I had never really thought about where the origin of pumpkin carving came from, but stumbled across an interesting article today that explained it all. The carving originates from Irish folklore and has quite a tale behind it that I think you might find interesting.
According to legend, there was a man named "Stingy Jack", who didn't like to pay for anything (thus "Stingy"). One night, he was having a drink with the Devil. During their exchange, Stingy Jack convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin so he could pay for the drinks. The Devil agreed and turned himself into a coin. However, Stingy Jack did not use this "Devil Coin" to pay for the drinks. Instead, he put the coin in his pocket, next to a silver cross. Because the coin was next to a cross, the Devil could not turn back into his original form and he remained a coin.
Stingy Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Stingy Jack for one year and that, should Stingy Jack die, he would not claim his soul.
The next year came and went and since the year was up, the Devil appeared. Stingy Jack tricked the Devil into climbing a tree to pick a piece of fruit for him. Once the Devil was high up in the tree, Stingy Jack carved a cross into the bark of the tree so the Devil could not come down. Stingy Jack then revealed his "deal" to the Devil. If the Devil promised not to bother him for the next ten years, he would let him come out of the tree. The Devil agreed.
What Stingy Jack didn't know, is that he would die soon after this deal struck and long before ten years was up.
God refused to allow a person with the character and soul like Stingy Jack into heaven. So he sent him to the Devil. The Devil, angry with all the trickery Stingy Jack had used on him and his promise of not claiming his soul when he died, would not allow him into hell.
As such, the Devil sent Stingy Jack 's soul off into the dark night with only a burning coal for light. Stingy Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth ever since. As time went on and this folktale grew, the Irish began to refer to "Stingy Jack" as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern".
It is said, in Ireland and Scotland, where this tale originates, people began to make their own versions of Jack's lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes (the use of pumpkins did not take place until this tradition was introduced in the United States) and placing them into windows or near doors. They did this in an effort to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits.
So, as you carve up your next pumpkin this Halloween season, always remember the story of Stingy Jack and the eternal deal he made with the Devil.
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