Stingy Jack & the Birth of the Jack O’Lantern

Aimee Cleary
Oct 14
2 min read

On a chilly night in a quaint Irish village, a notorious drunkard named Stingy Jack resided. His infamy for trickery resonated through twisted alleys and dimly lit pubs, reaching far beyond the emerald hills. Even the Devil heard whispers of his name. On one fateful night, the Devil’s burning curiosity drew him up from the dark, fiery depths to engage with Jack. Being a wily rogue with a taste for mischief, Jack invited the Devil for a pint at a local pub. They savored the bitter ale as the moon climbed higher in the night sky, but when the bill arrived, Stingy Jack, with a twinkle of deceit in his eyes, convinced the Devil to morph into a shiny coin for the payment. However, instead of settling the bill, Jack pocketed the coin next to a silver cross, trapping the Devil.

After an agonizing stint in Jack’s pocket, the Devil was finally freed under the condition that he would leave Jack untouched for a year. With no other choice, the Devil begrudgingly agreed. As the seasons changed and the leaves turned, a year swiftly flew by, and the Devil emerged from the shadows. Jack cleverly persuaded the Devil to climb a gnarled old tree for a juicy, crimson apple. Once he ascended, Jack swiftly etched a cross onto the rough bark, trapping the Devil once more. This time, with a voice trembling with rage and despair, the Devil vowed to leave Jack untouched for ten more years. Yet, fate had other plans, and Jack found himself facing death soon after.

Heaven denied Jack entry for his sinful, mischievous life, and Hell, still bound by the Devil’s vow, reluctantly did the same. Yet, with a mocking gesture, the Devil tossed Jack a single burning ember from the fiery pits to light his way through the eternal darkness. With a flicker of his cunning, Jack hollowed out an old turnip, placed the ember within, and began his endless roam on earth, marking the inception of Jack of the Lantern.