Isn't he cute? I just love him. I was so ready for fall. I also learned something new. I asked my husband and he didn't know so I figured others may not know, if you do, I'm sorry, jsut fly on by, but you might learn something too!
It seems that the Irish brought the tradition of the Jack O'Lantern over to America. Alos it wasn't orginally a pumpkin and the legend goes back hundreds of years.
Apparently Stingy Jack was a miserable old drunk who liked to play tricks on everyone: family friends, his mother even the Devil himself. One day, he tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree. Once the Devil climbed up the apple tree, Stingy Jack hurriedly placed crosses around the trunk of the tree. The Devil was then unable to get down the tree. Stingy jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died. Once the devil promised not to take his soul, Stingy Jack removed the crosses and let the Devil Down. Many years later, when Jak finally died, he went to the pearly gates of Heaven and was told by St. Peter that he was too mean and too cruel and had led a miserable and worthless life on earth.He was not allowed to enter heaven. he then went down to Hell and the Devil. The Devil kept his promise and would not allow him to enter Hell.
Jack was left with nowhere to go but to wander about forever in the darkness between heaven and hell. He asked the Devil how he could leave as there was no light. the devil tossed him an ember from the flames of Hell to help him light his was. Jack placed th ember in a hollowed out Turnip, one of his favorite foods which he always carried around with him whenever he could steal one. From that day onward, Stingy Jack roamed the earth without a resting place, lighting his way as he went with his 'Jack O'Lantern'.
On all Hallow's eve the Irish hollowed out Turnips rutabagas, gourds, potatoes, and beets. They placed a light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jak away. These were the original Jack O'Lanterns. In the 1800's a couple of waves of Irish immigrants came to America. The Irish immigrants quickly discoverd the Pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve out so they used pumpkins for Jack O'Lanterns!
So the story goes!
Cozyflier
3 comments:
Well I didn't know the origins of Jack O'Lantern either Carrie.
I love all things Irish so I found this story very interesting!
Very adaptable those Irish folk!
Love the photo too.
Hugs
Peggy xxxx
I didn't know the story behind the Jack O'Lantern. It is a neat story. Thanks for sharing.
I'm glad you ladies liked the story. I feel better knowing I wasn't alone in being uninformed!
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