the authorities in the late 16th century hence Jack be nimble... The words of the Jack be nimble rhyme cannot be further analysed due to the brevity of the text of the lyrics but could be associated with the old tradition and sport of 'candle leaping' which used to be practised at some English fairs.

Lace Makers and Candle Leaping?

The tradition of candle-leaping originated from an old game of jumping over fires. This dangerous game was banned and replaced by the far less dangerous sport of Candle leaping. In Wendover there were lace-making schools ( a good excuse for using children as slave labour). Here it was traditional to dance around the lace-makers great candlestick and this led to jumping over the candlestick. Due to the cost of candles some employers only allowed the use of candles during the darkest months of the year and centred around Candlemas Day, known as the candle season. It is interesting to note that Jack be nimble is now being referred to as Jack b nimble - the influence of the modern day practise of texting! The first publication date for Jack be nimble is 1798.

Answer 5

Jake didn't. Jack did.  

Answer 6

I believe his name was Jack

And all the cool kids were doing it in the 1800's, like joushchmitz get with it man :)