2005.10.26 - THE HISTORY OF JACK-O-LANTERN

THE HISTORY OF JACK-O-LANTERN

Pumpkins have been associated with Halloween since the mid-eighteen hundreds. The tradition of carving a pumpkin and placing a candle in it began nearly 2000 years ago in Ireland with a fellow called Stingy Jack.

The story begins when Jack, a very unpleasant fellow, found himself in a local tavern on October 31st. On this particular night, the Devil appeared and informed Jack that it was time for Jack to leave this life. Jack was not quite ready to go yet, so he pleaded with the Devil to allow him to have one more drink. The Devil agreed, however as it turned out, Jack didn't have any money left. So he convinced the Devil to change into a sixpence so he could pay for the drink, then the Devil could change back. As these stories go, the Devil wasn't very bright and agreed to do this. As soon as he turned into the coin, Jack popped him into his wallet, which had a cross on it. The Devil was trapped inside! The Devil was furious and demanded to be set free. Jack agreed to let him out only if the Devil agreed to leave Jack alone for 10 years. A bargain was struck and Jack set the Devil free.

The years went by and once again it was October 31st. As Jack walked down a dark road, the Devil once more appeared. Of course, Jack was no more ready to go than he was last time. He convinced the Devil to get him an apple from a tree as a last meal. The Devil, still as gullible as ever, climbed up the tree to retrieve the apple. Jack immediately carved a cross into the tree and the Devil was trapped once more. Howling with rage, the Devil made another agreement with Jack in order to be set free. He agreed never to seek Jack's soul again. How the Devil got out of the tree though, is anyone's guess.

Well, as luck would have it, Jack died only a few months later. He first tried to enter Heaven, but was turned away because of the evil life he had lived. So, Jack then tried to get into Hell, but the devil also turned him away. Jack, it seemed was doomed to wander the dark, windy road between the worlds forever. Jack pleaded with the Devil to give him a light. The Devil threw him a fire of coal, which Jack placed into the turnip he had been eating. At least Jack now had a lantern to light his way in the dark. Jack and his lantern became known as Jack of the Lantern.

On Halloween, the Irish would carve out turnips and potatoes, placing a light inside to light the way, just as Jack did. When the Irish immigrated to America, turnips were rare, but pumpkins were in abundance. So pumpkins became the new Jack-o-Lantern, as we know it.