VOA慢速英语--杰克灯：为什么它叫杰克？

Jack¹-o'-Lantern: Why Is It Named 'Jack'?

And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.

One of the most well-known signs of Halloween is the jack-o'-lantern. You can find jack-o'-lanterns on the front steps of countless² American homes on October 31, Halloween night.

Decorating a pumpkin³ for the holiday can be a lot of fun, especially for children. Many people buy a pumpkin from a store or from a real pumpkin patch on a farm.

Making a jack-o'-lantern takes time and at least one good, sharp knife. So, make sure you have plenty of both. This is why children do this activity with someone older.

First, cut off the stem, or top of the pumpkin. But don't throw it out. You will need it later to finish the jack-o'-lantern. Now, reach your hands inside the pumpkin and remove everything inside. And yes -- it will feel slimy.

Next, make a picture of a face or something else on the skin, or rind, of the pumpkin. Then, carefully cut along the lines of your artwork.

Finally, put a candle or some other lighting⁴ inside to light up the design you have cut. And there! You have turned a pumpkin into a jack-o'-lantern.

Now, you might have a few questions. For example, why does the term jack-o'-lantern have a man's name -- "Jack?"

Merriam-Webster's online dictionary gives one explanation. It says people in England began using the term in the 17th-century. It meant "a man with a lantern" or a night watchman.

At that time, people living in England reportedly called a man they did not know "Jack." So, an unknown man carrying a lantern was sometimes called "Jack with the lantern" or "Jack of the lantern."

Your next question might be: But what does this have to do with Halloween?

Merriam-Webster and Encyclopedia⁵ Britannica both say the term "jack-o'-lantern" comes from a very old Irish story about a man named Stingy Jack.

As the story goes, he tricked the Devil to get money. When Jack died, God refused to let him go to heaven. And the Devil, still angry about being tricked, did not allow Jack to go to hell either.

So, Jack's punishment was to wander the earth forever. His soul was stuck. And like most spirits trapped on Earth, he probably spent most of his time trying to frighten humans. At least, that's what I imagine trapped souls would do.

To protect themselves and frighten away Jack's wandering soul, people in Ireland would carve scary faces on turnips⁶. I suspect that turnips were a common root vegetable at the time.

When Irish families moved to the United States, they brought this tradition with them. These immigrants began carving⁷ jack-o'-lanterns from pumpkins⁸, which were more common than turnips in their new home.

Halloween is based on the Celtic celebration from ancient times. It marked the end of summer. It was believed that during this time of the year, the souls of those who had died that year would return to visit their homes.

Encyclopedia Britannica goes on to explain that in the 8th century, the Roman Catholic Church moved All Saints' Day, a religious day, to November 1. This meant that All Hallows' Eve, or Halloween, fell on October 31.

Traditions from the old Celtic celebration remained, such as wearing costumes to hide yourself from the souls of the dead and carving jack-o'-lanterns.

Today, people who celebrate Halloween continue to do both!

Words in This Story

lantern – n. a usually portable lamp with a protective covering

decorate – v. to make (something) more attractive usually by putting something on it

pumpkin patch – n. a small piece or area of land where this usually large round orange fruit of a vine related to the squash and cucumber that is used for food or decoration grows : a patch is often different from what is around it

candle – n. wax that has been formed into a stick or another shape and has a string in the middle that can be burned

slimy – adj. having a wet, slippery feel or look

heaven – n. the place where God lives and where good people go after they die according to some religions

hell – n. the place where the devil lives and where evil people go after they die according to some religions

wander – v. to move about without a fixed⁹ course, aim, or goal

carve – v. to cut (something, such as a pattern or design) into a surface

costume – n. the clothes that are worn by someone (such as an actor) who is trying to look like a different person or thing

1 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

2 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

3 pumpkin   

n.南瓜

参考例句：

• They ate turkey and pumpkin pie.他们吃了火鸡和南瓜馅饼。
• It looks like there is a person looking out of the pumpkin!看起来就像南瓜里有人在看着你！

4 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

5 encyclopedia   

n.百科全书

参考例句：

• The encyclopedia fell to the floor with a thud.那本百科全书砰的一声掉到地上。
• Geoff is a walking encyclopedia.He knows about everything.杰夫是个活百科全书，他什么都懂。

6 turnips   

芜青( turnip的名词复数 )； 芜菁块根； 芜菁甘蓝块根； 怀表

参考例句：

• Well, I like turnips, tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflowers, onions and carrots. 噢，我喜欢大萝卜、西红柿、茄子、菜花、洋葱和胡萝卜。 来自魔法英语-口语突破（高中）
• This is turnip soup, made from real turnips. 这是大头菜汤，用真正的大头菜做的。

7 carving   

n.雕刻品，雕花

参考例句：

• All the furniture in the room had much carving.房间里所有的家具上都有许多雕刻。
• He acquired the craft of wood carving in his native town.他在老家学会了木雕手艺。

8 pumpkins   

n.南瓜( pumpkin的名词复数 )；南瓜的果肉，南瓜囊

参考例句：

• I like white gourds, but not pumpkins. 我喜欢吃冬瓜，但不喜欢吃南瓜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they cut faces in the pumpkins and put lights inside. 然后在南瓜上刻出一张脸，并把瓜挖空。 来自英语晨读30分（高三）

9 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。