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History of Jack-o-lanterns: the Irish myth of Stingy Jack
https://www.boston.com/news/history/2014/10/29/the-history-of-the-jack-o-lantern-how-it-all-began-with-a-turnip/It all started centuries ago, with a character named ‘Stingy Jack.’
Jack was part of an Irish myth — thought to have originated in the 17th century — in which a man named Stingy Jack invites the devil for a drink, according to the History Channel.
Jack did not want to pay for his drink — something we can all relate to — so he coerced the Devil into turning himself into a coin. Irish Central reports that Jack promptly pocketed the coin, but later set the Devil free under one condition: He had to leave Jack and his soul alone.
But Jack wasn’t done with his trickery.
He later conned the devil again, but this time, it didn’t end so well: Jack was banished from both heaven and hell. Jack was condemned to a neverending night. His only source of light? A piece of burning coal sitting inside a carved turnip.
*snip*
Much like the Headless Horseman, Jack was said to haunt the night forevermore. He became known as “Jack of the Lantern,’’ which was later shortened to “jack-o-lantern.’’
Irish and Scottish children delighted in carving their own scary faces in turnips, potatoes, and beets. They sat the ghastly faces by their homes, to scare Jack’s spirit away.
Jack was part of an Irish myth — thought to have originated in the 17th century — in which a man named Stingy Jack invites the devil for a drink, according to the History Channel.
Jack did not want to pay for his drink — something we can all relate to — so he coerced the Devil into turning himself into a coin. Irish Central reports that Jack promptly pocketed the coin, but later set the Devil free under one condition: He had to leave Jack and his soul alone.
But Jack wasn’t done with his trickery.
He later conned the devil again, but this time, it didn’t end so well: Jack was banished from both heaven and hell. Jack was condemned to a neverending night. His only source of light? A piece of burning coal sitting inside a carved turnip.
*snip*
Much like the Headless Horseman, Jack was said to haunt the night forevermore. He became known as “Jack of the Lantern,’’ which was later shortened to “jack-o-lantern.’’
Irish and Scottish children delighted in carving their own scary faces in turnips, potatoes, and beets. They sat the ghastly faces by their homes, to scare Jack’s spirit away.
Fascinating, I had no idea.
4 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
