The Legend of Jack O’ Lantern
Jack O’Lantern by Diane Newcomer
The Legend of Jack of the Lantern- Stingy Jack
Ever wonder about the origins of Jack-O-Lanterns?
I never wondered about the origins of Jack O’Lanterns until I started learning more about Halloween. Jack-O-Lanterns come from an Irish legend called Stingy Jack. (With my grandparents on both sides being O’Gara and O’Kelly you’d think I would have figured out the Jack O’Lantern had Irish origins.)
Inspired by the existing retellings of Stingy Jack I’ve pieced together and reimagined the Legend of Jack O’Lantern.
The Legend of Jack of the Lantern
There once was a man named Stingy Jack. He wondered about the town often drunk and without companions. He was a cheater and trickster through and through. One night Jack while roaming the countryside he ran into the Devil. Knowing he was a drunk and an unworthy man deserving of the Devil collecting his soul, Jack knew it was his time, but he also longed for one more drink. He asked if the Devil would spare him one last drink before it was his time to depart. The Devil had heard of Jack’s reputation and wanted to spend a little time with this man. Together they drank and when the time came to pay Jack had “forgotten” all his coins at home. He convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin and turn back while Jack was not looking. Not fulfilling his side of the bargain, Jack peaked. The Devil did not turn into an ordinary coin but instead, a glimmering coin that Jack could not resist. Jack looked and promptly collected the coin, putting the Devil into his pocket next to a silver cross. Being placed next to the cross the Devil was stuck unable to transform back. He convinced Jack to free him in exchange for not coming to collect his soul for ten years. They both agreed and the Devil went on his way.
Ten years later to the day the Devil and Jack met. This time Jack was wondering about near an apple orchard at harvest time. The Devil was ready to collect Jack’s soul. Jack again had a request. Could he please have one last apple? Jack was now old and feeble, unable to climb the tree. The Devil knowing how tempting apples can be to humans and secretly admiring Jack decided to get him an apple. While the Devil was climbing the tree Jack drove crosses into the ground around the tree. The Devil was trapped again. After much persuasion, which the Devil happened to be incredibly skilled at, Jack agreed to let him down, but not without a price. Jack made the Devil promise he would never collect his soul. The Devil agreed and Jack released him.
Eventually, Jack drank himself into eternity. Upon reaching Gates of St. Peter he was not let in. While he knew the power of using the cross, his name was not written in the Book of Life. He had never repented and believed in Christ. He was now forced to the Gates of Hell. The Devil knew old Jack and reminded him of their deal. He would not collect Jack’s soul. Jack was forced to roam the earth for eternity just as he had in life. As Jack left the Gates of Hell the Devil gave him a gift, a burning coal to remind him of the glimmering silver coin, and a hallowed out turnip to remind him of the harvest of the earth that Jack had used to trick him. Now Jack roams the earth with a coal in a lantern made from the harvest of the earth.
Reflection Questions
How does Jack trick the Devil?
Are there ways in your life that you are using Christian symbols to replace a relationship with Jesus?
Read Acts 19:11-20. How does this passage relate to the Legend of Jack of the Lantern?
Reflect on Jack's ultimate fate. How does his lack of repentance and belief in Jesus influence his afterlife? What lessons can be gleaned from this aspect of the story?
Redeeming the Legend
As we have fun carving pumpkins this year, we can remember the importance of repenting and believing in Christ. We can also remember that Jesus is the Light of the World.
Jesus tells us in John 8:12, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” NIV
By using our creativity to carve out pumpkin lanterns we can remember how God loves to create and Jesus light shines even through the darkest nights.
