Amy Wydner, Senior
The tradition of carving faces into pumpkins goes back centuries as it is still used today as a fun way to add festivity to the Halloween season. The beginnings of Jack-o’-Lanterns started up in Ireland during the 19th century. The name “Stingy Jack” came from a popular legend in Ireland at the time and had inspired the name of the carved pieces. In the legend, Stingy Jack would invite the Devil to drink with him. Staying true to his name, Jack wouldn’t pay for his own drink, in turn, making the Devil turn himself into a coin that Jack would use to pay the bartender. Jack decided to keep the Devil in the form of a coin by placing him into his pocket next to a crucifix. Eventually, Jack would release the Devil on terms that he doesn’t bother Jack for one year and that should he die, the Devil wouldn’t claim his soul. The following year, Jack tricked the Devil into climbing a tree to gather fruit but at the base of the tree, Jack carved a cross into the wood which prevented the Devil from climbing back down. This time, the deal was that the Devil wasn’t to bother him for another ten years. Jack had eventually died and because of his mischievous ways, God would not let him into heaven. Sticking to their deal, the Devil didn’t possess his soul but rather left his soul to roam in the dark night, giving him only one burning coal. Jack puts the piece of coal into a carved turnip and continues to roam Earth. His ghostly figure was referred to by the Irish as “Jack of the Lantern" and then, “Jack O’ Lantern”.
As the tale goes, turnips were the first traditional “Jack O’ Lanterns” that people would emulate to that of Stingy Jack’s. It wasn’t until later that pumpkins were more favorably being used to carve faces into. They were a homage to the traditional Irish legend and were meant to scare away Jack’s spirit from their homes. The turnips, however, weren't the friendly or scary faces that people are used to today; many of the turnips were given creepier life-like features such as rows of teeth and humanoid eyes. During the 1800s, many Irish were immigrating to America and brought over their Halloween tradition, spreading it around the country. In America, they found that pumpkins were excellent subjects to carve; in Ireland, pumpkins hadn't grown well. The tradition stuck and soon the “Jack O’ Lanterns” became a staple of Halloween celebrations. During the October season today, places such as farms and patches grow and sell pumpkins. Even many grocery stores and garden centers sell them.
The story of Stingy Jack and the Devil started an extremely popular tradition shared by people from around the globe. Next time you see a Jack O’ Lantern, remember how the tradition started with Stingy Jack and the turnips used by the Irish to “scare away his lingering spirit”.
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