The History of the Jack-O’-Lantern

Halloween is just around the corner, and there is perhaps no greater symbol for this spooky holiday than the jack-o’-lantern. And while the tradition of carving up a pumpkin and placing a candle inside has been popular in the U.S. for decades, the practice has roots much further back in countries like Ireland, England and Scotland.

Early Roots

Using fruits or vegetables to depict a human head goes back thousands of years in some northern European Celtic cultures. The Celts practiced head-hunting, often decapitating enemies in battle and displaying their heads as trophies. This practice was rooted in a belief that the head was the seat of the soul and had supernatural powers. Some scholars have surmised that fruit and vegetable heads could have served a similar role, even possibly symbolizing the severed heads of enemies.

Then came the Celtic festival of Samhain, originally celebrated on Nov. 1. On Samhain eve, Oct. 31, the spirits of the deceased were thought to mingle with the living. In this tradition, people wore costumes and carved scary faces into vegetables, including beets, potatoes and turnips to ward these spirits off.

See more: Did You Know the History of Halloween Is Rooted in Agriculture?

Stingy Jack

One Irish legend, first appearing in the 19th century, tells the tale of a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” One day, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to drink with him. However, this stingy chap didn’t want to pay for his tab, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that he could use to buy their drinks. But instead of paying, Jack decided to keep the money, putting it into his pocket next to a silver cross. This prevented the Devil from returning to his original form. However, Jack decided to liberate the Devil under the condition that he would not bother him for a year and would not claim his soul upon death.

Jack tricked the Devil again the next year, however, convincing him to climb into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While the Devil was in the tree, Jack carved a cross into its bark so that the Devil could not come down until he promised not to bother Jack for 10 more years. Jack died soon after that, but was not allowed into heaven. Meanwhile, the Devil would not allow him into hell and sent him into the night with just a burning coal to light his path. Jack put this coal into a carved-out turnip and has allegedly roamed the Earth this way ever since. The Irish began referring to him as “Jack of the Lantern” and eventually “jack-o’-lantern.”

A New Era of Jack-o’-Lanterns 

Irish and Scottish folk began to craft their own version of Jack’s lantern by carving scary faces into turnips and putting them in windows or near doors to frighten Jack and any other evil spirits away. In England, people used large beets. As people started migrating to the United States, they brought these traditions with them to North America and encountered pumpkins for the first time, which did not grow in the Old World.

Soon, a new tradition took hold, and the pumpkin version of the jack-o’-lantern started infiltrating media and literature. For instance, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” first published in 1820, saw the infamous Headless Horseman chucking an uncarved pumpkin at Ichabod Crane. However, most images of the villain portray him as holding a fiery jack-o’-lantern, which helped to build an association between these lit-up gourds and fear.

See more: The History Behind 5 Classic Halloween Candies

Jack-O’-Lanterns Today

Jack-o’-lanterns are no doubt the most recognizable symbol of Halloween today, whether they are smiling on a porch or used as imagery on decorations.

The demand for jack-o’-lanterns helps support the U.S.’s pumpkin industry too – the country produces 1.5 to 2 billion pounds of these giant orange gourds each year. A whopping 800 million of them are harvested in October alone. Illinois is the top pumpkin producer, but other states like New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Michigan are also major players.

Americans love their pumpkins so much that pumpkin patches have become a popular autumn event. For instance, Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm in northern California has the largest U-pick pumpkin field in the world, with 90 acres of pumpkins, gourds and squash for visitors to choose from.

Meanwhile, U.S. cities have been competing for the record for the most jack-o’-lanterns displayed at once for several decades. Currently, Keene, New Hampshire, is the reigning champion. On Oct. 19, 2013, the city displayed 30,581 lit jack-o’-lanterns at the same time. Previously, Boston held the record, lighting 30,128 of them in unison in 2006.

Jack-O’-Lantern Tips

When it comes to picking a jack-o’-lantern-ready pumpkin, there are a few important considerations. First, you want to make sure to select one with a good size and shape. Howden pumpkins are probably the most famous “Halloween pumpkins,” as they’re symmetrical and have the perfect orange hue we’ve come to associate with this tradition. You’ll also want to consider texture and thickness. For instance, gladiator pumpkins are smooth on the outside and thick on the inside, making them a great choice for easy carving.

Speaking of carving, it can be quite the creative endeavor. You can let your imagination go wild or stick with the traditional jack-o’-lantern face. There are also loads of patterns online for unique jack-o’-lantern designs.

See more: Pumpkin Carving Tips for Gorgeous Gourds

After carving, most jack-o’-lanterns can hold up for five to 10 days, and the ideal temperature for them is 50 to 55 degrees. However, some varieties last longer, such as the Aladdin, which can retain its structure and shape for several weeks.

Don’t forget that you can use the innards of your carved pumpkin as well! For instance, you can roast the pumpkin seeds for a delicious and nutritious treat. Pumpkin seeds are packed with nutrients like magnesium, antioxidants, phosphorus and zinc. You can also integrate the pulp into a number of recipes, including as a base for a smoothie or broth. These “pumpkin guts” also contain beneficial nutrients as well as fiber, helping to promote healthy digestion, aid in blood sugar and cholesterol regulation, and support your gut microbiome.