Pumpkin Carving and a History
The origination of the Jack O Lantern design stems from an Irish myth about a man named "Stingy Jack". Jack was banned from heaven and the Devil who had been tricked by Jack was unable to claim his soul for Hell.
Jack was condemned to wander the earth but had no light for his way. The Devil threw him an ember from the fires of Hell which he put into a hollowed out turnip. This turnip turned into a lantern to light Jack's way as he wander the earth. His name soon became Jack Of The Lantern then as the story evolved and came to America, simply, Jack O' Lantern.
The tradition in Ireland was to hollow out turnips, potatoes, beets and rutabagas with the likeness of Jack. This image was used to scare away ghosts and spirits by frightening them with Jack's damned soul.
A great potato famine took place in 1846-47 in Ireland which caused refugees to flee. As they came to America so did their beliefs and traditions. Pumpkins were in abundance and readily available where turnips were not. Thus the pumpkin carved with Jack's likeness became the Jack O' Lantern that is regularly placed outside during the Halloween season.
History of the Jack O Lantern
This video contains information about the Jack O' Lantern's history and how it came to be that an Irish myth about a drunkard named "Stingy Jack" eventually became Jack of the Lantern. It explains how the original lantern Jack used made out of turnip came to be placed outside during Halloween in the form of a pumpkin carved as a Jack O Lantern design.
Free Jack O Lantern Design
Free Jack O Lantern design template to use for carving your pumpkin this Halloween season. A skull and crossbones design is displayed. It can be used to scare the ghosts and goblins away.
References
Fast Facts
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Origination
The original Jack O' Lantern came from an Irish myth about "Stingy Jack".
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Stingy Jack
"Stingy Jack" tricked the Devil.
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God and The Devil
Stingy Jack tricked the Devil into not claiming his soul. However, when Jack died, God found Stingy Jack to be an unsavory character so his soul was not granted entry into heaven. The Devil being unable to claim Jack's soul could not permit him into Hell either.
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Jack's Despair
Jack, having been denied Heaven and Hell, asked the Devil how he was to be on his way when there was no light?
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Becoming Jack of the Lantern
The Devil tossed Jack an ember from the fires of Hell which Jack placed into a hollowed out turnip. From that day forward Stingy Jack became Jack of the Lantern. The embers of hell burned through the turnip to light Jack on his way with no where to rest.
