You may be wondering just how the pumpkin made the scene
To be the symbol trademark of the day of Halloween.
If one checks out it's history and turn the pages back
It all points to a drunken Irishman whose name was Jack.

Jack had a real bad temper and he loved to sip the brews.
His health had nearly been destroyed by years of demon booze.
Then, one night in a local pub, his drinking took its toll
And the Devil appeared there right on cue to claim Jack's wasted soul.

Jack begged the Devil for one more drink to speed him on his way.
He told the Devil he was broke and had no way to pay.
The Devil agreed and turned into a sixpence for the beer...
Jack grabbed the coin and shoved it in his purse and gave a cheer!

The purse, you see, had a clasp that formed a cross outside
And the Devil could not escape, no matter how hard he tried.
He begged Jack to release him and Jack told him, loud and clear,
That he would do so if the fiend would give him one more year.

Agreement made, the Devil left and Jack went on his way
To live another year of fights and boozin' day to day.
Then, one day, Jack was in the orchard near an apple tree
When the Devil appeared and said, "The year is up! Now come with me!!"

Jack said OK....he'd keep his word and would go willingly
But wanted one large apple high atop the apple tree.
He hoisted the Devil up to get it down for him and then
He carved a cross on the tree trunk and imprisoned him again!!!!

The Devil was beside himself! He screamed! He raved! He swore!
But Jack just laughed and said that he demanded ten years more.
The Devil, out there on a limb, could not help but agree
For, due to Jack's uncanny wit, he had him up a tree!!!

Three years went by..Jack's life went on just like it had before
Til finally his heart decided it could take no more
And Jack dropped dead of natural causes one October day....
His soul arrived in Heaven but St. Pete turned him away.

His soul then drifted down to Hell to where the Devil ruled
But the Devil was still smarting from the way he had been fooled
So he turned Jack away as well.....he didn't want his soul.
To find his way through Limbo, he gave Jack a piece of coal.

Jack hollowed out a turnip and then placed the coal inside
Then lit it so the light within would serve him as a guide....
On Halloween we see this lamp wherever Jack may roam
Walking through the fields of Limbo, searching for a home.


Then Irish came here to our shores in waves of emigration.
Searching for a better life, they helped to build our nation.
They found few turnips growing for the Night of Walking Dead
But pumpkins were quite plentiful so they used them instead!

     

So that's the Irish tale, my friends. They swear that it is true.
If you find it believable....I'll leave that up to you.
But I believe in leprechauns and Irish love their ale
So I'll not be the one to say it is a silly tale.