Friday, October 14, 2022

A History of the Jack O’Lantern



The jack-o’-lantern tradition can be traced back to the 1800s in Ireland when people began fashioning lanterns out of root vegetables to scare off a wicked mythical character who had been forced to wander the earth after making a deal with the devil.
Originally a lump of burning coal was placed inside a turnip or a potato and some of these creations were really scary-looking. 




Read the full story of Stingy Jack at Vintage Everyday

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:22 pm

    Ironic, the Irish, of which so many came here to escape starvation, would waste food.
    xoxoxoBruce

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    Replies
    1. It's difficult to eat with Stingy Jack breathing down your neck.

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  2. Now those are actually scary. Even scarier would be trying to carve a rutabaga (turnip)!
    ( Turnips are a favourite of ours. Mashed & with butter & some pepper, however cutting them up is not for the incautious.)
    Maybe we'll try a couple of potatoes this year...more our speed these days. ;)

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  3. A turnip lantern is perfect for scaring away trick or treaters when you've forgotten to buy candy.

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