 According to ancient Celtic folklore, a man named Jack, known for his drunken stupors, was really sauced up one All Hallow’s Eve. The Devil, sensing a hot prospect, came to claim his soul but Jack tricked him so as to keep his soul intact.
Jack, eager to stay alive, begged the Devil to let him have just one more drink before he died. The Devil agreed. Jack was short of money and asked the Devil if he wouldn't mind assuming the shape of a sixpence so Jack could
pay for the drink and after the transaction the Devil could change back. Seeing how the Devil is quite gullible in almost all of these folk tales, he agreed again to help Jack out and changed himself into a sixpence. Jack immediately grabbed the coin and shoved it into his wallet which just happened to have a cross-shaped catch on it. The Devil, now imprisoned in the wallet screamed with rage and ordered Jack to release him.
The next All Hallows Eve as Jack was heading home the Devil appeared and demanded that Jack accompany him. Once again Jack, not too eager to die, distracted the devil by pointing to a nearby apple tree. Jack convinced the Devil to get an apple out of the tree and even offered to hoist the Devil up on his shoulders to help him get the apple. The Devil, fooled once again by Jack, Climbed into the tree and plucked an apple. Jack took out a knife and carved a cross into the trunk of the tree. Trapped once again the Devil howled to be released and told Jack he would give him 10 years of peace in exchange for his release. Jack, on the other hand, insisted the Devil never bother Jack again. The Devil agreed and was released. Jack survived for a few more years, but the drinking caught up with his liver, and he passed away by his own accord.
When he attempted the gates of Heaven, he was turned away. When he attempted to gain entry into Hell, the Devil refused Jack admission (he was still hurt by the tricks Jack played). However, the Devil handed Jack a glowing piece of coal to help Jack find his way in the darkness of limbo. Jack put the piece of glowing coal in a turnip and it became known as a Jack
O’Lantern.
On the marshes and moors of Ireland, the phosphorescent lights (swamp gas) are said to be Jack searching for a place to rest. When the Irish emigrated to America, pumpkins were more common than turnips (and easier to carve), so the pumpkin carving tradition began
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