Happy Halloween – pumpkin stamps

In Spooky halloween Last year, I wrote that Halloween originated in Celtic culture. Irish immigrants brought the holiday to the United States, where it is celebrated on a grand scale today. One of the most famous symbols of Halloween is, of course, the hollowed-out pumpkin with a face carved into it. With a burning candle inside, this creates a terrifying effect in the dark. But what is the story behind this Jack-o'-lantern?

Origin of the illuminated pumpkin

Various stories circulate regarding the origin of the illuminated pumpkin. For instance, it is said that superstitious people used to drive away evil spirits with them in the past. A hollowed-out pumpkin or turnip with a frightening face and a flickering candle inside was believed to represent a wandering spirit. This was meant to strike fear into evil spirits. A connection could also be made with the celebration of Samhain. The Druids lit bonfires on the highest hilltops to thank the sun for the harvest. They took charcoal from these fires to heat their homes. They used hollowed-out turnips to transport the glowing coals. The most famous story about the illuminated pumpkin is the legend of the Irish Jack. The name Jack-o'-lantern originates from this legend. The Jack-o'-lanterns on the stamps of Austria (2005) and France (2004) have an almost friendly appearance. In any case, I don't find them truly frightening.

Irish legend – 'Jack of the Lantern'

Jack was a cunning and stingy drunkard. One evening, he was terribly drunk and met the devil, who wanted to take possession of his soul. But Jack was clever. He persuaded the devil to have just one more drink with him. To pay for the drink, the devil took the form of a coin. Jack grabbed the coin and put it in a pouch with a cross-shaped lock. He would only release the devil if he made Jack promise to leave him alone for ten years. And so it happened. Ten years later, the devil crossed his path again. Jack asked him for one last favor: an apple. He challenged the devil to climb the apple tree. When the devil was in the tree, Jack carved a cross into the trunk so that the devil could no longer come down. Eventually, Jack released him after the devil promised never to claim his soul. When Jack died, he was turned away at the gates of heaven. He had lived a sinful life and, moreover, had consorted with the devil. But even in hell he was not welcome, because of the devil's promise. Jack had nowhere to go and was doomed to wander the earth forever. The devil had, however, thrown a glowing coal after him. Jack put this into a turnip. Thus, he had a lantern with which he could light his long and dark path. His nickname 'Jack of the Lantern' was later corrupted to Jack-o'-lantern. A spooky stamp block from France from 2001.