The most recognizable symbol of Halloween is a pumpkin that has been carved into a jack-o-lantern. Yet in order to understand the origins of how pumpkin carving began, and what it really means, it is important to first take a look at the holiday itself. While Halloween seems like a simple children’s holiday it actually has a long and varied history. If you are wondering how long Halloween has been around and why pumpkins play a part in it, here is what you want to know about craving pumpkins for Halloween.
For most people Halloween is a night for dressing up, telling ghost stories, having spooky parties, trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving. What many people do not know is that Halloween is actually based on an ancient Celtic holiday known as Samhain (pronounced “sow wan”), which means “summer’s end”. This holiday was held at the end of the Celtic year, starting at sundown on October 31st and going through to sundown November 1st. The Celts chose this night to honor dead loved ones because it was believed that the veil that separated the two realms was thinnest on Halloween. This holiday was celebrated for centuries by the Celts of old, Witches and many other nature based religions, and for them was the most magical night of the year. It was also known as the Witches’ New Year, and the Last Harvest. Halloween is still considered a magical night even though the religious significance has largely passed!
On this magical night, glowing jack-o-lanterns that were usually carved from turnips or gourds were set on porches and in windows to welcome deceased loved ones, but also to act as protection against malevolent spirits. In some cultures people would carry a jack-o-latern on Halloween to ward off evil spirits. Burning lumps of coal were used inside as a source of light, but were later replaced by candles.
When European settlers, (particularly the Irish), arrived in America they found the native pumpkin to be much larger and therefore easier to carve. It seemed the perfect choice for jack-o-lanterns. An Irish legend recounts that the Jack O’Lantern was named after a reprobate named Jack who tricked the Devil several times when he was alive. After he died Heaven refused him entry so he went down to Hell to appeal to the Devil. According to the tale, Jack ended up in limbo between Heaven and Hell and the Devil had pity on him and gave him a piece of coal to light his way. And so the carved pumpkin became known as the Jack O’Latern.
It is interesting to note that Halloween did not really catch on big in this country until the late 1800′s and yet has been celebrated in so many ways ever since! While it has certainly had humble beginnings, Halloween enjoys widespread celebration today.
Pumpkins are indigenous to the western hemisphere and were completely unknown in Europe before the time of Columbus. Historical records show that in 1584, the French explorer Jacques Cartier reported from the St. Lawrence region that he had found a type of melon that is now known as pumpkins. It has also been shown that pumpkins have been grown in America for over 5,000 years and were called ”isquotersquash” by Native Americans.
Horticulturists have classified the pumpkin as a fruit not as a vegetable. Pumpkins, gourds and other squash, cucumbers, gherkins and melons are all members of the Cucurbitaceous family.
Tags: halloween, pumpkin carving