0
* *
The Irish brought the Jack O'Lantern to America. The Jack O'Lantern legend goes back hundreds of years in Irish History. As the story goes, Stingy Jack was a miserable, old drunk who liked to play tricks. He played tricks on the Devil himself. One day, he tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree. As soon as he did, Stingy Jack carved crosses around the trunk of the tree. Unable to get down the tree, Stingy Jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died.
When Jack finally died, he went to the pearly gates of Heaven and was told he was too cruel and had led a miserable life on earth. He was not allowed to enter heaven. He then went to the Devil. The Devil kept his promise and would not allow him to enter Hell. But, the Devil tossed him an ember from the flames of Hell to help him light his way. Jack placed the ember in a hollowed out Turnip. Without a resting place, Stingy Jack roamed the earth for eternity.
On all Hallow's eve, the Irish hollowed out Turnips, rutabagas, gourds, potatoes and beets and placed a light in them. This was to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. These were the original Jack O'Lanterns. In the 1800's a couple of waves of Irish immigrants came to America. The Irish immigrants quickly discovered that Pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve out. So they used pumpkins for Jack O'Lanterns and our modern tradition was born.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Why the people put a pumpkin on the front steps on Halloween?
The original reason for Halloween pumpkins was the belief that the scary face carved into the pumpkin and illuminated by a candle inside the pumpkin would scare off the creatures that would be prowling around on Halloween. Few if any people still believe that, so the practice is continued just for fun.
When it is Halloween on animal crossing lets go to the city and your head has been turned into a pumpkin does the pumpkin head last forever?
You can take it off anytime. Just put something else on. The pumpkin head is just an accessory.
What was the favorite Halloween prank of the Irish?
They put poo in a bag and put it in front of the door
Where do I buy a cheap and easy pumpkin craft for kids?
You can buy it at a book store near halloween, or go to the library, you can search for books online. Also you can just get a Halloween picture online and get normal pumpkin, cut a hole at the top, and dig out all the seeds in the inside, after put the picture on the face of the pumpkin and cut out the shape of the picture.
What does carving pumpkins mean?
Carving pumpkins is what is done at Halloween time. It means the top of the pumpkin is cut off in a way that it can be put back in its place, the inside is scooped out, and a "face" is cut into the pumpkin.
Jack-o'-lantern is a poisonous mushroom?
No it isn't. Jack-o-lanterns are when you hollow out a pumpkin and carve a face on it and put a candle in it. You then put it out on Halloween night to show it off.
Where are some Halloween games for a birthday party?
Putting a Halloween spin on any favorite childhood game is a great way to go. For example you could use pin the tail on the donkey but put a Halloween spin on it. Treasure hunts, Pumpkin bowling, or bobbing for apples.
Where should you buy Halloween candy from?
Preferably a shop - although there isn't any particular one. Anything to put a range of different sweets into a kid's cauldron or pumpkin.
What are some ideas for decorating pumpkins?
Use stencils to draw outlines onto your pumpkin and then cut along the lines. You can also use paper cutouts of Halloween themes and glue them to the pumpkin. Also you can cut out the top of the pumpkin, remove the seeds and put a candle in the pumpkin.
What type of cream do you put on top of pumpkin pie?
Whipped cream is put on pumpkin pies.
Where can I buy materials to make a pumpkin lantern, and how do I make them?
You should buy a good sized healthy pumpkin, a small sharp knife, some sort of layout of how you want the pumpkin to be cut, and finally and small candle. You should hollow out the pumpkin and then carve the front of it however you want. Then take the candle and put it inside the pumpkin. Make sure the pumpkin lid does not touch the flame though.
What items could be put on a Halloween scavenger hunt list?
You could use little bat and pumpkin toys. You could also use funny shaped Halloween candy like eyes, or fangs, skeleton bones ... anything Halloween-ish. Perhaps you could even include items coloured black, e.g. black pens or pencils.
