Jack-o'-lantern

Jack-o'-lantern

Jack-o'-lantern is a carved pumpkin, turnip, or other root vegetable lantern, associated with the holiday of Halloween and named after the phenomenon of a strange light flickering over peat bogs, called will-o'-the-wisp or jack-o'-lantern. The name is also tied to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a drunkard who bargains with Satan and is doomed to roam the Earth with only a hollowed turnip to light his way.

History

Jack-o'-lanterns are a yearly Halloween tradition that came to the United States from Irish immigrants. In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack-o'-lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack-o'-lanterns.

Design and Use

The typical design is a carved face, but other designs, from intricate scenes to humorous caricatures, have grown increasingly popular. The interior of the pumpkin is usually cleaned out and a light source (traditionally a candle) is placed inside, illuminating the design in darkness. Jack-o'-lanterns are often displayed on front porches or in windows during the weeks surrounding Halloween.

Cultural Significance

In addition to their decorative uses, jack-o'-lanterns have been used for a variety of other purposes throughout history. They have been used as lanterns, as part of harvest celebrations, and in some cases, they have even been used in divination rituals. Today, the carving of jack-o'-lanterns is a popular Halloween tradition in many countries, particularly in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

See Also

• Halloween
• Pumpkin
• Will-o'-the-wisp
• Stingy Jack