Onondaga Central
Anytime we see carved pumpkins, we automatically think about Halloween. The history of Jack-o-Lanterns dates back centuries. Jack-o-Lanterns originated in Ireland, where potatoes and turnips were often used instead of pumpkins. Irish immigrants brought this tradition to America. The name itself also comes from an Irish folktale about a man called Stingy Jack. In the legend, a man named Jack played tricks on the devil multiple times and got away with it. The devil promised Jack not to bother him and not to claim Jack's soul after he died. When Jack died, God did not let him enter heaven and the devil, keeping his promise, didn’t let him enter hell. The devil sent Jack away with a lump of burning coal to help light the way. As the myth goes, Jack put the coal into a turnip and has been walking around since; hence the name Jack of the lantern which turned into Jack O’Lantern. Next time you see a carved pumpkin, remember the man who tricked the devil and be careful if you see a man walking around with a lit turnip.
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