The History of Jack-O-Lanterns

Once again, it's that time of year. Halloween is rolling around, and the theme of horror will take hold in many cultures this upcoming October 31st. As a legitimate tradition, it seemed appropriate to explore the Halloween theme in an encyclopedia on reality. While a wide variety of topics may be explored in relation to this theme, a common symbol of Halloween is the Jack-O'Lantern. On the night of trick or treating, their omnipresent carved faces illuminate the dark streets on each child's quest for candy and sweets. But where did these figures originate, and what was the purpose of their invention? Let us examine further

The traditional Jack-O'Lantern was created through the festival of Samhain, which involved the use of lighting inside of vegetables, usually turnips and potatoes, combined with the carvings of grotesque faces to create the appearance of evil spirits. It was believed on October 31st that the barrier between the spirit world and earth was weakened, allowing spirits to return to earth for a night. The faces of the Jack-O'Lanterns were used to deter evil agents from entering one's home and causing misfortune.

         

While this was the purpose of the Jack-O'Lantern, their prominence was culturally tied to the story of Stingy Jack, an Irish folktale of a tightwade who managed to trick the devil. A drunkard, Jack was in a local tavern when Satan himself appeared. Jack, undeterred, invited the Devil to his table for a drink. Afterwards, he asked the Devil to turn into a coin that could pay for the drinks, after which he placed a silver cross into his pocket, preventing the devil from changing back.

Unable to constantly maintain the Devil's presence, Jack did eventually free him, but only on the condition that Satan not claim his soul for a decade. Reluctantly agreeing, the Devil left him and Jack continued on in life, as miserable in these ten years as he was before.

A decade later, while walking a dark street, the Devil appeared before him again, ready to take his soul. But this time, Jack had a plan prepared. He asked that the Devil retrieve an apple for him so that he may taste life one last time. The Devil agreed, climbing a tree to retrieve the apple. In that moment, Jack rapidly carved a cross into the trunk, preventing the Devil from descending. At the devil's behest, Jack only agreed to liberate him should he denounce his claims to Jack's soul. Reluctantly, the Devil agreed, leaving Jack to live his life.

Ironically, it wasn't long after this when Jack finally died. First, his soul ascended to heaven, where he was greeted by St. Peter at the gates. Being a miserable soul, Jack was prevented from entering paradise and ordered to descend into hell. Obligingly, Jack descended, meeting the Devil at it's gates. The Devil, fulfilling his promise to not take Jack's soul, refused to permit entrance into hell. Jack, panicked, realizes this means he will be condemned to wander through the darkness between heaven and hell. To assist with eternity, the devil hands him coals from hell so that he may have a source of illumination.

On returning to earth, Jack carves a turnip, hollowing it out and placing the coal inside. From there, Jack uses the turnip as his source of illumination to wander the earth for eternity. In reference, he became known as "Jack of the lantern", hence the term "Jack-O'Lantern."

This story was seen as an explanation for the phenomenon of "Will-O-the-Wisp", strange lights which appeared over peat bogs. These lights were thought to be Jack's soul, wandering the confines of earth in his eternal limbo.

Since the days of Samhain, Irish immigrants arriving in North America began using pumpkins as the materials for Jack-O'Lanterns. Discovering pumpkins were an easier material for carving, the pumpkin became the replacement for turnips and potatoes. From there, the modern Jack-O'Lantern slowly evolved, reflecting less a superstitious need for control and more an aesthetic of halloween fun. Now, the decor of their humorous or malicious faces should serve as more than mere aesthetic, for these decorations reflect a rich aspect of human history and psychology.