The legend of the
Jack O' Lantern
The term Jack of the Lantern refers to a night watchman or a man carrying a lantern. It was also used to describe a strange light flickering over the marshes of Ireland. If approached, the light advanced and was always out of reach. The mysterious occurrence is also known as will o' the wisp. However, in Irish folklore, legend states it is a stingy drunkard named Jack.
Jack, an Irish blacksmith, ran into the Devil in a pub on Halloween. Jack had already had a bit too much to drink that evening. He almost fell prey to the Devil, but Jack was quick witted and instead made a bargain with the Devil. In exchange for one last drink, Jack offered up his soul. The Devil changed his form into a sixpence in which to make payment to the bartender, but Jack pocketed the coin in a bag with a silver cross with the knowledge that the Devil couldn't revert form. Once under Jack's thumb, and in his purse, the Devil agreed not to come for Jack's soul for another ten years.
Ten years went by, and the Devil came looking for Jack. He found him walking down a country road. Jack, still quick witted and a trickster, asked for one last apple before he went with the Devil. The Devil agreed and climbed an apple tree to get an apple for Jack. As soon as the Devil went up Jack carved the sign of the cross in the tree so the Devil couldn't come down.
The Devil was furious, but he couldn't leave the tree. Jack, on the other hand didn't want the Devil coming after his soul any longer, decided to make another deal. He would remove the cross if the Devil promised to never take his soul. The Devil agreed.
Years later, Jack finally died. He went to Heaven, but was dismissed from the gates due to his drinking, tricking, and miserly ways. He then went to Hell, but was denied entrance because the Devil remembered his promise. Jack asked, "But where am I to go?" And the Devil replied, "Back to where you came from".
The way back was dark and windy, so Jack pleaded with the Devil to at least grant him light in which to find his way. The Devil teased him, and toyed with Jack for a time, then got bored with Jack an tossed him one single coal. Jack pulled a turnip from his pocket that he had been eating on to shield the coal.
Ever since, Jack has been doomed to wander in
the darkness
alone. It was once believed that on
Halloween, that the dead walked the earth on this night, and people
placed
carved turnips in their windows to scare away the dead spirits by
reminding
them what happened to Jack. Pumpkins
now replace the turnips, for they make larger scarier faces.
