Who is Jack O’Lantern? Legend, pumpkins and «Trick-or-treat»

Who is Jack O’Lantern? Legend, pumpkins and «Trick-or-treat»


Jack was a farmer who cheated devil. When Jack died, devil threw him a flame that would never stop burning.

Jack cupped a turnip (his favorite food), put the flame into it and began to wander eternally around the world looking for a place to finally rest. Therefore he is Jack of the Lantern.

The Celtic tradition in Ireland and Scotland was to shape turnips (later pumpkins just because they are easier to shape) with the dark face of Jack. The pumpkins were placed in the windows to scare the devil and all the evil spirits.

The Celtic tradition tells Jack’s spirit comes out the night of Halloween asking house to house «trick or treat». The best is treat, because if you choose trick Jack use his powers to curse you.