Reblog this adding stuff you know / like and wanna share but you’re scared ppl will think ur annoying if you talk about it
I’ll go first:
Jack o’ Lanterns used to be called
Jack of the Lanterns, which was an actual profession in the day- especially around Halloween
The Lantern boys would escort people around at night holding lanterns, the lantern was meant to scare away spirits
Why would it scare away spirits? Because they’re terrified of the dreaded Stingy Jack.
Stingy Jack, no matter what tale you read, cons Deaths
In the first iteration after dying Death comes to take Jack away, on the way to hell Jack sees an apple tree and asks to go pick an apple to eat one last time. Death respects his final wishes and lets him climb the tree.
Jack carves a crucifix into the tree making Death unable to move until they agree to let Jack go, and when Jack dies again he will not go to hell, Death has to agree. And so Jack goes free, escaping death
In the second iteration, Death shows up to take Jack away after stealing booze, Jack asks Death to turn into a coin to pay the man, who’s now chasing Jack, Death is like Bet I love conning clowns, and turns into a coin! Jack puts Death Coin into his pocket where a silver crucifix sits. Jack makes Death promise that he let Jack go, but when he dies he won’t go to hell. Death agrees. The two part.
No matter what story you read the same follows
Jack dies again and as Death promised, he isn’t put into hell, but once he shows up to the pearly gates- he’s not allowed in. For he is too wicked. Jack goes to the gates of hell and asks to be let in. Death says no, he promised to not let Jack go to hell. And he meant it.
To warn others, he gave Jack an ember, marking him a denizen of the netherworld. From that day on until eternity's end, Jack is doomed to roam the world between the planes of good and evil, with only an ember inside a hollowed turnip to light his way!
So when spirits see the light of the lantern, they assume it’s the tricky and angry spirit of Jack, and stay away!
Because of the surplus on pumpkins in Ireland at the time (where this all started) people began hollowing out pumpkins to put their lights in, and because of accents Jack Of The Lanterns, turned into Jack o’ Lanterns !
Some say on Halloween night when all the spirits passby —due to the vail being incredibly thin— Jack noticed the pumpkins carved out in reference to his suffering, and now wears one on his head to blend in!
So if you see someone with a glowing Jack o’ Lantern mask this Halloween, it may be wise to stay away
Or don’t! I personally would love to have a chat with Mr Stingy Jack! Even if my life was on the line.
