As leaves burst into their glorious autumn colors and as pumpkins begin adorning doorsteps, it is a sure sign that Halloween is just around the corner. The last week of October, many people will perform the ritual carving of pumpkins giving them eerie, flickering faces, an iconic symbol of the holiday. But where did this tradition originate? Let’s dive into the fascinating history of the jack-o’-lantern and its evolution from folklore to a beloved Halloween tradition.
The name “jack-o’-lantern” is derived from “Jack of the Lantern” which refers to a mysterious figure known for carrying a flickering lantern to guide lost souls. Over time, the name was associated with the practice of carving faces into vegetables and placing candles inside to create a similar, eerie glow.
The Legend of Stingy Jack
One of the most prevalent origin stories of the jack-o’-lantern is tied to the legend of Stingy Jack. This tale tells of a man named Jack who was not only a trickster but also miserly. As one version of the story goes, Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him but cleverly avoided paying by convincing the Devil to transform into a coin. Instead of paying, Jack pocketed the coin next to a silver cross, preventing the Devil from returning to his original form.
When Jack eventually freed the Devil, he made a deal to secure his own soul’s salvation. However, when Jack died, Heaven and Hell rejected his soul, leaving him wandering the earth with only a hollowed-out turnip and a burning coal from Hell to light his way. People began to refer to him as “Jack of the Lantern” or “Jack-o’-Lantern.”
You can read this story and several others in Carlo De Vito’s “Halloween Jack-O-Lantern.” While primarily a collection of stories and of history, there are a couple of pumpkin-centric recipes and a list of movies which feature a snaggle-toothed, orange-headed villain. We also have a number of autumnal as well as pumpkin cookbooks if you want more variety. This would be a great book for anyone not wanting to read about the more gruesome aspects to celebrating Halloween. See below if you are interested in the ghoulish!
The Transition from Turnips to Pumpkins
The tradition of carving faces into vegetables to make lanterns existed in Ireland and Scotland long before the term “jack-o’-lantern” was coined. Originally, turnips and rutabagas were the most common choice for carving due to their abundance and suitability for the task. However when Irish immigrants brought this tradition to the United States in the 19th century, they discovered that pumpkins were more readily available and easier to carve. Over time, pumpkins replaced root vegetables as the preferred canvas for these ghoulish creations.
Learn more about this transition from Lisa Morton in “The Halloween Encyclopedia,” which offers us documented historical activities people used to engage in, from progressive parties for children to courting customs involving leeks and cabbages. Kale stalks were also used to create tall lanterns with candles, lighting the way as people paraded about scaring off spirits and spooks… or as they took on those roles to scare their neighbors! Most of the customs mentioned in this book have traveled over to the United States from Europe but Morton refers to several from other continents, such as the Bon Festival from Japan and the Xandu Ya and Xantolo celebrations from Central America.
Halloween and the Jack-o’-Lantern
The association of the jack-o’-lantern with Halloween began in the United States in the mid-19th century. By this time, Halloween had evolved into a holiday that included costumes, trick-or-treating and other festivities. People started to carve pumpkins with spooky faces and place them in windows or on doorsteps to ward off evil spirits and welcome the holiday. There were various carving contests, pumpkin festivals, and creative designs that go beyond the traditional menacing faces. Today, they come in all shapes and sizes, some with intricate designs and artistic expressions.
Another of Morton’s books about Halloween is “Trick or Treat: a History of Halloween” and it would be an excellent way to explore historical aspects of the holiday to spice up your own parties. For more recent ideas and for some great examples of professional scare houses and other forms of Terrortainment (title of one of the chapters), check out “Halloween Nation: Behind the Scenes of America’s Fright Night” by Lesley Pratt Bannatyne. Read about realistic corpses delivered by UPS, about fog machines and lighting as backdrops for frightful actors in terrifying rooms and about music venues providing gut-wrenching shows to avid fans. Chapter six is all about our man Jack, his development from a terrifying man with a lantern to a porch-bound, legless and somewhat friendly fellow. However, we are reminded “right next to the friendly jack-o’-lantern that graces children’s books and party napkins has reemerged the jack-o’-lantern that can terrorize, hurt, confuse, or chase you.”
The history of the jack-o’-lantern is woven from Irish and Scottish folklore, the legend of Stingy Jack and the happy realization that pumpkins work better than turnips. What started as a simple lantern to guide lost souls has transformed into an iconic symbol of Halloween. As we continue to carve these vibrant orange gourds each October, we pay homage to the tradition and storytelling that bring a touch of magic and mystery to the season. So the next time you see a jack-o’-lantern grinning on a doorstep, remember the centuries of history and folklore that have contributed to this Halloween tradition.
Image credit: Glowing Jack-o-lantern, Ralph via pixexid.com (license)
