The history of the Jack-O-Lantern

Carving pumpkins is a popular part of the American Halloween celebration. When October rolls around, you can find pumpkins, carved or not, basically everywhere-from door steps to window sills to dinner tables. Despite the popularity of pumpkin carving, very few Americans know the story behind the tradition. Here it is: The Jack O’ Lantern originated from an old Irish myth about “Stingy Jack”. According to legend, Stingy Jack was a miserable, old drunk who liked to play tricks on everyone, including the Devil. On one occasion, Jack tricked the Devil into turning himself into a coin to pay for their drinks. He then carried the coin in his pocket next to a cross trapping the Devil. He released him with the promise of being left alone for ten years. After that time had passed, the Devil returned and Stingy Jack tricked him into climbing up an apple tree. Once the Devil was up in the tree, Jack carved crosses into the tree trunk, once again trapping the Devil. Jack wouldn’t let him down until he promised to not take Jack’s soul when he died. Several years later, when Jack finally died, he was denied entrance into Heaven due to being so cruel and nasty, and was sent to Hell. The Devil had promised to not take Jack’s soul, so instead he sent him out into the night with a coal from the fires of Hell to help light his way. Jack placed the coal into a hollowed out turnip to eternally roam the earth with his Jack O’ Lantern. Since then, the Irish have hollowed out turnips, gourds, potatoes, and beets and have placed lights in them on all Hallows eve to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. In the 1800s, a wave of Irish immigrants came to America and quickly discovered that pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve out, so pumpkins became the new Jack O’ Lantern.

MistyMarie

The Truth Syndicate

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