Who Started the Halloween Tradition of Pumpkin Carving?

Part of “Halloween Facts – Series “

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Think about it! Carving up a huge gourd and putting a candle in it is pretty random!

The tradition of carving and displaying jack-o’-lanterns has its origins in Celtic folklore and was later adapted into a popular Halloween custom.

Celtic Origins (Celts are thought to have spread throughout modern Europe from the 2nd millennium BCE to the 1st century BCE.)

The practice of carving lanterns from vegetables has ancient Celtic origins, particularly in Ireland and Scotland.

The Celts celebrated the festival of Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”) on October 31st. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was also a time when they believed the boundary between the living and the dead became thin, allowing spirits to roam the Earth.

To ward off wandering spirits and to light their way in the darkness, the Celts hollowed out turnips, gourds, or other root vegetables, carved faces or symbols into them, and placed candles inside. These vegetable lanterns were often placed in windows or carried during Samhain festivities.

Pictured: A turnip carved for the ancient Celtic tradition.

The first Ancient “Jack O’ Lanterns” were carved from turnips and gourds. Later, when the carving tradition came to America, pumpkins were used.

Christian Influence and All Hallows’ Eve

As Christianity spread and absorbed some of the customs of Samhain, the practice of carving lanterns continued.

The tradition of carving lanterns was integrated into the Christian observance of All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween) on October 31st. Like the Celts, people began carving lanterns from turnips and other vegetables and placing them in windows to keep away evil spirits.

In the book, “Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night,” Nicholas Rogers writes that the candle inside a carved lantern represented a soul trapped in purgatory.

In the British Isles, the term “jack-o’-lantern” was used to describe a night watchman or a man with a lantern. The term ultimately came to describe the carved lanterns of All Hallows’ Eve.

Coming to America and the Adoption of Pumpkins

When Irish immigrants came to North America, they brought their Halloween traditions with them, including the practice of carving lanterns.

In the United States, pumpkins were readily available and larger than the traditional turnips used in Ireland. As a result, pumpkins began to replace turnips and other vegetables for carving jack-o’-lanterns.

Today, the illuminated jack-o’-lanterns are displayed on doorsteps, windowsills, and in yards to add a festive and eerie ambiance to Halloween celebrations. The tradition has evolved and continues to be a fun and artistic expression of the holiday spirit.