Stingy Jack Brings It Back History of a Jackolantern
by The true history behind the Jackolatern and a legend of a man named Stingy Jack. Who would have known that this is where the jackolatern came from. Find out how much you really knew about this Halloween tradition.
Do you know the story of Stingy Jack?
According to the Irish myth, Stingy Jack was a man who invited the Devil to have a drink with him. Even after all the drinks that they shared, Stingy was true in his name and refused to pay for a drink. Instead, Jack convinced the Devil to turn himself in to the coin that would give Jack the ability to buy their drinks. After the Devil did this Jack kept the coin and put it in his pocket next to his silver cross.
This cross caused the Devil to not be able to change to his true form. After some time Jack freed the Devil under a simple condition, the Devil could not bother Jack for one year and if Jack should die by then, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack ended up tricking the Devil again in to climbing a tree nearby and picking off fruit. When the Devil agreed to do it, Jack carved a cross in to the tree’s bark so he could not come down until he promised to leave Jack alone for 10 more years.
Later on in this myth Jack died and as the myth states, God would not allow such an unfaitful person in to Heaven. Upset by the tricks Jack had played on him, he would not allow him in to Hell either. He sent Jack away into the night with only burning coal to light his way. Jack put this coal in to a carved out turnip and has been wandering the Earth ever since. The Irish refer to Jack as “Jack of the Latern” and now more commonly his legend is known as “Jack O’Lantern.”
Where does the Pumpkin fit in?
Those fun and scary faces in the turnips or pumpkins in our modern day case, is from the legend itself. The Irish and Scottish would carve these faces in to their turnips and potatoes and place them in windows or by the door to frighten away Stingy Jack, and other evil spirits. As the legend grew and immigration took place, the pumpkin was brought in.
If you are a fan of Halloween, or even carving your Jack O’Laterns remember, you are keeping away the evil spirts and giving yourself a fun and exciting thing to do for this Halloween. Get creative, and remember these faces are to keep Stingy Jack away!
Source: http://www.history.com/topics/jack-olantern-history
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