Why isn't there an English word for a Jack O'Lantern?

Is it a Pumpkin or a Jack O'Lantern?

Written 1st January 2024 | Subscribe to our Halloween newsletter

The difference between a pumpkin and a Jack O'Lantern

The English do not have a word for a Pumpkin which as been carved. They continue to call it a "pumpkin", where Americans use the phrase "Jack O'Lantern to describe a carved pumpkin.

The terms "pumpkin" and "Jack O'Lantern" are often used interchangeably, but there is a distinction between the two.

Pumpkin:
- A pumpkin is a type of squash and a member of the gourd family.
- Pumpkins are typically large, round, and have a thick, orange or yellow outer skin.
- Pumpkins are commonly grown for various purposes, including culinary uses (such as pumpkin pies and soups) and decorative uses during the fall season.
Jack O'Lantern:
- A Jack O'Lantern specifically refers to a pumpkin that has been carved and illuminated from the inside.
- The term "Jack O'Lantern" has its origins in the Irish folktale of Stingy Jack, who carried a lantern made from a carved turnip with a burning coal inside.
- Today, Jack O'Lanterns are commonly associated with Halloween, and people carve various designs or faces into pumpkins for festive decorations.

In summary, a pumpkin is the fruit itself, and a Jack O'Lantern is a carved and illuminated pumpkin, often used as a decorative element during the Halloween season. So, you can have a pumpkin that is not carved (just a regular squash), but once it's carved and lit, it becomes a Jack O'Lantern.