The Legend of Stingy Jack and Why We Carve Pumpkins on Halloween

There are Halloween traditions galore: trick-or-treating, dressing up in boo-tiful costumes, watching scary movies, visiting haunted houses, and especially carving faces on pumpkins. Why pumpkins? Apparently, the concept was adopted by the Irish and takes us back about 200 years to Stingy Jack (hence the name jack-o’-lantern).

The Legend of Stingy Jack

The tale originates in the British Isles with a man known for being very tricky. But when he played his last trick on the devil, he was rejected by both heaven and hell. He was forced to spend eternity as a spirit roaming the earth carrying a carved turnip with a piece of burning coal to light his way. The people of Ireland and Scotland would place carved-out and illuminated vegetables on their front stoops to ward off Stingy Jack and other evil spirits that might be lurking about. But how does this connect to Halloween?

An ancient Celtic celebration in Britain and Ireland called Samhain marked the end of summer and the beginning of the new year that began on Nov. 1. In addition to carving scary faces into turnips, potatoes, and other root vegetables, it was common for partygoers to wear disguises to make them unrecognizable to the spirits.

Later, in the 8th century, the Roman Catholic Church celebrated All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1, making the day before, Oct. 31, All Hallows’ Eve (aka Halloween). Many of the Samhain traditions were adopted for the All Hallows’ Eve, and folklore about Stingy Jack was incorporated into their celebrations.

How America Adopted the Tradition of Carving Pumpkins

When Irish immigrants made their way to America, many of their traditions followed. However, they found that pumpkins native to their new world were much easier to carve. The abundance and ease of access to pumpkins made them the preferred carving vegetable. The new tradition stuck and is a common practice today. Pumpkins are now a symbol of fall, Thanksgiving, and Halloween in many parts of the world.

Things You May Not Know About Pumpkins

Pumpkins may seem like just another vegetable, but there are some interesting things to learn about them. For instance, an alternative name for a jack-o’-lantern is will-o’-the-wisp, which refers to a phenomenon in marshy areas where the swamp gas that is released resembles flashes of light. Also, more than 150 million people are known to carve pumpkins each year for Halloween. Refrigerating the pumpkin the night before carving helps prevent it from rotting so quickly. Illinois takes the record for the most pumpkins grown, with more 600 million pounds produced each year. And finally, the largest jack-o’-lantern weighed in at 2,749 pounds, more than one ton! So whether you are warding off spirits or creating seasonal décor for the front porch, keep in mind the story behind the tradition of pumpkin carving in America. And Happy Halloween!

1. An ancient Celtic celebration in Britain and Ireland called Samhain marked the end of summer and the beginning of the new year that began on Nov. 1, when partygoers carved scary faces into turnips, potatoes, and other root vegetables.
2. A legend originating in the British Isles in the 18th century told of Stingy Jack, a man known for being very tricky. But when he played his last trick on the devil, he was rejected by both heaven and hell, so he was forced to spend eternity as a spirit roaming the earth carrying a carved turnip with a piece of burning coal to light his way
3. When Irish immigrants made their way to America in the 19th century , many of their traditions followed.