The devil, upset by the tricks Jack had played on him, kept his word and did not claim his soul. Instead, he sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way.

When Jack died, God would not allow him into heaven and the Devil didn't want him in hell, so he sent Jack on his way with only a burning coal to provide light.

Our country's pumpkin-carving history began with a spooky tale. The post The History of Jack-o-Lanterns and How They Became a Halloween Tradition appeared first on Reader's Digest.

The Devil gave Jack a burning lump of coal in a carved-out turnip to light his way. Locals eventually began carving scary faces into their own turnips to frighten away evil spirits.

On and on their shenanigans went, finally culminating in the devil agreeing not to bother Jack for 10 years after Jack trapped him in a tree. Before their bargain expired, Stingy Jack died.

While the exact origins are unknown, there is a piece of Irish folklore that purports an explanation: The legend of "Stingy Jack," which first appeared in print in the 19th century.

Jack then offered the Devil out of the deal in exchange for not taking his soul for a long time. Some longer versions of the story have the Devil being tricked 3 or 4 different times.” ...

Origin of the Jack-O’-Lantern The name jack-o’-lantern originally came from Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as canvases. It's also linked to the legendary drunkard Stingy Jack ...