Something Wicked This Way Comes
My wife combs through the candy to find any suspect or malicious nuggets of sugary goodness through the mounds of candy my son, the All Hallows Eve prospector, received trick-or-treating. The Jack O’ Lanterns lit on the porch stare, standing vigil against the myriad of spooks seeking refuge in our house as the evening winds to a close. 
One of the Jack O’ Lanterns lighting the porch signifies the first pumpkin hollowed out and carved by my son in a tradition that spans centuries. Stingy Jack, based on Irish folklore, invited the devil for a drink. The festivities ended when Jack, true to his name, refused to pay the barkeep for the drinks and in a ghoulish plan convinced the devil to turn himself into a coin to pay for the beverages. Once the devil had changed, Jack decided to keep the coin and plopped it into his pocket next to a silver cross, thus preventing the devil from changing back. Jack eventually freed the devil on the condition that the devil not return for a year and if Jack ever died, the devil would not collect his soul.
The next year the devil appeared for dinner. Jack being a crafty one soon convinced the devil to retrieve some delicious fruit from the upper branches of a tree for supper. Once the devil had ascended, Jack quickly carved the sign of a cross into the bark on the trunk of the tree, trapping the devil among the branches. Furious, the devil agreed not to bother Jack for 10 more years.The legend reports that Jack died before the 10 years was up, and true to his word, the devil did not collect Jack’s soul…but therein lay a problem. God did not want such an unsavory soul in heaven and the devil would not collect Jack’s soul. Humiliated and angry at Jack’s tricks, the devil cast Jack into the darkness of night with only a piece of coal to light his way. Jack carved a turnip for the chunk of coal and wanders the night to this day.
The Scots and the Irish soon began carving their own scary version of Jack’s lantern out of potatoes and turnips and placing them in windows or near doors to frighten Stingy Jack or any other wandering spirits away. Soon after arriving in the Americas, people found pumpkins, a native fruit, perfect for making Jack O’ Lanterns and the tradition continues.
Hope everyone had a great Halloween…even you Chelene.
posted by zombie at
8:47 PM
12 Comments:
I love Hallowe'en stories. It's a day that is so rich with tradition. I wasn't familiar with this particular tale, thanks for telling it.
And happy Hallowe'en from one zombie to another.
I'm a sucker for a Halloween tale myself, must be a zombie thing. It was my pleasure Barbara, thanks for stopping by and Happy Halloween to you as well.
Happy Halloween a day late or Happy all Saints Day!
Great story. I'm suprised I didn't know that one.
Thanks there JACC...I always liked that story.
I didn't know that story, Zombie. Cool.
And thanks for the good wishes, I'm finally sugar-free.
That story rocked Zombie :) And the pictures, what a DOLL!
Cool monsters...
Thanks Chelene...good while it lasted wasn't it.
Seems like just yesterday he was on wobbly legs, pointing and grunting at things he wanted...now he's a little person. Thanks Mel.
Appreciate it Alex, thanks for stopping by.
He looks like a very very happy boy :)
thank you for clearing up where the jack-o-lantern thing comes from!
i hope you had a fabulous halloween!
Aaaw. Your little guy looks so cute.
I did not know that about jack o lanterns Zombie... Interesting.
He really is Mel, you could hit him with a rock and he'd say thanks and ask if he could play with it now (not that I've ever hit him with a rock or anything).
Thanks Angel, hope you did as well. Only wish Halloween came twice a year.
Hey Slaygirl, appreciate it...I just wish I got the ooohs and aaws he gets from the girls now when I was in high school.
Glad you all enjoyed the story!
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