I never knew where the Jack-o’-Lantern came from, but a newsletter that I get (for a company that I cannot recommend, so I won’t name) described one version of the legend behind it recently, and it’s sufficiently interesting that I wanted to pass it on.

The tale, apparently hundreds of years old, comes from Ireland and tells the story of a man called Stingy Jack. In this version, Jack was a miserable old drunk who liked to play tricks on everyone. One day he even tricked the Devil himself, convincing him to climb an apple tree, whereupon Jack quickly placed crosses around the tree to trap him there until the Devil agreed not to take Jack’s soul when he died.

Years later, Jack died, but at the gates of Heaven he was told that he was too cruel to be let in. He tried Hell, but the Devil gleefully said that he never broke an agreement and wouldn’t allow Jack in there either. Jack cried that he had nowhere to go, the darkness between Heaven and Hell was too absolute, so the Devil spitefully tossed him an ever-burning ember from Hell itself to light his way. Jack happened to enjoy turnips, and had one on him, so he hollowed it out and placed the ember within.

From then on, Stingy Jack was doomed to wander the earth without a resting place, lighting his way with this turnip, and was referred to as Jack-of-the-Lantern, or Jack-o’-Lantern.

The original Jack-o’-Lanterns were made from turnips, gourds, potatoes, beets, and similar items. On All Hallow’s Eve, the Irish would carve them out and place a light in them “to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away.” Irish immigrants to America soon discovered that pumpkins, due to their size, were easier to carve out than turnips and beets, and the modern Jack-o’Lantern was born.

There are apparently several variations on the story too, which you can find on the Wikipedia page.