Pumpkin carving is getting more popular with each passing year. That's a clear cut fact. Less than a generation ago, triangle-eyed jack-o-lanterns dominated porches on All Hallow's Eve. But these days, all sorts of elaborate designs are being attempted in pumpkin flesh.
From intricate cut-out patterns, to multi-level shading, to outright 3D sculptures you might expect to find in a museum art exhibit.
To make the craft more accessible to the masses, there are many new tools hitting the market each year. Dulled saws for children are safe enough to not draw blood. While the more aggressive adults have access to tempered carbon steel, multi-watt, electrically-heated, high-powered mechanisms of mayhem.
And it seems that the passion for pumpkin carving can no longer be contained within the typical harvest season. The result is numerous watermelons and artificial foam pumpkins going under the knife, while we wait for the coveted orange fruit to ripen on the vine.
But where did this all begin? Many Halloween historians will point a finger towards Ireland. Being part Irish myself, I'm glad to perpetuate these legends - the most famous myth involving Stingy Jack.
Jack was a man of many traits, none of them particularly savory. Lazy, cheap, and selfish are among the terms often attributed to old Jack. To his credit, he was also pretty clever. But that's one skill that didn't pay off for him in the end.
On one particular night, quite possibly Halloween, Jack was living it up at the local pub. Being the sinner he was, it's not surprising that Jack ended up drinking with the Devil himself. And true to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his ale. He convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin, in exchange for Jack's soul.
As soon as the Devil transformed, Jack snatched the coin and dropped it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for ten years.
Well, when it comes to collecting souls, the Devil isn't about to forget a debt. Sure enough, Jack and the Devil crossed paths exactly ten years later. Knowing that his time was up, Jack agreed to go to his new home of fire and brimstone. But first he asked, "Can you get me an apple from that tree?"
The arguably gullible Devil agreed, and as he was climbing the branches, Jack carved a cross into the tree trunk. Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, the Devil's trapped in a tree. This time Jack made the Devil promise to never come for his soul again. Not having any other options, the Devil agreed.
As sneaky as Jack was, he couldn't cheat death forever. The day Jack finally died, he tried knocking on Heaven's door. Of course God wouldn't let such a deceitful man through the Pearly Gates. Jack travelled to the entrace to Hell next, however the Devil held a grudge for Jack's trickery and kept his promise to not claim his soul.
"But where shall I go?" asked Jack. The Devil replied, "Back where you came from!" The way back was very dark, so the Devil tossed Jack a single burning coal from the fires of Hell to light his way.
Jack hollowed out a turnip, and placed the burning ember inside. And ever since that day, "Jack o' the lantern" has been wandering the Earth in a state of limbo, with only that carved turnip to illuminate his path.
Back in the days when this legend originatated, it was believed that wandering spirits like Stingy Jack could enter our world on All Hallow's Eve. So the Irish would hollow out turnips, gourds, potatoes or beets. By carving a scary face and placing a coal or candle inside, they believed their unusual lanterns would ward off any roaming ghosts. These were the very first jack-o-lanterns.
Waves of Irish immigrants came to America in the 1800s during the Irish Potato Famine. They brought with them the traditions of Halloween and the jack-o-lantern. They soon discovered pumpkins, a fruit native to America, which are obviously much larger and easier to hollow out than a turnip. The carved pumpkin has been a symbol of Halloween ever since. And the rest, as they say, is haunted history!
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