#anyhow the pumpkin is just 'cause he happened to hollow one out & put a candle inside to light his way

[emdotcom]

Fucking months back, when I was trying to find a proper-good name for 'Turnips, I was looking into Jack'O'Lanterns & stumbled into an Irish tale that describes a spirit forced to wander earth forever, carrying only a hollowed out pumpkin for a lantern to light his way. Well, that's all well & neat, but I wanted to know, like. Why is he damned to wander the earth? Why a pumpkin? & I couldn't find a good answer, just reciting of all I'd said before. Mind you, I didn't look too hard -- 'twas bedtime.

Anyhow. The fucking spooky radio dramas just opened a Halloween special, & were explaining some things about the holiday as background, & they gave me an answe to the first question. 'Cording to the Mystery Man of The House of Mystery segment, 's 'cause Jack had pissed off god & been barred from entering heaven. Then, he pissed off the devil not long after & was barred from entering hell. Not being able to go either which way, he's condemned to wander the earth.