Around October every year, we not only spice our pumpkins, but we carve them. Some people have a gift for making elaborate scenes or characters, but the jack-o'-lantern started as just another scary face. One reason given for those devilish grins hearkens back to an Irish folktale about Stingy Jack - the man who had a drink with the devil, according to History.
As the story goes, Stingy Jack asked the devil to have a drink, but, as he was not called Generous Jack, he tried to weasel out of paying. Jack convinced the devil to transform himself into a coin, which Jack then pocketed next to a silver cross which kept the devil from reverting back to his original self.
After a while, Jack let the devil go, but only if the devil stayed away from Jack for a year and would not take Jack's soul, in case of his death. The next year, Jack tricked the devil again. This time, Jack trapped the devil atop a tree. Again, Jack freed his captive, only this time with the condition that the devil leave Jack alone for 10 more years.
(You would think that after the first time, the devil would know not to play with Stingy Jack).
Ashes to ashes, Jack eventually died. God did not want him. Neither did the devil. The devil kicked Jack out and sent him away with just a lit coal to see in the dark, dark night.
Legend has it, our pal Jack put the coal into a hollowed-out turnip and continues to roam the land. The Irish called this mythical figure "Jack of the Lantern."
After coming to America, immigrants figured out that carving out a pumpkin was much easier than cutting up a turnip or potato and a tradition (originally to ward off evil spirits) was born.
This story was adapted from folkore as told by History and other sources.
