History of jack'o lanterns

(Art Credit to NoeleoNl on Deviantart)

Have you ever heard the story behind our beloved halloween decoration? Well, if you've ever wondered where the tradition of Jack'o lanterns came from, this is the story

  The story starts in 19th century Ireland. There was a Man who everyone had nicknamed "Stingy Jack". And his name was very fitting. The story goes, that one night, Jack had invited the devil to come have a drink with him. Now, being true to his nick name, Jack didn't want to pay for his drink. So he convinced the devil to turn himself into a coin to pay for the drinks, so they they wouldn't have to actually pay. The devil thinks about it and agrees, turning himself into a coin. However, instead of paying or the drink with the devil coin like he said he would, he put the devil in his pocket along with a silver cross, which trapped the devil in coin form and stopped him from changing back

  Jack eventually freed the devil, but under the condition that the devil would not come after Jack for one year, and that, if Jack should die within the next year, that his soul would not be taken to hell. Then, after the one year was up, the devil came for Jack. But he tricked the devil once again by convincing him to climb into a tree to pick a piece of fruit for Jack before the devil took him. Jack them carved a cross in the tree, trapping the devil and stopping him from climbing back down. Jack once again, l freed him after her promised not to bother Jack, this time for 10 years. and that if he should die before the devil comes for him, his soul would not be taken to hell. So the devil agreed, and Jack freed him, and he didn't bother him

  In those 10 years, Jack passed away, and per their agreement, The devil made sure Jack's soul was not taken to hell. But God did not want such a despicable person in Heaven, so Jack was cursed to walk the earth as a ghost for all of eternity. But the devil, gave Jack a single burning coal to light his path as he walked the dark cold earth. So Jack hollowed out a turnip to use as a lantern to hold his burning coal in to light his path. Jack has been roaming the earth ever since then, and the Irish started referring to him as "Jack of the lantern" which was then shortened to "Jack'O Lantern"

  In Ireland and Scottland, people began making their own versions of Jack's lanterns, hollowing out turnips and potatoes, and putting a burning coal in them to light them up. They also started carving scary faces in them to scare Stingy Jack away and to make sure he wouldn't bother them. When Scottish and Irish Immigrants came to the united states they brought the tradition with them and people realized what amazing Jack'O lanterns Pumpkins made and it became the go to vegetable for making Jack'O Lanterns out of

  The more you know! This has been a fun halloween fact/Story, let me know what you thought and I might do more of these periodically. I know a lot of spooky stories/legends/histories/and fun facts and I love to share them :) <3