Eventually, people began referring to the pumpkin in the prank as a jack-o'-lantern because of its similar flickering, glowing appearance when lit to the jack-o'-lantern lights seen in marshy areas. In 19th-century America, the pumpkin was readily available to young pranksters who knew that a grotesque face could be carved into its hollowed-out body, and that if it were lit up it could be used to frighten unwary people at night. There are many versions of the story, but they all tend to center on a man named Jack, the devil, and a lit turnip with which the soul of Jack aimlessly wanders the Earth-but, again, it does not establish a convincing connection between the term and the pumpkin.Ī more compelling theory is that the application of jack-o'-lantern to a hollowed-out, carved pumpkin originated in nighttime pumpkin pranks. The argument might be made that immigrants drew a connection between the glow of the pumpkins to the ignis fatuus back home, but why wouldn't a similar connection have been made to the familiar hollowed-out, lit turnips earlier?Īnother theory is that the use of jack-o'-lantern for a pumpkin lantern originated in a story from Irish folklore. It does not shed light on how the term jack-o'-lantern began to be applied to the pumpkin. However, that only explains the carving and illuminating of pumpkins. It is likely that immigrants brought this custom to America and, finding turnips scarce, used native pumpkins instead. The custom was carried on by Christians during the feast of All Hallows' Eve-observed on October 31 and etymologically related to Halloween-the evening before All Saints' (or All Hallows') Day. One theory begins by associating the illumination of a hollowed-out pumpkin with a Celtic pagan practice in which turnips or other root vegetables were hollowed out, carved with grotesque faces, and then illuminated by coal, wooden embers, or candles as a way to ward off evil spirits. These illuminated jack o'lanterns are placed to form impressive displays from the Statue of Liberty to the infamous legend of Sleepy Hollow bridge. This renowned Halloween experience features over 7,000 hand carved jack o'lanterns.
One of the tri-state's most exciting Fall events, The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, has now been extended through November 30th. It's easy to grasp how people might have associated the natural phenomenon to flickering distant lanterns (held by Jack) however, the connection of jack-o'-lantern to a carved, lit pumpkin is not as clear. What's less certain is how the name came to be applied to a hollowed-out pumpkin.Īt the same time, jack-o'-lantern was applied to another kind of light: the flame-like phosphorescence caused by gases from decaying plants in marshy areas, also known as ignis fatuus-a Medieval Latin term that means literally "foolish fire"-or will-o'-the-wisp. We know where 'jack-o'-lantern' comes from.
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