Stingy Jack - The History of the Jack o’ Lantern.

Pumpkin Carving is a popular part of our Halloween and Harvest Celebrations. We’ve been making jack-o-lanterns out of pumpkins for centuries. In fact, the tradition hails from an old Irish myth about a character named Stingy Jack.

Stingy Jack was a miserable soul who loved to trick people. One night, he manged to trick the devil and stayed one step ahead of him until his death. Once he died, he was denied access into heaven - and hell. He was doomed to wander forever in the dark Netherworld.  

After being denied access, Stingy Jack asked the devil how he could see to leave the gates of hell.  Therefore, the devil tossed him a burning ember. Jack put the flame from hell into one of his favorite foods that he always carried in a knapsack - a turnip.

On all Hallow’s eve, the Irish always hallowed out a gourd of some sort and placed a light in them to ward off evil spirits, such as Jack. Eventually, Irish immigrants in America discovered that pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve.

Tips for carving a pumpkin into a Jack o’ Lantern.

This year, before you head to one of the many Clark County pumpkin patches or Vancouver Farmer’s Market in search of the perfect pumpkin, take a minute to consider the following. 

Smaller pumpkins are suitable for carving simple traditional jack o’lantern faces.
Medium sized pumpkins are good selections for most stencil patterns.
For more intricate and elaborate designs, you may want to choose a larger pumpkin so it will be easier to carve.
A pumpkin with a smooth surface will give you the best working canvas.
The pumpkin should be flat on the bottom so it will not roll.
Avoid pumpkins with scratches, nicks, cuts, and dents unless they will enhance your design.
Pass up pumpkins with bruises since these will decay faster.
Lighter colored pumpkins are normally softer, making carving easier.
Look for a ripe gourd with a sturdy stem - and don’t try to carry it by the stem, it will likely break.
Wash the pumpkin with warm water and let it dry before carving.