Home LifestyleOklahoma History The History of the Jack-O’-Lantern

The History of the Jack-O’-Lantern

by The 100 Companies
jack o lanterns

Pumpkin carving is a Halloween tradition, and traditions always have a story behind them.

An Irish myth about “Stingy Jack” tells the tale of the jack-o’-lantern. Jack tricked and captured the devil, making him promise not to claim his soul in the afterlife in exchange for freedom.

When Jack died, God wouldn’t allow such corruption into heaven. The devil gave Jack a burning coal for light while he roamed the earth. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and Jack of the Lantern was born. Immigrants later brought this tradition to America, trading turnips for pumpkins.

Holly Hoehner, Jones PR

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