Jack O' Lantern

[hauntmaster]

Many superstitions and symbols are connected with Halloween. The Irish have a tale about the origin of jack-o-lanterns. They say that a man named Jack was unable to enter Heaven because of his miserliness. He could not enter Hell because he had played practical jokes on the devil. So he had to walk the earth with his latern until Judgment Day.


Please share your thoughts here...

[Red Hot]

Yes, I heard about this legend. Poor soul.

[hauntmaster]

Yep... I don't know how the story began out there. I believe there were some rumors about Jack-O-Latern for over 50 years or so. Very interesting!

[Red Hot]

I believe people first cut out turnips before pumpkins!

[iScreamUscreamWeAllScream]

I heard that, too, Red. Or any gourd really.

[hauntmaster]

Hey, I'm the Pumpkin Master! I love to crave the pumpkins and been there like what, 4 or 5 years from now... I'm still doing it this year again...

[Red Hot]

One year, I carried this enormous pumpkin, that I had cut out as a horror face, and I dropped it. It rolled down the front steps and broke into pieces! My neighbor was outside when it happened and we did not know if we should laugh or cry!

[hauntmaster]

Oh, no... your pumpkin broke into pieces when it fell on the steps? You should be very carefully this time. It has never happenned to me before because I am very sensitive being careful with it.

[Red Hot]

The pumpkin was HUGE and quite heavy! I will never put one outside ever again!:p

[hauntmaster]

You should get regular large pumpkin, not too huge like EXTRA LARGE! Ha Ha!

[Red Hot]

I follow that advice now. Lol!

[hauntmaster]

I read there is another story I've seen it on the halloween forum. I thought it was good idea to share here...


An Irish myth tells of a man named Stingy Jack, who one day invited the Devil to have a drink. He convinced the Devil to change into a sixpence in order to pay for the drink he pocketed the sixpence beside a silver cross which prevented the Devil from changing back. Jack made a deal with the Devil before letting him free. For one year the Devil could not harass Jack. Next Halloween, the Devil met up with Jack again, and Jack made another deal with him to be left alone. Jack died within the year and was turned back from the Gates of Heaven. He went to the Gates of Hell and the Devil told him to go away, as Jack had made promise not to claim his soul. Jack didn't want to leave because it was dark and he couldn't find his way. The Devil tossed Jack a glowing coal and Jack put it inside a turnip, and ever since with this jack o' latern, Jack has been roaming the faces of this earth.

Scottish children hollow out and carve large turnips and put candles in them. Irish children use turnips or potatoes. In parts of England they use large beets. When the Scottish and he Irish came to USA they found pumpkins, which of course make a perfect jack o' latern. It is also said that a jack o' latern protected homes from the evil spirits lurking about on Halloween.

[Red Hot]

As always, you entertain us with remarkable information, Haunt!