It is hard to think of Halloween without the glowing, smirking face of a Jack O’ Lantern, but where does the Jack O’ Lantern come from? 

Jack O’ Lanterns were discovered in Ireland, the same place where Halloween was found. As Irish immigrants were moving to the United States, they learned that pumpkins were easier to carve and hollow out than turnips. This is where the tradition of carving pumpkins comes from. Jack O’ Lanterns carved from pumpkins are a yearly Halloween tradition that developed in the United States and Canada, when Irish immigrants brought their carving traditions with them. 

To make a Jack O’ Lantern, you cut the top of a pumpkin to form a lid, the inside flesh is scooped out, and an image, usually a “scary” one, is carved out. A candle flame or tealight is placed within before the lid is closed. These lanterns were believed to ward off evil spirits and guide the souls of the dead back to their loved ones.