Jack Skellington is the protagonist from Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas, an immortal skeleton and the "patron spirit of Halloween" (according to several wikis). Skeletons are decomposed human cadavers. While in many fantasy, fiction, and folklore stories, creatures of any kind can be extant on their own accord, or even magically conjured into existence, skeletons, like ghosts, are virtually always implied to be tied to prior living humans (or the corresponding animal type that matches their skeletal structure or ghostly ethereal spirit).

Jack's purpose in Halloween Town is to oversee Halloween: to scare people on that holiday in good fun. Like other mythical creatures, he isn't going to be personally known in any real place on Earth. Even if he personally goes out to scare people, it's unlikely he would gain renown that way; he isn't haunting a location, he's doing scares (i.e. "jumpscares") to observe a specific holiday.

So what does all this mean?

Jack tells us in Jack's Lament that "to a guy in Kentucky, I'm Mr. Unlucky, and I'm known throughout England and France."

This is a peek into Jack's human existence. Jack's Lament is a deeply personal song which gives the audience insight into Jack's persona, mood, prowess as a frightening spirit, but also his personality, his preferences, his vulnerabilities.

And so he's literally sharing with the audience an insight into where he died. "To a guy in Kentucky, I'm Mr Unlucky–" why would a skeleton be "Mr. Unlucky?" The most obvious answer would be because it died. Jack Skellington died in Kentucky; or, if you would like to be very specific, the human who died and transformed into Jack died in Kentucky.

Now you might say "well he could have just been traveling through or visiting Kentucky when he died." And that's true. But Kentucky is not an especially populous state nor does it have any major ports, being landlocked. And so if Jack was indeed "known throughout England and France" is it more likely he was a relatively successful famous socialite or celebrity from Kentucky who frequently visited western Europe, or a famous person from somewhere else who was visiting Kentucky and encounted some ill fate?

Kentucky being home to lots of Scots-Irish settlers and having limestone caverns, indigenous sites, and Appalachian mountains with coal deposits means Kentucky has a fairly rich amount of folklore. And much of that Scots-Irish folklore includes the precursor to modern Halloween: Samhain. And what better character to join that folklore than the patron spirit of Halloween himself, Jack Skellington?

Edit: So another angle about the narrative significance of the line "to a guy in Kentucky I'm Mr Unlucky" in the context of Jack's Lament:

The song has a pattern of building up Jack's victories and strengths and confident claims about who he is, then contrasting it with his own self-doubt, restlessness, and existential boredom.

"With the wave of my hand, and a well-placed moan I have swept the very bravest off their feet. But year after year, It's the same routine And I grow so weary of the sound of screams And I Jack, the Pumpkin King Have grown so tired of the same old thing

This structure repeats throughout the song. These are build-up statements about Jack's identity. And Jack's origins with his death and a brief mention of his prior human life fits within that broader theme. It's Jack, once again on-theme with the song, proclaiming who he is, and where he's been, only to go back to the chorus with his doubts and laments.

When you're a kid, you kind of assume everyone lives the same way your family does. You don't really question the little routines, rules, or habits at home because that's all you've ever known.

Then you visit a friend's house and discover that their family does something completely differently, and suddenly you're wondering which one of you is the weird one. 😂

Maybe it's something about food, household rules, how people celebrate birthdays, what time everyone goes to bed, or some random family tradition that you assumed everybody followed.

What's something you grew up thinking was totally normal, only to find out later that other families do it differently? I'm curious to hear the funny, surprising, or downright confusing examples.c

Just saw Wildwood in the theatre and loved it. One thing I did notice though was a similarity to the protagonist in Coraline. This had me realizing that many other films especially animations including Disney films write these characters as insufferable when I don't think it is necessary for the story.

I am aware that there are many other characters of various genders and ages that are also insufferable, but with these characters specifically it seems to be a pattern.

Anyone else see this pattern and think the films could be slightly improved if the characters were a little more tolerable?

She's okay with hugging everyone else but when it's me she's never open or says ew and pushes me away.

She doesn't bite anyone else though, only me. She's bitten me in my shoulder and upper arm and seems to have some aggression when she does it ?

It's kind of confusing.. what do you guys think could be the reason?

Why did the Waffle House employees say the water makes people get rashes and sick after they drink it after we said it tasted funny? It all feels like a sundown town, we are traveling through and it is just weird. Is all of Arkansas like this?

Yes I can taste the ingredients are great and fresh, the fries are nice too, but the bun!! Wrapped in that alluminium foil, trapped by its own steam making everything inside SO SOGGY?

It wasnt even a takeout, I ate it right there. The bun is already wet and mushy by the time I took it from the counter to my table.

Im so confused why there are so much praises about it online. The texture is horrible.

(For a similar price range Ive tried Shake Shack and it is 10 times better.)

"My story's almost over" I texted to my beloved girl, who I adore more than anything else in the whole world. I spent hours writing my book, and it's almost complete. Almost done. Almost ready to be published. I'm going to be a real fantasy author. Finally.

And she said "Please don't."

"Huh? I spent hours writing my fantasy book and it's almost finished."

"LOL oh thank God"

Hahaha... she worried about me... my heart soars... she cares... she cares about me! But also, lol oops. Roast me in the comments XD. I'm dum lmao.

I’m bored saw someone else do this and just thought hey let’s have fun with questions! So if you have any questions ask away!

21 and live in the Deep South, I’m engaged to a cis woman, and I’m only just starting to transition (1yr on testosterone)

Mods let me know if this isn’t allowed btw I’ll delete!

I’ve chatted with hundreds on Reddit. It’s been fascinating for this psychology type. Almost found real love. Anything is possible.

Best of luck to everyone 🥰

Watching Monday Night Football on ESPN right now and one of the pre-game hosts used “drinking the kool aid” to describe a team. IMO I think it’s a great expression when used correctly, but this is not the first time I’ve heard it used on a national broadcast, and I guess I’m just confused why American media has decided that an expression based on a mass murder-suicide can be thrown around in front of any audience without triggering any censorship rules

not the biggest deal but a friend that I made a few years ago when I lived in a different city just randomly unfollowed me and removed me as a follower too. I don’t have that many friends on Instagram so it was easy to spot who it was but I am genuinely confused by this. she liked all my pictures and stories and i did hers and there was no falling out or drama. I just moved away 2 years ago so we stopped being close...

maybe I am thinking too much into this but I can’t help but feel a little hurt!

Getting tested can be scary since people might not know how things will go. From the beginning to end, how is everyone’s experiences? Was there anything specific that made someone not want to get tested even when services are free?

I remember being like 5 years old sneaking on dresses lol. Over 20 years later still a very enjoyable hobby for me. Of course now i do makeuo and everything which i didnt do back then, but it just always been a part of me. I used to just dress and hang out by myself, then started posting on reddit acually lol, then started going out in public sometimes. Im not trans, i enjoy being a man, but i also enjoy the clothing,art,makeup creativity,style, and the feeling that comes with wearing womens clothes.

My beloved darling seems to really find that charming about me. it's nice to not have to mask that side of me so hard. and my severe autism side too. My adorable beloved cutie darling sweetie darling beloved honey fudgesicle. I love her. How do I do it more? How do I become more adorable?

I used to feel scared with friendships like this.

I would think that "if I say this to them, then they would leave and villainize me, and its disheartening knowing we had a plethora of good things we had shared together..."

But now, I love friendships like this...

The old me was a people pleaser, But I realized if they are really for me, then they truly are.

It really is good to have friends with whom you have contrasting ideas. It opens your mind to probably all perspectives, and honestly it humbles you to the point where the cliché quote, "The More You Know, The Less You Know," grounds you to Earth.

What brings me more joy is that, when I find this kind of friendship, it also brings me (also them) genuine security in our friendship cause we can both pour our thoughts though contradicting. Its refreshing since it always bring substance.

And since these friendships are like diamonds in the rough, its personally more valuable to me.

I hope you also find genuine friendships, maybe not like this type, but certainly one that will shape you to your best you :3

When I was a kid I used to think when you're twenty you have your life together. I look around now and there are 2 ends of the spectrum lol. One is very serious and the other plays roblox and doesn't care so im just winging it and chudding around lmaoo.

November december aare also in a relationship.

January is kinda just flirting with everyone saying "i promis ill make this year good~"

Febuary is the quiet romantic affetion to march. April and may are to shy to admit they like eachother. June and july are ALWAYS fighting, more like room mates that look the same.

August is our single diva wgos making sure everyone remebers to drink water, but not much a mum friend.

I was never into it. I have a semi decent board as I play board games with friends and figured some who loves games should have one.

I've always been into Go, but no one to play with. Got a paid membership on chess.com and have been doing lessons and problems the last few days.

Kinda excited to play his kids with my board, and I think thats where the excitement ends. I still dont really like chess and believe Go is a far better game. But odds are I'll never get to use that fancy board.

Anyone here play chess or Go?

I digested the salnon. The salmon. The salmon. This chair. This chair. This chair is an eyesore. Just kidding. But seriously I just ate FISH. Fresh delicious salmon. Not frozen. Not air fried. Just fish. And I'm so hungry. I just watched an anime that stretched out a will they won't they romance story too hard for so long it managed to make boobs boring.

Hey Reddit! 👋 😂

After hearing so much about this place, I finally decided to see what all the hype is about.

A little about me: I work in tech, spend my days trying to make software behave, and occasionally wonder why the bug I fixed yesterday has returned today. 🥲

I'm here for interesting conversations, brutally honest opinions, random rabbit holes, and the kind of advice people don't usually give you on LinkedIn. 😂

So, Reddit veterans, what's something I absolutely MUST explore here?

Its actually suprising to see ya'll include in you close friends in Instagram, even though I was just apart of your lives for like a few years. We don't really have a connection the during our school days since I was the quiet kid on the corner.

But seeing the green circle on your profiles makes me smile. Though, we only interacted once or twice, its kinda nice that you still remembered me...

Nothing, just thought I'd ask you

I feel alone, so I thought that some of you might feel the same

Are you all okay Na??😭😭😭

How's life going?

I am very bored

Feeling very lonely with no one to chat with

Going to cry tbh

In the world any place you travel in tha past .... Or u want to travel that city or place..... Suggest that City or some beautiful place or hidden place you visited...... And share your experiences how much you enjoyed or done fun .......that place famous food...............

Would you rather hide a prank from Superman or Batman or spiderman.

Like, it depends on what kind of prank, didn't Superman like mischief in the golden age or whatever?, back to the topic, I think it would be way scarier to hide something like that from Batman. Spiderman is difficult.

This isn't meant to be a negative post. I've been going through a lot so it's hard to stay 100% positive. But Reddit is great and I always find positive stuff on here.

I love questions, even about sensitive topics, I'm an open book.. i love Formula 1, paleontology, and the TV show Shadowhunter.

Ask me anything :)