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The lamp is called a "jack-o'-lantern" or "jack of the lantern" because the term was already used for the mysterious light phenomenon also known as a "will-o'-the-wisp" (swamp gas or bioluminescent gas known as ignes fatuus).

The origin of the name may be the legend of Stingy Jack, a lazy thief who nonetheless outsmarted the Devil, and himself, and must walk the earth at night forever with only a turnip lamp to guide him.

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11y ago

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