The story of Jack-o’-lantern combines Irish legend, Celtic tradition, and American cultural influences.
The Legend of Stingy Jack
The heart of the Jack-o’-lantern story is the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a man who managed to outwit the devil himself, but still ended up a fool.
Jack invited the devil to drink with him at a tavern. During the friendly gathering, Jack decided to trick the devil.
He offered to turn him into a coin under the pretext of not paying for the drink, and once the devil did so, Jack put him in a prepared purse with a silver cross hidden inside.
The devil was stuck in the form of a coin, and Jack began to bargain with him for the opportunity to be released. So they came to an agreement: Jack let the devil go, and the devil promised Jack that after his death his soul would not go to hell.
Years later, Jack died, but found no refuge in either heaven, where he was refused entry due to his wickedness, or in hell, since the devil kept his promise. Either out of spite or out of “kindness of heart,” the devil gave Jack a single ember to light his way in the darkness.
Jack placed the ember in a hollowed out turnip, and since then his ghost is said to wander the earth with this lamp, turning into Jack-o’-lantern.
Etymology and connection with swamp lights
The term “Jack-o’-lantern” was used in the 17th century to describe night watchmen with lanterns and was applied to the mysterious swamp lights (will-o’-the-wisps), common in the legends of many mythologies.
Different cultures and localities explained the phenomenon of swamp lights in their own way, but according to one of the variations of Celtic legends, these lights were represented by the souls of restless ghosts, like Jack, stuck on earth.
It was believed that with their glow they deliberately lured travelers into the swamp in order to destroy them in the swamps. Thus, by linking two legends, a new belief arose that these wandering lights were lanterns held by Jack himself.
Samhain origins
The roots of the Jack-o’-lantern image go back to the holiday of Samhain.
It was believed that at this time the world of the living and the dead touched, and spirits could freely wander among people.
To scare away sinister entities, the Celts carved faces on turnips and beets, creating frightening images, which they then placed near houses with fires inside.
These lanterns served both as protection from spirits and as a practical light to guide the way.
The transformation of the Jack-o’-lantern into a Halloween symbol
When Irish immigrants arrived in North America in the 19th century, they brought with them the tradition of creating Jack-o’-lanterns (from turnips and beets), but soon discovered that local pumpkins were better suited for carving than the usual root vegetables.
The pumpkins, being larger and softer, allowed for expressive and large faces. Thus, the Jack-o’-lantern acquired a new look from pumpkin, and quickly became a symbol of autumn holidays, and over time, the main attribute of Halloween.
Cultural influence and symbolism
Today, the Jack-o’-lantern is an important symbol of Halloween, personifying the spirit of the holiday.
It balances between fun and a slight effect of creepiness, and its appearance can vary from sinister to comical, emphasizing different facets of the holiday mood.
A pumpkin carved into a jack-o’-lantern with a candle inside now not only wards off evil spirits, but also creates a warm atmosphere, symbolizing autumn coziness and the approach of winter.
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