The History of Jack O’ Lanterns: What's Up With These Pumpkins on Halloween?

Halloween has always been associated with horrific beings, scary creatures and the commemoration of the souls of those who died. However, the modern world has created ways for the season to be everything but gloomy and frightening. If you look at your neighbor's backyard, you'll know what I'm talking about---PUMPKINS.

Every holiday has their trademark object. Trees are for Christmas just like eggs are for Easter. Out of all these holidays, the one that really makes everyone squeal with curiosity about its symbolism is by far, Halloween. Of all things, why are pumpkins the fad during Halloween? Witches and bats are quite self-explanatory and scary creatures being the theme of the season are unquestionable, but the Jack O' Lantern has been quite a source of fascination. People have been pimping their yards with Jack o' Lanterns from time immemorial during Hallow's Eve without knowing why they do such practice. This time, let's try to uncover the mystery behind the famous and Halloween-y Jack O' Lantern.

The Answer Goes Way Back in Ireland

The tradition of the Jack O' Lantern is originally from Ireland. It has its roots from an old legend that initially circulated around Ireland hundreds of years ago. However, Jack O' Lantern was not a pumpkin but a prankster dubbed as Stingy Jack. Stingy Jack was infamous among the village people as someone who would not bat an eyelash about playing callous tricks on people. However, his tricks were not only limited to children, his family, or his villagers. His pranks had taken off on a different level when he played a trick on the Devil himself.

One day, he tricked the Devil on climbing an apple tree. While the Devil was on his way to the top, Stingy Jack placed crosses around the tree naturally preventing the Devil from going down. Then, Stingy Jack drew the last straw when he made the Devil swear that the latter will not take his soul to hell upon death. The Devil was forced to promise for Jack to take away the crosses.

Years later, when Stingy Jack died, he went to the gates of Heaven thinking that it's the only place for him to go since the devil promised not to take his soul. However, Saint Peter said that his evil deeds when he was still alive would forfeit his entrance to Heaven. With no other place to go, Stingy Jack went to the gates of Hell expecting the Devil to accept him. However, the Devil turned out to be a man of his words. Stingy Jack was not accepted in Hell either because of his wager with the Devil. Instead, the Devil handed Stingy Jack a lantern to guide him on his way. Jack placed the lantern inside a carved pumpkin (or a turnip in other versions) and desperately sought for a place where his soul can rest. Just like some scary creatures without a place where their spirit could linger, Jack roamed the world of the living totting his "Jack O' Lantern".

What Pumpkins Have Become During Halloween

The Jack O' Lantern tradition was brought to America sometime in 1800 by Irish immigrants. Since then, pumpkin carving has been one of the highlights during Halloween. Scary creatures, cartoon characters, vampire and witches are made out of artistically carved out pumpkins.

These Jack O' Lanterns don't only decorate homes in America, but also in other parts of the globe. Some countries in Asia like Indonesia, Philippines and other have already incorporated the pumpkin-carving tradition into their own Halloween practices. This cultural assimilation has enriched customs done during Hallow's Eve.

This tradition has made Halloween into more than just a season when ghostly apparitions and scary creatures dominate. It also becomes a time to harness those gardening and artistic skills. Indeed, The Jack O' Lantern has created a whole new meaning to the word, PUMPKIN.

For more info: Scary Creatures