Pumpkin carving is a Halloween tradion
Written 25th October 2023 | Subscribe to our Halloween newsletter
The tradition of carving pumpkins at Halloween can be traced back to an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack. According to the legend, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him but didn't want to pay for the drinks. So, Jack convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin to cover the cost. Instead of using the coin to pay, Jack kept it in his pocket next to a silver cross, preventing the Devil from changing back.
Eventually, Jack made a deal with the Devil that he wouldn't bother him for ten years in exchange for his freedom. However, when Jack died, he wasn't allowed into heaven because of his deceitful and selfish ways. The Devil, still upset about the trick Jack played on him, wouldn't let him into hell either.
Stingy Jack was left to wander in the darkness with only a burning coal to light his way. Legend has it that he put the coal into a carved-out turnip to create a makeshift lantern, and from that point on, he became known as "Jack of the Lantern" or "Jack O'Lantern."
When Irish immigrants brought the tradition to the United States, they found that pumpkins, which were more readily available than turnips, were better suited for carving. Over time, the practice of carving pumpkins into Jack O'Lanterns became a popular Halloween tradition, symbolizing the protection against wandering spirits and evil forces during the holiday. Today, people all over the world carve pumpkins as a creative and festive expression of Halloween spirit.
