Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The Legend of Wicked Jack

Based upon the mountain folktale I was told as a child, "Wicked Jack" tells the story of a fellow so wicked that he is not allowed into Hell. The Devil instead gives him a coal of hellfire and places it into a lantern carved from a pumpkin. Jack is doomed to walk the earth between Heaven and Hell for all eternity with only the light from his lantern to keep him company. This is where the term Jack O' Lantern comes from... Referring of course to Wicked ol' Jack and his lantern.