The Story Behind The Jack-O-Lantern

Have you ever wondered why we carve pumpkins as part of our Halloween traditions every year. This art and craft project is something that almost everybody has done, and children delight in sharing this fun activity with parents. Believe it or not, the infamous Jack-O-Lantern is Irish folklore that dates back centuries.

The story goes like this:

Jack, a farmer in his time, convinced Satan to climb up to the highest branch of a  tree using trickery. When Satan reached the top of the tree, Jack proceeded to carve a big cross in the bottom of the trunk. This Holy symbol in the tree trunk made it impossible for Satan to climb down and get out of the tree.

Jack literally made a deal with the Devil. He agreed to help him get out of the tree if the Devil promised to not tempt Jack again. When Jack finally passed away, he was not allowed into Heaven because of the sins he commited during life. He was also rejected from entering Hell due to tricking the Devil during his lifetime. His spirit was condemned and he was forced to wander Earth aimlessly, without ever being able to rest.

Jack took a turnip and carved a face into it. He then lit the turnip with an ember given to him by the Devil. He used the carved and lit turnip as a lantern that lit his path on his never ending journey on Earth. This is why he gained the name "Jack of the Lantern," which we now know as Jack-O-Lantern.

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