Welcome to brain Stuff, a production of I Heart Radio, Hey brain Stuff. I'm Lauren Vogelbaum, and today's episode is another classic from our archives. In this one, we explore Halloween tradition that's charming but pretty dang odd when you think about it, the carving and lighting of pumpkins into jack o' lanterns. Hey brain Stuff, Lauren voc obam Here. Traditions have always played a big part in what defines any holiday, but Halloween's traditions are some of my favorites.
The costumes, the trigger treaters, the horror flicks, and the maccab decor, including jack o' lanterns grinning and glowing next to front doors all across America. Like most folklore, the history of the jack o lantern varies a bit depending on who's telling the story, but all stories involve a clever drunkard who pulls one over on the devil. Legend has it. In sevente or eighteenth century Ireland, a foul moutain disreputable miser named Stingy Jack asked the devil to
go have a drink with him. Jack was the generic name for the common man at the time, hence Jack of all trades, every man, Jack, Jack, the ripper, et cetera. But back to stingy Jack and his request for a drink. The devil obliged, and when the bill came there was that awkward moment that we're also familiar with. Jack expected the devil to take care of things, and the devil thought Jack should pony up. Seeing as how Jack had no money anyway, he convinced the devil to turn himself
into a sixpence coin to pay the bill. The devil fell for it, and Jack skipped on the bill, but slipped the coin into his pocket, where he had a secret weapon, a silver cross. The devil was stuck in Jack's pocket, trapped by the cross, but Jack struck a deal had let the devil go, provided the devil wouldn't come after Jack for a period of one year or ten years, depending on who you ask. The devil had no choice but to agree. Jack took out the coin and the devil returned to his normal form and went
on his not so merry way. At the end of the agreed upon time frame, the devil found Jack for a little payback, but somehow Jack convinced him to climb a tree in search of an apple for Jack before they set off for Hell. The horned one once again obliged, only to see Jack carve across into the tree trunk, leaving the beast stranded again. Jack had his sights on a higher prize. This time, he said had let the devil down only if he promised to never claim Jack's
soul for Hell. The devil had nothing to do but agree. When Jack died, St Peter rejected him at the pearly gates because of his suspect credentials. The devil wouldn't and couldn't, let Jack into Hell for their agreement at the tree. In the end, the devil gave Jack a lump of burning coal to light his way through purgatory. Jack carried the coal inside of a hollowed out turnip. Irish families told the tale and began to put carved out turnips in their windows to prevent Stingy Jack and other ghouls
from entering the home. Some had scary faces carved into them to frighten such ghosts away. The tail spread to Scotland and England, where folks might use potatoes or beats. When those families immigrated to America, they realized that the pumpkin native to the area was more ideal for carving, and that is why you see jack o' lanterns on which is around Halloween. Today's episode was written by Emily
Sane Bogan and produced by Tyler Clang. For more on this and lots of other topics, visit how stuff works dot com. Brainstuff is production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts for my heart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.