Pumpkins with ghoulish faces and illuminated by candles are a sure sign of the Halloween season. The practice of decorating jack-o’-lanterns originated in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as early canvasses. In fact, the name, jack-o’-lantern, comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it became an integral part of Halloween festivities.
The Legend of “Stingy Jack”
People have been making jack-o’-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn’t want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form.
Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.
Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.”
In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack-o’-lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack-o’-lanterns.
(Source: https://www.history.com/news/history-of-the-jack-o-lantern-irish-origins)
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thank you for the re-blog.
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Thank you for the historical overview, Aurora! Where could Halloween origin else? 😉 The country with the wonderful tradition, also in bottled spirit. :-)) Happy Halloween! xx Michael
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Thanks so much, Michael. Yes, it’s been interesting reading about it.
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Reblogged this on Darlene Foster's Blog and commented:
Happy Halloween! Here is a great post about the origins of the jack-o’-lantern you will find interesting. Thanks to Aurora Alexander. Enjoy the occasion and stay safe.
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Thank you so very much for sharing my post, Darlene!
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My pleasure. Everyone loved it!
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Thanks for this interesting and informative post. Reblogged it. Happy Halloween.
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Thanks a million, Darlene.
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Have a GREAT Halloween, AJ 👻💀👹🧙♀️🧛♀️🕷🕸❤️
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Thanks so very much, Chris. I hope, you had a great Halloween too. ❤
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I had no idea about the origins of Jack O’Lanterns!
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Neither did I. I thought it was interesting sharing that tale.
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I don’t think I’ve ever heard this story before. Thank you for sharing it.
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It was my pleasure, Diane
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I always find it fascinating to find out where traditions or customs come from. Thanks for sharing….I came from Darlene’s sharing of this post!! Happy day after Halloween!
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Thanks a lot, Kirt. It’s my pleasure to welcome you here on ‘Writer’s Treasure Chest’ and would like to invite you to have a look around. Maybe you’ll find other interesting posts. I appreciate your comment. It was my pleasure to share the origins of this tale.
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