Jack-o'lanterns have been a central part of Halloween traditions for centuries. When most people think of jack-o’-lanterns today, they picture a carved pumpkin with a flickering candle inside. However, the tradition didn’t start with pumpkins. Long before pumpkins were carved, people in Ireland and other parts of the British Isles made lanterns from root vegetables like turnips, rutabagas and potatoes.
The most commonly agreed-upon origins of the practice date back to the early 1600s in rural Ireland, where marshy lands and dark autumn nights contributed to a rich landscape for folklore and superstition. They hollowed out these root vegetables and carved grotesque faces into them, turning them into lanterns that could keep malevolent spirits at bay. These early lanterns served not just as a source of light but also as a means to confront the darkness during long, chilly nights.
In addition to their practical uses, these lanterns played a deeply significant role in the cultural practices of the time. They were often placed at doorways or in windows, acting as a form of spiritual protection for families. The act of carving and lighting these lanterns became a communal event, where families and neighbors would gather to share stories of the supernatural. This blending of practicality and community ritual reinforced the importance of folklore, as stories of restless spirits and protective traditions fostered a collective identity and a sense of safety amid the uncertainties of life.
A central figure in the Jack-o’lantern tradition is Stingy Jack, a shadowy character from Irish folklore. Stingy Jack was a trickster who, according to legend, managed to outwit the Devil himself. However, Jack’s deceit earned him a fate worse than death—he was doomed to wander the earth with only a burning coal inside a hollowed-out turnip to light his way. As his story spread, people in Ireland and Scotland began carving lanterns to scare away Stingy Jack and other evil spirits that might cause mischief.
Another piece of folklore tied to the origins of the jack-o’lantern is the phenomenon known as ignis fatuus, or "false fire." This natural occurrence, known scientifically as marsh gas, happens when decaying organic material in marshlands releases methane, which ignites spontaneously and creates ghostly, flickering lights above the ground. People in the British Isles often saw these eerie lights in the bogs and marshes and believed them to be restless spirits or trickster beings like will-o’-the-wisps. The legends of Stingy Jack and ignis fatuus began to intertwine, strengthening the belief that these carved lanterns could protect people from evil forces by driving them away.
Turnips and other root vegetables were used during the Celtic festival of Samhain to mark the end of the harvest and the start of winter. People believed that the boundary between the living and the dead was thinnest, so they carved faces into turnips, placed candles inside, and used them as lanterns to protect themselves from wandering spirits. The practice of creating these early iterations of the jack-o’ lantern was deeply tied to the belief that spirits could cause harm during Samhain, and the lanterns served both as protection and as a visual representation of the supernatural forces at play.
Turnips, however, were much harder to carve than pumpkins, and their small, wrinkled surfaces often gave these early jack-o’ lanterns an even more terrifying appearance. In some parts of England and the northwestern coast of Europe, large beets were also used for the same purpose. When Irish and Scottish immigrants arrived in the United States, they brought their lantern-carving traditions with them, but they soon discovered that pumpkins, native to North America, were much larger and easier to carve.
Pumpkins quickly became the preferred medium for Jack-o'lanterns. Pumpkins, with their size and soft flesh, provided a larger and easier surface for carving compared to turnips. Pumpkins were also abundant in autumn, making them a natural choice for the Halloween season. The use of pumpkins helped change jack-o’ lanterns from being protective symbols rooted in superstition to festive decorations associated with Halloween fun.
By the late 19th century, pumpkin carving was firmly established as part of Halloween celebrations in America. What once was a solemn practice meant to ward off evil spirits became a creative and communal activity as families gathered to carve pumpkins and display them on porches and windowsills. The jack-o’ lantern became a symbol of the holiday, representing both the harvest season and the spooky excitement of Halloween.
Today, Jack-o' lanterns are a beloved Halloween tradition, with people of all ages taking part in the fun of carving pumpkins. While their original purpose was to ward off evil spirits, modern jack-o’ lanterns are more about creativity and self-expression. People carve a wide range of designs, from traditional scary faces to intricate patterns, scenes, and even characters from popular culture.
Pumpkins are a symbol of the harvest season, with their bright orange color and round shape representing autumn’s change. Yet, the tradition of the jack-o’ lantern still connects us to the past, preserving the legacy of those early Irish and Scottish customs while adapting to modern times. Whether carved for protection or for fun, the jack-o’ lantern continues to light the way through the dark, just as it did for Stingy Jack centuries ago.