by Leslie Cox; Monday; October 14, 2024

Did you know….

            …it was the Irish who started carving jack-o’-lanterns?

Early in the 19th century, the Irish carved grotesque faces into hollowed out mangelwurzels (also known as mangold wurzels or mangel beets) to use as lanterns. They represented supernatural beings or spirits and oftentimes were placed on windowsills to keep evil or harmful spirits out of the home.

From Ireland this tradition found its way to Wales, then Scotland and finally, to England where the English favoured carving grotesque faces in turnips. These carvings became known by the end of the 18th century in Worcestershire, England as a “Hoberdy’s Lantern”. Naturally, variations on the original name began to appear, such as “Hobbedy’s Lantern”, “Hobany’s”, “Hob-o’-Lantern” and a few others.

It has been claimed by some historians that it was Irish immigrants who brought the Jack-o’-lantern tradition to North America. However, it did not take long before the traditional Irish medium of using beets or turnips was thrown over for the bright orange pumpkin as the perfect choice for their Jack-o’-lantern carvings. Up until that time, pumpkins were more favoured at Thanksgiving festivities rather than at Halloween in North America.

This factual change of pumpkin carving favouritism from Thanksgiving to Halloween was actually recorded in the November 1, 1866 edition of the Daily News published in Kingston, Ontario.

And so…the tradition continues! Halloween would not be the same without a hollowed out carved pumpkin lighting the porch and keeping your home safe from evil spirits for the little Trick or Treaters.