Jack-o'-lantern

What it is

A jack-o'-lantern is a lantern created by hollowing out a root vegetable and carving a face into its rind. While modern versions are most often made from pumpkins, the original tradition used turnips, rutabagas, or mangelwurzels. A light source, such as a candle, is placed inside to illuminate the design. The object serves as both a festive decoration and a traditional ward against harmful spirits. Its name derives from the flickering lights seen over bogs, known as will-o'-the-wisps, and an Irish legend about a man named Stingy Jack.

Where it comes from

The custom likely began in Ireland and Britain, possibly evolving from ancient Celtic head veneration practices where warriors displayed the heads of defeated foes for protection. By the nineteenth century, people in England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland were carving turnips and gourds for Halloween. In Gaelic regions, this coincided with Samhain, a time when supernatural beings were believed to walk the earth. The term was first recorded in the mid-seventeenth century to describe bog lights before shifting to refer to the carved vegetable lanterns by the eighteen-thirties.

How it is done

To create the lantern, the top of the vegetable is removed to serve as a lid. The inner flesh and seeds are scooped out to form a hollow chamber. An image, typically a grinning or frightening face, is cut through the outer skin. A candle or tealight is then placed inside the hollow space, and the lid is replaced to hold the flame securely. Modern variations may use electric lights instead of open flames.

Tools and materials

The primary materials are large root vegetables, specifically Connecticut field pumpkins, turnips, rutabagas, or mangelwurzels. Carving tools are used to slice away sections of the rind to form eyes, noses, and mouths. Traditional illumination comes from beeswax candles or tallow candles, though artificial electric lights are now common. The hollow interior acts as a housing for the light source.

What it is for

Practitioners carve these lanterns to protect their homes from evil spirits and supernatural beings. They are often placed on windowsills or doorsteps to ward off harm during the Halloween season. Some traditions suggest the lights represent Christian souls in purgatory or serve to frighten people away from property. Others view them as representations of the wandering spirit of Stingy Jack.

Who does it

The craft is primarily performed by households and families as a seasonal activity. Children and adults participate in the carving process to prepare decorations for the festival. In North America, the practice became widespread among Celtic immigrants who adapted their European vegetable-carving customs to the local pumpkin harvest. It is a communal folk art rather than a specialized religious ritual.

Peoples and places

The tradition is deeply rooted in Irish and British culture, particularly among Celtic communities. In Wales, similar lanterns were made during Ysbrydnosau, or spirit nights. The practice crossed the Atlantic to the United States and Canada, where pumpkins replaced turnips due to their abundance. Different regions have unique names for the lanterns, such as Hoberdy's Lantern in England or Punkie Night celebrations in Somerset.

What people believe

Folklore holds that the glowing lantern can identify and repel vampires or other undead creatures. The light is believed to reveal their true identities, causing them to retreat. The figure of Stingy Jack, trapped between Heaven and Hell, is said to wander the earth carrying only his carved turnip. The lantern serves as a reminder of his eternal punishment and a shield against the forces he encountered.

When it is done

The lanterns are prepared and displayed during the autumn festival of Samhain, which falls on October thirty-first. This date marks the eve of All Saints' Day and is considered a threshold time when the boundary between the living and the dead is thin. In Wales, the celebration occurs on Calan Gaeaf. The tradition remains a central part of modern Halloween festivities in North America and parts of Europe.

Days linked to Jack-o'-lantern

Questions people ask about Jack-o'-lantern

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• BBC NEWS | UK | MagazineBBC, Article
• The history of American jack-o’-lanternsNational Geographic, Article

• Jack-o'-lantern on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data