Hukumusume fairy tale collection >Halloween

The Story of the Jack O' Lantern

The origin of the famous Halloween pumpkin ghost

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Jack-o'-Lantern

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投稿者 : ありさCafeAlisa💛Isekai Japanese Teacher Vtuber 日本語教師

make an origami Origami Club Witch　Witch face　Ghost

　Once upon a time there was a man named Jack who was good at tricking people.

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　One day, a devil came from hell and said to Jack.

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“Hey, you. You are Jack who is good at tricking people. Right?”
“Well, well. The soul of the bad supposed to be expensive so I will buy. How much?”

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　Jack was so surprised to hear that a devil would like to buy his soul.

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(Anyway. I’m such a bad man so I have no choice but to go to hell after death.
　 Well, I will make a deal with the devil and enjoy the rest of my life to the fullest.)
　He thought about such things and said to the devil.

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“If you buy my soul, you should pay for silver coins.
　I need silver coins enough not to use them up in my wallet.
　Then I will give you my soul.”
“Right. I will change myself into silver coins. You will never use them up for the coming ten years.”

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　Leaving the words, the devil changed himself into silver coins and jumped into the wallet of Jack.

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　Since then, Jack indulged himself in spending silver coins which don’t decrease even if how much he used.

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　10 years later, the devil changed back into himself and jumped out of the wallet.

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“Hey, Jack. Have you enjoyed your days for 10 years?
　 Now, as we promised, I will take your soul.”
“Of course, a promise is a promise. You can take it.”

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“Though, it was shortly after noon 10 years ago. But it’s still before noon.”

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“Before I will be taken my soul, I would like to enjoy my last meal. Would you please take an apple from the tree for me?”

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　Jack said so and pointed to an apple tree.
“All right. You can enjoy your last meal.”

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　The devil said so and climbed up an apple tree and tried to take an apple at the bottom of the branch.
　Then Jack told the evil pointing to a higher place.

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“That is still small. I would like to have a bigger one for my last meal.”
“How about this”

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"No, it's still small. That one! Higher! Behind the leaf!"

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"I got. Behind that leaf!"
　The devil climbed higher up the apple tree and turned over the leaf Jack pointed.
　He was surprised at what was behind the leaf.

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“Oh my! The Cross!!!”

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　What he saw behind the leaf was a branch inscribed in the shape of Cross.
　Actually, the day before, Jack had climbed up the tree and inscribed the Cross.

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　The devil who found the Cross became so scared and stiff that he couldn’t move anymore.
　He begged Jack in a pitiable voice.

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“My dear Jack, please, please help me.”
“Of course, I will. Though, you have to give up taking my soul. Could you?”

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“Yes! I will give up! I will! So, please help me now!”
“Good. Though, I'm supposed to go to hell, anyway.
　 So, I ask you to make me not go to hell after death.”
“What? That is…”
“No? See, I don’t mind. Then I will not help you.”
“Oh, dear!!! I see, got. I will make you not go to hell after death!”
“Verbal promise? No! I need a written agreement.”

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　In this way, Jack got a contract which made him protect from going to hell instead of helping the devil.

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　After the decades, at last, Jack reached the end of his life.

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　A messenger came to the dead Jack from hell.

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　Jack showed the messenger the contract with the devil.

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　Checking the contract, the messenger admitted and went back to his place.
“Well done. I have escaped going to hell.

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　My end of a journey is heaven!”

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　Jack went to heaven and tried to go in. Though, the gateman didn’t allow him.

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“You are the evil man who deceived so many people. I can’t allow you to go in.”
“What hell!?”
　People say that having a hollowed-out, turnip-made lantern in which coal is,

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　Jack is going back and forth between hell and heaven still now.

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　This turnip-made lantern Jack carries is called “Jack O' Lantern” meaning the lantern of Jack.
　 Now it becomes one of the necessary items for Halloween.
　In America, pumpkins are popular than turnips.
　 Besides, Halloween is around the picking season of pumpkins.

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　That’s why, these days, people become to use pumpkins to make Jack O' Lantern instead of turnips.

The End

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