And if you are a true traditionalist, you will be carving turnips rather than pumpkins for your jack o’lanterns!
Legendary Jack of the Lantern
Jack o’lanterns originated in the fens (marshes) of rural Ireland. In the early 1600’s, the legend began of Stingy Jack (aka, Jack the Smith, Drunk Jack, Flakey Jack, and other names, used interchangeably).
The most popular version of the tale involves Jack first tricking the Devil into changing into a coin, then trapping him in his transfigured state. Some longer versions of the story have Jack tricking the Devil three or four different times. Eventually, Jack offered the Devil out of the deal in exchange for not taking his soul for ten years.
Jack died before ten years had passed. The angels didn’t allow him into heaven because he was such a dishonest trickster. The Devil kept his promise not to take Jack’s soul, so he couldn’t go to hell, either. Instead, the Devil tossed Jack a lump of burning coal from hell so he could have a bit of light. Jack carved out a turnip and stuck the coal inside, creating a lantern. Hence, “Jack of the Lantern,” has roamed the Earth with it ever since.
Jack O’Lanterns at Samhain
Many people in Ireland and Great Britain also continued the Gaelic celebration of Samhain, including a ritual of going from house to house in search of food and drink. (Thus the origins of Trick or Treating). Many carved turnips, potatoes, and other root vegetables, adding coals or candles to create makeshift lanterns to light their way. Occasionally, people carved these with faces.
Those who made the lanterns with faces said they represent spirits or supernatural beings. Sometimes, they used jack o’lanterns to ward off evil spirits they might encounter while walking at night. Alternately, Halloween celebrants used them to frighten people.
Traditionally, the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest at Samhain, leaving people in danger of supernatural threat. Celebrants sometimes set jack o’lanterns on windowsills to keep harmful spirits out of the house.
Carving Jack O’Lanterns
A jack-o-lantern (or jack o’lantern) is any carved lantern, most commonly made from a pumpkin today. But instructions for carving less common jack o’lanterns are widely available online. Alternatives, other than turnips, include:
- Melons
- Red beets
- Rutabagas
- Eggplant
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Butternut squash
- Acorn squash
- Zucchini
- Bell pepper
- Grapefruit
- Grapes
- Apples (which can be dried, making shrunken heads)
- Oranges
- Pomelo
- Pineapple
- Melons
- Gourds
- Coconut
Mangelwurzel Lanterns
On the last Thursday of October, children in South Somerset, England celebrate Punkie Night. They carve mangelwurzel roots into the shape of a lantern. In the words of one who has tried this, “It’s like trying to hollow out a block of wood with a spoon.” Children then dress in costumes and knock on neighbors’ doors to ask for a candle for their “punkie” — and threaten tricks if neighbors don’t comply!
According to legend, this tradition began in the 19th century when a group of [probably inebriated] men returning from a nearby village got lost in the foggy night. Their wives went out searching for their missing menfolk, carrying carved mangelwurzel lanterns to light the way. However, the men thought the approaching lights were the souls of unbaptized children and ran away, forever lost in the fog.
Jack O’Lanterns in America
European immigrants to America found a handy New World crop to celebrate Halloween, much larger and easier to carve than the root vegetables of home: winter squash, the most famous of which is a pumpkin.
If you prefer using pumpkins for your jack o’lanterns, consider a white one. New Moon Hybrid is perfectly uniform, 35-45 pounds, alpine white. Alternatively, grown for appearance and carve-ability rather than flavor, the Albino White Casper produces 12-15 pound pumpkins.
Warning! A jack o’lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olearius) is poisonous. At the least, eating the jack o’lantern mushroom will make you very sick for a few days.
Bottom Line: Virtually any fruit or vegetable can be a jack o’lantern, especially if you allow painting as well as carving (although carving is necessary for a lighted lantern).