Turnback Tuesday looks at the history of the “Jack-O-Lantern”.
The name Jack-O-Lantern comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack. According to stories, Stingy Jack played tricks on the Devil and twice made the devil promise not to bother him.
When Jack did die, God would not allow an unsavory person into heaven. The Devil keeping his part of the bargain would not take Jack's soul or allow him into hell. The Devil gave Jack a piece of coal to light his way in the darkness. Jack put the coal into a carved out turnip and has been roaming with the lighted Turnip ever since.
In Ireland and Scotland, people made their own versions of Jack-O-Lanterns by carving out scary faces into turnips or potatoes. Then they put them in windows to frighten Stingy Jack and other evil spirits.
Immigrants from these countries brought their traditions to the United States and soon found that the American-grown pumpkins made perfect Jack-O-Lanterns. Stingy Jack was referred to as “Jack of the Lantern” and later became Jack-O-Lantern.
Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting history each week.
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