Illuminating the History of Jack-o-Lanterns

It’s mid-October, and your whole family, and maybe even some friends, are all packed into a kitchen with newspapers scattered everywhere. Dull knives, seeds, and pumpkin guts litter the table. It’s pumpkin carving season! It’s grueling fun, and after an hour or two, you’re ready to present your masterpieces. A few classic jack-o-lantern faces, some unique carvings of crescent moons or black cats, and one or two super cool ideas that began with promise but eventually devolved into obscure blobs. Sprinkle in a few potted mums and you have yourself an outstanding fall display! But while you admire your artistry you begin to wonder, where did this strange tradition of carving faces into large squash begin?

Tales Rooted In Ancient Irish Myth

I have always loved carving pumpkins. Yes, it is quite messy, but it is such a fun thing for the family to do. Everyone can express their own creativity and ability and then present their offering to the front steps. I guess it makes sense that I like this tradition because it is rooted in Irish heritage! According to Ancestry.com, 75% of my DNA comes from the British Isles, including Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. In England and the surrounding areas, there are lots of bogs. In these bogs, there is this natural phenomenon that sometimes causes a small combustion of composting organic matter and, therefore a bright light to shine. Anciently, these were believed to be wandering souls and were referred to as wil-o-the-wisps. Some people attribute the term jack-o-lantern to a morphed version of these wisps and then the practice of carving them and putting them outside to a way to ward of stray spirits that might enter your home.

The Story of Stingy Jack

Way back as early as the 1600s, there is an old folktale about a guy named Jack. Some call him Stingy Jack, but literature refers to him by many names. The story goes that he tricked the devil into transfiguring himself multiple times, and the only way he would let him out was if the devil agreed to leave him alone for a certain number of years. Different tales say this happened once, and others say it happened as many as four times. Either way, he eventually dies. Heaven refuses to allow him in because he is such a scoundrel, but the devil is so upset with him that he doesn’t allow him into hell either. So, he is left to wander the earth. Different accounts say that Jack-O-Lanterns are there to ward off Jack and any other wandering spirits, but other accounts say, “[The Devil] sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with it ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as ‘Jack of the Lantern,’ and then, simply ‘Jack O’Lantern.’”

Root Vegetables

Yup, you read that right. A turnip! In Ireland, the turnip was the traditional carving vegetable. In England, beets were also common. Many believe it wasn’t until the late 1800s, when large numbers of immigrants from these countries started coming to the Americas, that pumpkins (a native of that region) became the new carving medium. Yet, we also have some French recipes for a pumpkin soup that suggest carving pumpkins for decoration as early as the 1760’s in Europe. However, we do know that it didn’t become the norm until the late 1800s.

Why Are Jack-O-Lanterns Associated with Halloween?

You might have noticed that the story of Stingy Jack has no connection to Halloween. The connection is due to the pagan holiday that preceded Halloween, called Samhain. “It was believed that during Samhain, the souls of those who had died that year traveled to the otherworld and that other souls would return to visit their homes.” Therefore, the story of Jack’s soul wandering the earth was quickly incorporated into this time of year. Later, it meshed into the Halloween holiday we know today due to cultural mixing. Then, combine all that with the immigrants coming to America to find abundant pumpkins and BAM! You have Halloween jack-o-lanterns!

Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

I am a native of Southwestern Michigan, where I also reside, and I love all things plants! I got a Bachelor's Degree in Horticulture and found the first work-from-home job I could get. Now, I spend my days writing for TLM, playing with my dog, eating delicious food with my husband, and plotting my next landscape or gardening move. I believe everyone should get down and dirty in the soil now and then. Happy Gardening!