History of Halloween Part 3

Part 3:  The History of the Jack o' Lantern

The tradition of Jack O’ Lanterns stems from an Irish urban legend dating back to the 1500’s.  The story goes that a man named Stingy Jack played multiple tricks on the Devil.  In order for the Devil to get out of these situations, Jack made him promise to not seek vengeance on Jack or to claim his soul.  Upon Jack’s death he was rejected at the Gates of Heaven; and in keeping his promise, the Devil rejected his soul as well.  Jack’s only option was to return from where he’d come, though it was dark and dangerous.  He begged the Devil to give him something to light his way.  The Devil gave Jack a single burning ember.  To keep the fire burning, Stingy Jack hallowed out a turnip and placed the coal inside of it.  It is believed that Jack’s soul has been roaming the Earth since with his hand-made lantern, earning hi the name “Jack of the Lantern”, or “Jack O’ Lantern”. 

This legend migrated with Irish immigrants and later collided with the British tradition of placing embers and candles in carved out turnips, potatoes and beets, to light the night during the harvest festivals.  Kids would take these gourds and roam the streets, pretending to be Stingy Jack in hopes of scaring their friends and family. 

Eventually, the tradition made it to America, and since pumpkins are much easier to acquire, those were used instead.  As Halloween became less of an autumnal celebration and moved more towards the scary and the gory, the ghoulish faces carved into jack o’ lanterns began to reflect that.