Halloween Discussion Forums, Costumes, Horror!

An Irish myth tells of a man named Stingy Jack, who one day invited the Devil to have a drink. He convinced the Devil to change into a sixpence in order to pay for the drink, but instead of paying for the drink he pocketed the sixpence beside a silver cross which prevented the Devil from changing back. Jack made a deal with the Devil before letting him free. For one year the Devil could not harass Jack. Next Halloween, the Devil met up with Jack again, and Jack made another deal with him to be left alone. Jack died within the year and was turned back from the Gates of Heaven. He went to the Gates of Hell and the Devil told him to go away, as Jack had made promise not to claim his soul. Jack didn't want to leave because it was dark and couldn't find his way. The Devil tossed Jack a glowing coal and Jack put it inside the turnip, and ever since with this jack o' lantern, Jack has been roaming the faces of this earth.

Scottish children hollow out and carve large turnips and put candles in them. Irish children use turnips or potatoes. In parts of England they use large beets. When the Scottish and the Irish camer to the USA they found pumpkins, which of course make a perfect Jack O' Lantern. It is also said that a jack-o-lantern protected homes from the evil spirits lurking about on Halloween.