On Samhain eve, October 31, spirits of the dead were thought to mingle with the living. The idea took deeper hold during the Celtic festival of Samhain, which was originally celebrated on November 1 and inspired many traditions of modern-day Halloween. “It’s quite macabre, but it may have symbolized the severed heads of your enemies.” “It may even have had pre-Christian origins that evolved from the custom of head veneration, or potentially even represented war trophies taken from your foes,” says Nathan Mannion, senior curator for EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, in Dublin. The concept of using a round fruit or vegetable to depict a human face goes back thousands of years in some northern European Celtic cultures. Although the legendary Headless Horseman and his hurled pumpkin have been scaring Americans for generations, jack-o’-lanterns actually trace their origins back centuries to Old World traditions in countries including Ireland, England, and Scotland.Īlong the way, pagan rituals, freaky folktales, and natural phenomena have interwoven to create a fascinating history that’s part fact, part fiction, and all frightfully fun. The backstory of jack-o’-lanterns, including how they came to star in Halloween decor and why they’re carved in the first place, is a tale worth telling. For decades, carving a pumpkin has been a beloved fall tradition in America, celebrated with parties, festivals, and televised competitions. According to the American Journal of Play's " Gangsters, Pranksters, and the Invention of Trick-or-Treating," many adults raised "stern objections" to trick-or-treating over the decades, as it was often viewed as a form of extortion.There’s no more classic Halloween image than a glowing jack-o’-lantern perched in a window or on a porch, setting a merrily macabre mood. The practice was pretty controversial into the 1950s, though. But modern day trick-or-treating didn't catch on in the US until the 1920s. TIME reported Irish and Scottish immigrants brought "souling" to the States in the 1800s. Throughout medieval Europe, mummering - dressing in disguises and visiting neighborhoods while dancing, playing music, and doing tricks - was popular on major feast days. Instead of threatening to play tricks, however, they'd pray for peoples' souls in return for the cake, according to " The Compleat Teacher's Almanack." In medieval England, "soulers" would go around begging rich folk for "soul cakes" on Halloween. Modern day trick-or-treating is a confluence of various traditions.Īncient Celts dressed up as evil spirits in order to confuse demons, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
The dead man then set out, doomed to wander until he can find an eternal resting place. Left without anywhere to go, Jack placed the blazing coal in a turnip to use as a lantern. But Satan upheld his end of the deal, hurling a piece of coal from hell at the dead man for good measure. So he tried to return to his old pal, the Devil. When he died, he was not allowed in heaven. Jack proceeded to act like a jerk his whole life. In exchange for letting Satan climb down, Jack had him vow to never claim his soul. One night, a conniving local drunkard named Jack trapped the Prince of Darkness in a tree by hacking a sign of the cross into the bark.
But back in the day, folks in Ireland dubbed their carved, fiery turnips "jack-o'-lanterns" thanks in part to an ominous legend. Modern day, intricately designed pumpkin creations certainly make for impressive decorations. Otherwise, you might end up like Irish folk figure Jack O'Lantern. If you ever meet the Devil on a darkened road, don't try to trick him into climbing a tree. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.
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