Jack ‘O Lantern legend may have started in 17th century Europe
By L.J. Gambone
Apple Valley Review
While it seems no one really knows for sure how the tradition of the Jack ‘O Lantern began, it is believed by historians that it dates back to 17th century Europe. The term, which means “man with a lantern,” also is a nickname for the ignis fatuus (fool’s fire), a mysterious phenomenon of flickering blue lights seen occasionally over the wetlands that are associated with ghosts and fairies.
Around 1887, British author Thomas Darlington used the term Jack ‘O Lantern in his book “The Folk-Speech of South Cheshire” to describe a lantern carved out of turnip with a candle placed inside.
The idea caught on and soon it became customary for Catholic children to carry turnip lanterns door-to-door to represent the souls of the dead while begging for soul cakes on Hallowmas (All Saints Day on Nov. 1).
In the world of folklore, the Jack ‘O Lantern’s origins are of a more spooky and creepy nature. According to “The Legend of Stingy Jack,” the carved pumpkin was named after a drunken Irishman named Stingy Jack. Jack met the Devil in a pub one day and literally sold his soul to him after convincing the Devil to turn himself into a sixpence that they could use to buy drinks for both of them. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the sixpence in his pocket, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil on the condition that the he would not come back to claim Jack’s soul for 10 years.
At the end of the 10 years, Jack died unexpectedly but God would not allow such an unsavory character into Heaven. The Devil also banned Jack from Hell as payback for betraying him. Jack was left aimlessly roaming the earth carrying a carved-out turnip with a piece of burning coal inside from the fires of Hell. The Irish referred to Jack’s ghost as “Jack of the Lantern” or “Jack ‘O Lantern,” as we commonly call it today.
Inspired by the legend, the custom of carving Jack ‘O Lanterns came to North America in the mid-19th century. However, people used pumpkins instead of turnips, as they were more readily available.
According to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, nearly 12.4 million pumpkins were harvested in the United States in 2012. The produce market took in nearly $150 million in pumpkin sales at processing plants, local markets and pumpkin patches during Halloween season.
Pumpkins belong to the gourd family, which includes cucumbers, honeydew melons, cantaloupe, watermelons and zucchini. These are all native to Central America and Mexico, but now grow on six continents.
Pumpkin patches in the High Desert:
Boulder Creek Harvest Festival
19909 Lemon St., Hesperia
11 a.m to dusk daily
Free admission
Open now through Oct. 31
Stu Miller’s Pumpkin Patch
11760 Dunia Road, Victorville
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Open now through Oct. 31