Jack O' Lanterns is a term used in American Engkish to describe the hollowed out
pumpkin with a lantern inside of it. The term has been used since the 19th Century, but orginally orignated in
17th century Britain where the term was to refer to a man with a lantern or a night watchman. How ever the transition
from a man with a lantern to a pumpkin with a lantern is unknown.
Why are pumpkins carved in the first place? There is a theory that the illimination of the hollowed pumpkin with a
Celtic pagan practice in which root vegetables were hollowed out and carved and illuminated by light from the
inside as a way to ward off evil spirits.
The practice of carving pumpkins orignated from an Irish myth about a man called "Stingy Jack", he invited
the Devil to have a drink with him, and once the Devil did, Jack did not want to pay for his drink and so he
tricked the Devil to turn into the coin to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did, Jack decided to keep the money
next to his cross in his pocket which prevented the Devil from transforming back. Jack eventually freed the
Devil under the condition that he would not bother Jack for a year and that, should Jack die and the Devil
will not claim his soul. The passing year, Jack tricked the Devil again, into climbing a tree to pick a piece of
fruit, Jack carved a cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised
Jack not to bother him for ten more years.
Sources:
- History Of The Jack O' Lantern Irish Origins
- The twisted transatlantic tale of American jack-o’-lanterns
- The History Of Jack O' Lanterns
Created By: Kaitlyn on November 9th, 2021©