Jack-O-Lanterns

Carved pumpkins are a Halloween tradition; along with Trick-or-Treating, Jack-o-Lanterns are an enduring image for this time of year.  Yet like nearly all the symbols and rituals of “modern” holidays and festivals, the meaning of the Jack-o-Lantern extends far back into history, to the time of the Celts and Druids.

Jack-o-Lanterns, in Irish myth, are the result of dealings between a man nicknamed ‘Sneaky Jack’ and the Devil.  Sneaky Jack and the Devil entered a pub to have a beer. Jack – a consummate gambler as well as a cheap skate — makes a bet with the Devil, over who could consume the most ale.  The loser pays.  When the Devil, losing the bet, turns himself into a coin to pay for the drinks, Jack slips the shape shifted Devil into his pocket, next to a silver cross Jack always carried with him. The cross prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form.  Eventually tiring of the game, and the Devil’s incessant mental badgering about cheating, Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year. If Jack should die during that year, the Devil would not claim his soul. Not having a lot of choice, the Devil agreed to Jack’s terms.

The Devil, now restored to his physical form, soon fell victim to another of Jack’s tricks.  Being either the overly trusting sort, or just not particularly bright, the Devil apparently hadn’t learned the folly of betting with Jack the first time, and agreed to a second wager.  This time Jack bet the Devil over who could pick the most apples.  Jack graciously let the Devil go first, and when the Devil climbed into the tree to pick a piece of fruit, Jack carved the sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the Devil could not come down. After some time, and presumably a lot whining, Jack agreed to let the Devil down out of the tree, in exchange for the promise not to bother Jack for ten more years. If Jack died during those years, the Devil would not claim his soul.

Several years later, Jack died.  But because of Jack’s less-than-stellar moral code, God would not allow him into heaven.  In keeping his word not to take his soul, the Devil would not allow Jack into hell.  Instead, the Devil sent Jack out into the darkness of the world between worlds with nothing but a burning piece of coal.  Jack placed the coal into a carved out turnip, and has been roaming the Earth ever since.   The Irish referred to Jack’s ghostly figure as ‘Jack of the Lantern,’ and then, simply as ‘Jack-o-Lantern.’  Jack comes out only on Halloween night, and is looking for someone to take his place… so watch out, if you see him wandering your way!

Throughout Ireland, England and Scotland, people began making lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or beets, placed in windows or near doors to frighten away wandering spirits, like Sneaky Jack.  Immigrants from these countries brought the tradition to America where they found the pumpkin, a fruit native to America, made the perfect Jack-o-Lanterns.