Many people wonder how the tradition of carving pumpkins started. But how did the single action of a person carving into a vegetable start this fun Halloween tradition?
The carving started on turnips in Ireland and Scottish highlands back in the 19th century. The Irish carved the pumpkins for a strange reason. They put the demonic carvings on turnips to keep away the wandering soul of Jack. The old Irish myth says that Jack, a man, went out for a drink with the devil and convinced him to turn himself into a coin so that they could pay for the drink. When the devil tried to turn back, Jack put a cross outside of the coin so he was stuck in the coin. Before Jack let him out, he made his promise to leave Jack alone for a year. When that year passed, Jack tricked him again and made him let the devil leave him alone for ten more years. The devil agreed. When Jack died he was not allowed to go to Heaven. Jack was given a burning coal to travel in the night, and he put the coal inside a carved out turnip to go throughout the night. That is why the Irish say that you see Jack in the night with the smile of a carved out turnip.
Also, how did the tradition spread to America? The Irish immigrants who came to America spread the tradition here and it eventually turned into pumpkins instead of turnips. And that is why we carve pumpkins! This tradition is fun and a perfect family activity to do in October!
By Maryrose Mahoney ‘29, Staff Writer
