lute@abnjh.UUCP (J. Collymore) (10/01/84)
Well, everyone, it's that time of year again. I had so many compliments on
this Halloween folk tale that I posted last year, that I thought I'd post it
again this year. This time I'm posting it in plenty of time for you all to
share it with your children, students and neighbors.
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HOW THE JACK O' LANTERN GOT ITS NAME
(AN IRISH FOLK TALE)
There was once a very old, miserly man named Jack. He was even more miserly
and selfish than Scrooge. No one in the town liked him at all, which just
made him more bitter and miserly.
Well, one day, Jack took a walk out to a nearby woods and proceeded to take a
nap under a tree. Suddenly, Jack awoke to find the devil sitting next to him
smiling evilly. The devil had long been following Jack's selfish and
greedy ways and wanted to make a bargain for Jack's soul. Well, of course
Jack was terrified of this prospect, but you don't get rich by not using your
head, so Jack quickly formed a plan.
Jack told the devil that he couldn't make deals on an empty stomach, so would
the devil please climb the tree and get him a piece of fruit. The Devil agreed
and climbed the tree. Once up in the tree, Jack took out a knife and carved a
cross into the bark of a tree. Now as everyone knows, the devil can't pass over
the sign of the cross, so the devil was stuck up in the tree indefinitely.
The devil was (needless to say) furious with Jack and threatened Jack terribly.
Jack said that HE would offer the devil a deal: If the Devil promised never,
in anyway to try and take Jack's soul, he would scratch out the cross so the
devil could get down. The Devil didn't like this at all, but neither did he
like the prospect of being up a tree forever, so the devil grudgingly
agreed to Jack's terms. So saying, Jack scratched away the cross and let the
devil down. The devil then vanished.
Well, Jack died eventually, and his spirit went to heaven, but upon reaching
the Gates to Heaven, his way was barred by Saint Peter. Saint Peter said
that a man who had led such a narrow and uncharitable life could not be
permitted entrance to Heaven. Jack was shocked, and he begged and pleaded
with Saint Peter to let him in, but still he was denied.
Accepting his fate, Jack turned and proceeded to the only other place that
his soul could go, so he proceeded to Hell. Well, when he got to the Gates of
Hell, the devil was there. When Jack asked admittance, the Devil mockingly
told him that under different circumstances Jack could have entered, but he
reminded Jack of the deal they had made. So sayingly, Jack could not stay in
Hell, either. Jack had no place to go, and realized with horror that he
must walk the Earth (in purgatory) forever!
Well, since damned souls cannot be abroad during the light of day, they must
walk the Earth at night. So Jack's soul wandered the Earth looking for a
place to rest. Especially on Halloween, which you know is slang for "All
Hallow's Eve", the night all souls of the dead roam the earth.
Well, Jack wanted to light his way on his endless search, so he dug up a
large turnip, cut out holes in it, and he placed a lighted candle inside of
it, making it into a lantern. He then went forth, into the night mists
searching for a place that his soul may rest.
And that is why we call it to this day, a Jack O' Lantern (meaning: the
Lantern of Jack), and why we see it every Halloween.
It is also said that lighting the Jack O' Lantern, and placing it in your
window, helps light the way for all the lost and wandering souls on this
particular night.
(I hope you all enjoyed this story.)
Happy Halloween,
Jim Collymore