Who is Jack of ‘Jack-o’-Lantern’?

Carving jack-o’-lanterns is one of Halloween’s most enduring traditions. Every October, glowing gourds appear on porches and in haunted-house setups. But behind those flickering smiles lies a legend older than the holiday itself,  one that began with a clever trickster known as Stingy Jack.

The Folklore of Stingy Jack

In Ireland, legend tells of a man nicknamed Stingy Jack (also called Jack the Smith, Drunk Jack, or Jack of the Lantern) who repeatedly tricked the Devil.

One version says Jack invited the Devil to drink with him, then persuaded him to turn into a coin so he could pay the tab, then trapped him by placing the coin next to a crucifix. ,
Later, when the Devil came for Jack’s soul, Jack again tricked him: he asked for an apple, the Devil climbed a tree, Jack carved a cross into the tree trunk (or placed crucifixes around it), and extracted a promise that the Devil would not claim his soul.  
When Jack eventually died, he was denied Heaven for a sinful life and refused entry into Hell (because of the agreement). He was left to wander the earth with a single coal given by the Devil, placed in a hollowed-out turnip or rutabaga to light his way.  

Thus the name “Jack of the Lantern” (jack-o’-lantern) was born.

From Turnips to Pumpkins

Originally, Irish and Scottish households carved lanterns from turnips, potatoes or beets to ward off spirits or to represent wandering souls.  
When Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, pumpkins — native to North America and easier to carve — became the preferred choice.

Roots in the Festival of Samhain

The tradition ties into the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (celebrated around October 31–November 1), which marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of the “dark half” of the year. During Samhain, the boundary between the living and the spiritual world was believed to thin. Lanterns and carved vegetables were part of rituals to protect against or interact with otherworldly spirits.   

The Modern Meaning of the Jack-o’-Lantern

Today, the jack-o’‐lantern is more than a carved pumpkin: it’s a symbol linking folklore, seasonal harvest customs, and the playful-scary vibe of Halloween. The glow inside the pumpkin still echoes Jack’s lantern in the night.
The term “jack-o’-lantern” originally referred to marsh lights or will-o’-the-wisps (ignis fatuus) in British folklore, flickering lights over bogs often attributed to spirits.  
Eventually, the term shifted in American English to mean a carved gourd with a candle inside. 

Bringing Jack to Life: Halloween Inspiration

At The Horror Dome, Halloween is about keeping these stories alive. Our collection of hauntingly realistic props, animatronics, and decor draws on the same eerie energy that inspired the first jack-o’-lanterns.
Explore pumpkin-headed monsters, grinning scarecrows, and haunted characters that embody the spirit of Samhain. Each piece helps you tell the story of Jack’s lantern in your own haunted space.

Light the Night with The Horror Dome

Whether you’re inspired by the legend of Stingy Jack or just love the eerie glow of Halloween night, keep the flame burning with unforgettable pieces from TheHorrorDome.com.
From haunting decor to lifelike masks and animatronics, our Halloween collections honor the myths that started it all. This season, carve your story into the darkness and let your jack-o’-lantern shine.