The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE JACK O'LANTERN IS COMMONLY BELIEVED TO BE THE WANDERING
SOUL OF ONE WHO HAS BEEN REFUSED ENTRANCE INTO BOTH HEAVEN
AND HELL. HE OFTEN TERRIFIES NIGHT TRAVELERS; SOMETIMES HE
WARNS THEM. HE IS FAMOUS FOR LEADING THEM ASTRAY, BUT HAS
BEEN KNOWN TO DIRECT THOSE IN TROUBLE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD STORY TO A FEW OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CHILDREN A FEW YEARS AGO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS