I found and article about the history of the Jack o'lantern, it explains that this tradition began long time ago from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack”, who tricked the devil several times, “Stingy Jack” even tricked the devil by making him promise that when “Stingy Jack” die, the devil couldn’t claim his soul. Eventually “Stingy Jack” died but God didn’t allow him get into heaven, and he couldn’t get into hell because the devil had promised it. So the devil sent Jack off into the dark night with a kind of candle, that he put into a carved turnip. Now the pumpkin is used to remember jack of the lantern or simply Jack o'lantern.
It’s interesting to think about such a smart person that can trick the devil so easily, also is interesting to learn about the origin of that tradition, and read that few Americans really know why or when the jack o'lantern tradition began.
The history can be found here: http://www.history.com/topics/jack-olantern-history
I admit that I'd not heard that story, either, but it's really interesting. Thanks for researching and sharing it!
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