Its that time again! When crates of pumpkins flood the stores, each porch is illuminated with these orange glowing gourds, and some supporting the most unique of smiles. Pumpkins have become the unofficial staple of not only Halloween, but autumn in general. But what is the deal with Jack O' Lanterns? We buy these pumpkins just to carve them into slap happy faces or sinister grins, but why?
This tradition can be traced back to an old Irish folklore of a man names Stingy Jack. Jack was known to be quite the trickster in town. It all started when Jack invited the devil out for a drink. Jack didn't want to buy the drinks so he convinced the devil to turn himself into a coin to pay for the drinks. Once Jack would pay for the drinks, the devil would change back. So the devil went along with his plan. Once a coin, instead of paying the tab, Jack shoved the coin in his pocket. He placed a silver cross in his pocket to prevent the devil from morphing back. After keeping the devil hostage for so long, Jack freed him. Only on the conditions that the devil would leave him alone for a year before trying to take Jacks soul again, and if Jack died he could not take his soul.
This tradition can be traced back to an old Irish folklore of a man names Stingy Jack. Jack was known to be quite the trickster in town. It all started when Jack invited the devil out for a drink. Jack didn't want to buy the drinks so he convinced the devil to turn himself into a coin to pay for the drinks. Once Jack would pay for the drinks, the devil would change back. So the devil went along with his plan. Once a coin, instead of paying the tab, Jack shoved the coin in his pocket. He placed a silver cross in his pocket to prevent the devil from morphing back. After keeping the devil hostage for so long, Jack freed him. Only on the conditions that the devil would leave him alone for a year before trying to take Jacks soul again, and if Jack died he could not take his soul.
The devil had made himself scarce for a year. After the year, the devil showed up to Jack again trying to claim his soul. Jack told the devil he would allow him his soul, but first he wanted a piece of fruit from a tree. Happy about getting his soul, the devil climbed up the tree to retrieve Jack a piece of fruit. As the devil climbed, Jack carved a cross into the trunk of the tree. Again, Jack had the devil trapped and blackmailed him. He told the devil he would allow him to come down only if the devil would quit trying to get his soul. Seeing no other option, the devil consented to his demand.
Jack lived the remainder of his life without the annoyance of the devil. He continued to play tricks on the townspeople until his death. When Jack died his soul went up to Heaven, but to his surprise, God denied his entrance. God would not let someone with such trickery into Heaven. Being denied, Jack moved on to Hell, but was surprised to discover the devil denied him as well. Not only was the devil holding up his deal, he also did not want Jack in Hell after he had been tricked. Since Jack had now been denied from entering either place, he was to wander the afterlife in darkness. He asked the devil for a light to help guide him in the darkness. The devil through him a piece of coal and a turnip. Jack carved the turnip out and placed the coal inside.
Jack lived the remainder of his life without the annoyance of the devil. He continued to play tricks on the townspeople until his death. When Jack died his soul went up to Heaven, but to his surprise, God denied his entrance. God would not let someone with such trickery into Heaven. Being denied, Jack moved on to Hell, but was surprised to discover the devil denied him as well. Not only was the devil holding up his deal, he also did not want Jack in Hell after he had been tricked. Since Jack had now been denied from entering either place, he was to wander the afterlife in darkness. He asked the devil for a light to help guide him in the darkness. The devil through him a piece of coal and a turnip. Jack carved the turnip out and placed the coal inside.
The folklore says that tricky spirits, such as Jack, would return to Earth in hopes of finding a place to rest. The Irish would carve turnips and place on their porch to ward off these spirits. When the Irish finally migrated to the United States, they realized the abundance of pumpkins and found these to be exceptional lanterns. The lore continued and began to expand throughout the country.