Legend of “Stingy Jack” By: the Great Pumpkin Writer According to Irish myth, Jack was a stingy drunkard who once invited the Devil to drink with him. He accepted, however, Jack did not want to pay for his drinks so he convinced the devil to turn into a coin with which to buy them. When the devil did, Jack decided to keep the money by putting it in his pocket which contained a silver cross. Apparently Jack was also a badass. Next to the cross the devil was helpless and unable to transform back. Eventually Jack let the devil go on the condition that he would not bother Jack for a year and that he would not take Jack’s soul should he die. The following year Jack tricked the devil again. When the devil came back for him, Jack got him to climb a tree to pick a piece of fruit. How he did this is unclear, but he must have been very convincing. With the devil in the tree Jack carved a cross into the trunk so the devil could not come down (presumably flying or jumping were not options). He then made
the devil promise to not bother him for another ten years. I know what you’re thinking, where does he get the balls, but the devil ended up having the last laugh. When Jack died he was not allowed into heaven due to his devilish dastardly ways. Nor was Jack permitted into Hell since the Devil is one to hold a grudge, who knew? Instead the Devil gave to Jack a signal coal to light his way through the afterlife. So Jack went on his way, placing the coal in a carved out turnip to keep safe, he has been roaming Earth ever since. When the Irish would see his ghostly figure they called him “Jack of the Lantern” which was later shortened to “Jack O’Lantern.” The Irish and Scottish soon started carving scary faces into turnips and potatoes to scare away Jack’s forsaken soul. When this tradition came to America, pumpkins our native fruit were used in place of turnips and have been ever since. Thus chronicles the origin of the Jack O’Lantern.
Retrieved from http://www.history.com
Places to Find Pumpkins in Courtland County
Dave’s Veggies Farm Market and 4-Greenhouses - pumpkins, pumpkin patchalready gathered from the field, prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms 5178 State Route 41, homer, NY, 13077. Phone: 607-749-4955 Email: DavesVeggies@excite.com Deerfield Farms - Pumpkins 620 Sherman Road Cortland, NY 13045. Phone: 607-758-7290 Open October Vern’s Pumpkins - Pumpkins 7367 Route 41 (12 mi from Rt 218 on Rt 41) Homer, NY 13077. Phone: 607-7493719
Retrieved from http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org