The Sordid History of Hollowed-Out Pumpkins

There are two certainties in life: Death and the profound need for very strong coffee. But somewhere between those two, there’s Halloween—and lurking in its shadows is the story of Stingy Jack. Pour yourself a cup, light a candle, and let us guide you down the twisted path from Irish myth to pumpkin-lit porches. 

THE DEVIL'S FAVORITE DRINKING BUDDY

Before jack-o’-lanterns ever lit up the night, there was a man named Jack — a blacksmith, a swindler, and the kind of guy who could charm the horns off the Devil himself. 

One night, Jack invited the Devil out for a drink (as one does when bad decisions are a personality trait). When the tab came, Jack convinced the Devil to turn into a coin so they could pay — then pocketed him next to a cross, trapping him there. Eventually, Jack set him free, but not before getting a promise that his soul would be off-limits for a while. 

A year later, the Devil came knocking again. Jack lured him up a tree for an apple, then carved crosses into the bark so he couldn’t come down — not until he swore off Jack’s soul for good. 

When Jack finally died, Heaven didn’t want him, and Hell couldn’t take him. The Devil, half-amused, tossed him an ember from the underworld to light his way. Jack hollowed out a turnip, dropped the coal inside, and began wandering the earth — cursed, clever, and carrying the world’s first lantern.  

FROM TURNIPS TO PUMPKINS: THE GLOW UP 

In old Ireland and Scotland, folks started carving their own lanterns out of turnips, beets, or whatever root vegetables they had lying around. They carved scary faces into them to ward off wandering souls like Jack’s — or maybe to blend in with them. Either way, the tradition caught on.

When Irish immigrants came to America, they found something much better suited to the task: pumpkins. Big, bright, and way easier to carve than a turnip. (If you’ve ever tried stabbing a parsnip with a butter knife, you get it.) 

The pumpkin became the new face of Halloween — quite literally. Over time, the jack-o’-lantern transformed from a warning sign for spirits to a symbol of the season itself. 

A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY