Jacks Lantern

Long ago, the lanterns we carve weren’t called Jack. In fact, they weren’t even pumpkins. No, the original Halloween lanterns were small, humble turnips, like the one pictured here. Some say that these were used to replace the skull on a ritual alter… after that, they were to scare away dark spirits… but sometimes, they’re just used for light. Just like Old Jack does, to this very day.

You see, Jack was a clever man, in life. And he was always making such mischief, he made the lives of all around him miserable. So when he came across The Devil one Hallow’s eve, he found it more of a challenge than a fright.

The Devil said he had come to end Jack’s life and take him to Hell, but Jack seemed unphased. Disappointed by the lack of fear in jack’s eyes, The Devil snarled, “Why don’t you quake? Why don’t you quiver? Why don’t you beg for mercy you know will not come?”

The Devil found himself even more enraged when Jack laughed and replied, “Because I know you, Old Nick, and I know you’re not so powerful. Why, I’m sure you couldn’t even do so much as climb that tree and take the last leaf on it down to Hell, let alone take me!”

This was an insult The Devil wouldn’t allow. “Hah! I’ll show you!” he roared, and he tore up the tree. He reached the top bough and snatched the last remaining leaf off of the branch. Victorious, he looked down at Jack. “It was easy!”

”But you’re not done yet!” Jack laughed. And in a flash, he whipped out his knife, and slashed a cross into the bark of the tree. Suddnely, The Devil had a problem… he couldn’t move past the cross, and was stuck in the tree! He yowled like a cat, he roared like the wind, and he wailed like a banshee as he watched Jack wander off down the road.

After that, Jack lived a long, eventful life, but like all men, he eventually died. When he stood at the gates of Heaven, his life of mischief and misery-making permitted him from entering. However, when he reached Hell even The Devil wouldn’t have him.

The Devil cast his spirit back into the world of men… with only a turnip lantern to see by, to remind him of his mischief that one Halloween night.

So, if you see a man out wandering this Halloween night with only a turnip lantern for light, you may want to offer your pumpkin to him. He can use all the light he can get in his dark and bleak existence.

(Want another story? I'll (Poorly) tell you another Halloween tale on my Youtube: [link] )