We all loved to carve Jack o'Lanterns as kids and I am always amazed at the new designs that contemporary artists are creating. Despite the widespread appeal of carving pumpkins that goes on in this country every October, few of us have ever heard the story of why or when the jack o'lantern tradition began.  The phrase "jack o'lantern" dates all the way back to 17th century Britain. It meant "man with a lantern". What we might call a night watchman.

 

The original idea of carving lanterns out of vegetables actually came from Scotland and Ireland. The Irish Potato Famine of 1845 to 1850 caused over 700,000 people to immigrate throughout Europe and the Americas. The immigrants brought their traditions of Halloween and Jack o'Lanterns with them.  At the time, the Jack o'Lanterns were made out of turnips which were widely available back home. The American pumpkin turned out to be a great replacement, especially because of the size of the pumpkin. This immigrant tradition has made the carved pumpkin the most famous icon of the holiday while creating a $106 million a year industry. U.S. farmers grow over one billion pounds of pumpkins a year. So what was the legend of Jack o’ Lantern that started all of this?

 

The Legend of Stingy Jack.

 

Stingy Jack was a cheap and bold Irishman who found himself having a drink with the Devil. When the bill came for the drinks came Stingy Jack refused to pay.  (I told you he was bold.)

 

Jack convinces the devil to turn himself into a coin, and once this is done, Jack puts the devil/coin in his pocket. Stingy Jack had a cross in his pocket, which made the Devil powerless. Before Jack would release the Devil, he made the Devil promise never to claim his soul.

 

Pretty smart of Jack, right?

 

That might depend on how you look at it. Jack did manage to save his soul from the Devil, however God wouldn't let Jack into Heaven. Jack found himself doomed to wander the earth in darkness. When Jack cried to the Devil and asked how he would be able to find his way through the darkness the Devil laughed. Then the Devil threw Jack an ember from the eternal fire. Because the ember was too hot to hold, Jack quickly carved a hole into one of his turnips. Jack dropped the little ember into the turnip, creating the first Jack o'Lantern.

 

There is another story of Stingy Jack. One day Jack is out in the woods and he comes across the Devil. Jack tricks the Devil into a tree and gets the Devil to throw down some fruit. Once The Devil has helped him, Jack quickly carves a cross into the tree and traps the Devil. He then strikes a deal that the Devil would leave his soul alone when he dies.  Then the story is the same.  I like the version with Jack drinking with the Devil.  It shows how tough Jack was.

 

Today, jack o'lanterns are carved with a variety of designs, with designs appropriate for all ages. You will find many stencils and pumpkin carving supplies listed on this site... including designs depicting many of the colleges and sports teams. What a treat for Halloween!