The legend of ‘Stingy Jack’ stems from a rather shady character in Irish Folklore. He is believed to be the man who inspired the Halloween Jack O’Lantern. Like several old myths, it does vary based on its storyteller. Many also refer to ‘Jack’ as Drunk Jack, Flaky Jack, Jack of the Lantern, and Jack the Smith.
He is often depicted as a blacksmith by trade and is usually described as a lying, thieving drunkard. All in all, it is pretty safe to say he was not a well-liked man.
I have outlined the most accepted account of this tale below. Please share any variations of the legend you may have come across in the comment section at the end of the article. Enjoy!
The Legend of Stingy Jack and the Jack O’Lantern
Many centuries ago in a small Irish village lived a blacksmith named Jack. He was known to the villagers as Stingy Jack, a despicable inebriate who was not to be trusted. Often referred to as a master manipulator and trickster.
Each night it was said that Jack would visit the local pub and drink until the early hours of the morning. On one such evening, he had no money but made his way there all the same. He came upon a strange figure lying on the ground. Curious, he approached the body only to discover it was the Devil. He had come to collect his wretched soul. In a panic, Jack begged for one last drink. In true ‘Stingy Jack’ style, he made a deal with the Devil; that if he was to pay for the drink he would gladly give him his soul.
Little did the Devil know, he was about to become the next victim of Jack’s deceitful nature. Not wanting to reveal himself, the Devil turned into a coin to pay for Jack’s final drink. Cunningly, Jack placed the coin next to a silver crucifix in his pocket, thus trapping to Devil inside the coin. He said to Satan, “I would like to make another deal. If you promise to spare my soul from Hades for another 10 years I will set you free and remove the coin from my pocket”. The Devil agreed.
A Decade Later
A decade had passed and the Devil returned for Jack’s soul. Standing next to an apple tree, Jack asked if he could please have one last apple. The Devil granted the request, then Jack said he was unable to reach the apple. He asked the Devil if he could climb up and get it for him. Seeing no harm to the request, the Devil ventured up the tree. Jack quickly laced the ground below with crucifixes. Thus preventing the Devil from leaving the tree. Once again Jack had deceived the Devil and wanted to make him one last deal. He said I will only let you out of this tree if you agree to never take my soul. The Devil agreed and Jack was free.
What Became of Stingy Jack?
The day finally came where Stingy Jack’s wayward life had come to an end. He could outsmart the Devil, but like the rest of us, he could not outsmart death. Jack made his way to the gates of heaven and begged St Peter to let him in. He refused and said it was due to Jack’s wicked ways and grievous nature. Not wanting to spend an eternity in the darkness between Heaven and Hell he made his way to Hades.
The Devil greeted him at the gates of Hell. ‘Please let me in’ Jack pleaded. The Devil, in keeping his word, could not allow him to enter. He threw Jack one ember from the depths of Hell. Jack placed it in a hollowed-out turnip to avoid burning his hands. This became the famous Jack O’Lantern we know today. Each year during Halloween many believe the veil between our world and that of the dead thins. Jack crosses over into our world and tries to find a place to rest.
Tim Zulewski – CricketBow Design – www.cricketbow.com
The Jack O’Lantern Today
The Potato Famine in Ireland, and other parts of Northern Europe, began in 1845. It known as the Great Hunger and it continued for several years. This caused many people to leave their homeland, and head to what we now call, the United States of America. They brought many of their age-old traditions and beliefs along with them. This included carving gourds to fend off evil spirits during Halloween. This time of the year is also known as Samhain. The pumpkins in America proved great for carving.
Skip to the early 2oth century, and numerous artists were depicting pumpkins as a symbol of Halloween. Today when people think of the Jack O’Lantern, they think of a pumpkin. Many are unaware that it evolved from Irish lore about a wretched drunkard called Stingy Jack.
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