Have you ever wondered why jack-o’-lanterns glow on porches every October? The answer lies in an old Irish legend that has travelled across time and oceans.

Long ago, there was a man named Stingy Jack, a mischievous man with a knack for cheating both people and the Devil himself. One popular tale says that Jack invited the Devil for a drink but had no intention of paying the tab. He convinced the Devil to turn into a coin to cover the bill, then pocketed him next to a cross which trapped the Devil so he couldn’t change back. Jack only freed him after the Devil promised not to take his soul.

Years later, when Jack died, Heaven wouldn’t let him in because of his lifetime of dishonest shenanigans, and Hell, honouring the Devils promise, kept its word not to claim him. The Devil sent Jack away with only a burning coal to light his way through eternal darkness. To carry the coal, Jack hollowed out a turnip, placed the coal inside, and began wandering the earth. People called him “Jack of the Lantern,” which over time became “Jack O’Lantern.”

In Ireland and Scotland, people carved faces into turnips or large beets, placing candles inside to ward off Jack’s ghost and other wandering spirits. Immigrants brought the tradition to North America, where they discovered the pumpkin – a native fruit that was bigger, softer, and easier to carve. Pumpkins became the new face of the jack-o’-lantern.

The carved pumpkin took on a dual role: a festive decoration for autumn celebrations and a symbol meant to protect homes from mischief or wicked spirits during the darker months of the year. Over time, the protective superstition faded for most, but the tradition stuck – turning into an art form, a community activity, and a staple of Halloween.

So, when you carve a pumpkin and set it glowing on your porch, you’re echoing a centuries-old ritual meant to light the night, frighten away trouble, and maybe even keep Stingy Jack from knocking at your door.