Come the first day of October and the world enters a state of spooky. The coming of Halloween signals time for Autumn comforts, creative costumes and the season of scares for people across the globe. While the roots of Halloween date back centuries to the pagan celebration of Samhain, today many modernisations have turned the festival into one that can be enjoyed for both its rich roots and its more contemporary connotations.
A classic part of the Halloween celebration is the many symbols that come with it. From black cats and witches to the grinning faces of carved pumpkins at every turn. But how did a humble gourd end up the torchbearer of the world’s scary season? For that answer, you need to turn back the clock to Ireland circa…unknown.
The Legend Of The Jack ‘O Lantern
With a smiling face and eyes lit up by the flicker of candlelight, the Halloween Jack ‘O Lantern is an iconic image. The concept dates back to an Irish myth about a man called Stingy Jack who bamboozled the Devil himself on multiple occasions. As a result of his deceptive soul, after Jack died, neither Hell nor Heaven wanted to admit the trickster and its said the Devil sent his soul off into the night with nothing but a burning coal to light his way. Jack placed the coal inside a hollowed-out turnip and roamed the earth and became known as ‘Jack of the Lantern’.
As the legend spread, people would carve scary faces into turnips to frighten away Jack’s wandering soul and protect their homes from his trickery. When Irish immigrants moved to the U.S, they began using pumpkins instead of turnips as they were native to the region and easier to procure. Soon the trend caught on, turnips were ousted in favour of the pumpkin and the habit stuck.
How Jack ‘O Lanterns Became A Symbol Of Halloween
The Celtic festival of Samhain which marked the end of summer and the beginning of the New Year on November 1st was overlapped by the Catholic Church declaring All Saints’ Day on the same date. The evening before Samhain, All Hallows Eve, fell on October 31st and many of the same traditions became common to both such as wearing disguises to hide from wandering souls and the carving of scary faces into vegetables to protect your homes.
Also Read: How To Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice For Autumn
As Halloween 2024 approaches, the humble pumpkin continues its reign as the undisputed symbol of the spooky season. From jack-o'-lanterns illuminating porches to pumpkin spice flavouring every conceivable treat, this orange gourd has woven itself into the very fabric of our autumn celebrations. Its journey from Native American crop to Halloween icon reflects the ever-evolving nature of cultural traditions.
The pumpkin's association with Halloween has grown far beyond its practical roots, becoming a beacon of nostalgia, creativity, and community spirit. Whether carved, decorated, or consumed, pumpkins bring people together in shared seasonal rituals. As we embrace new Halloween trends, the pumpkin adapts, finding fresh ways to captivate our imagination. So this Halloween, as you sip your pumpkin latte or light your jack-o'-lantern, take a moment to appreciate how this simple squash has become the enduring emblem of our cherished fall festivities.