Jack-o'-lantern facts for kids
A Jack-o'-lantern is a carved pumpkin. Sometimes, people also carve them from turnips, beets, or potatoes. These fun carvings are a popular decoration, especially around Halloween.
For a long time, people in Scotland and Ireland carved Halloween lanterns from large yellow turnips. This tradition has changed over the years. Now, many people use bigger American pumpkins because they are easier to carve.
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The Legend of Stingy Jack
The idea of the Jack-o'-lantern comes from an old Irish story. It's about a man named Stingy Jack. Jack was very clever and tricked the devil more than once!
One day, after Jack died, he couldn't go to heaven or hell. The devil, annoyed by Jack's tricks, threw him a glowing piece of coal. This was to help Jack light his way in the dark. Jack put the coal inside a hollowed-out turnip. This, the story says, was the very first "Jack-o'-lantern." Legend says Jack still wanders the world with his turnip lantern. You might even spot him around All Saints' Day, which is November 1.
Jack-o'-lanterns in America
In the United States, carved pumpkins were first linked to the harvest season. This was long before they became a symbol of Halloween. Around the year 1900, people even suggested using a lit Jack-o'-lantern for Thanksgiving parties.
How to Make a Jack-o'-lantern
Making a Jack-o'-lantern is a fun activity! First, you cut off the top of the pumpkin around the stem. This piece will become the "lid."
Next, you scoop out all the seeds and stringy pulp from inside the pumpkin. You can use a spoon or your hands. Did you know you can roast the pumpkin seeds? Just bake them in a hot oven and add some salt for a tasty snack!
Once the pumpkin is clean inside, it's time to carve a face. People usually carve triangle shapes for the eyes and nose. The mouth often has jagged, spooky teeth.
Finally, you put a light source inside the pumpkin. This could be a candle, a small light, or even a flashlight. Then, you put the "lid" back on. Sometimes, the lid is placed a little crooked. This helps the candle get enough air to stay lit.
Displaying Your Jack-o'-lantern
In the United States, a finished and lit Jack-o'-lantern is often placed outside. You might see them on a porch, on steps, or in a window. They are there to welcome trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.
Keep in mind that once a pumpkin is carved, it doesn't last very long. It usually starts to rot after a day or two. Also, pumpkins used for carving Jack-o'-lanterns are not meant to be eaten.
Images for kids
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A jack-o'-lantern in the shape of the Wikipedia logo.
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An assortment of carved pumpkins.
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A plaster cast of a traditional Irish Jack-o'-Lantern in the Museum of Country Life, Ireland.
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Modern carving of a Cornish Jack-o'-Lantern made from a turnip.
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A commercial "R.I.P." pattern.
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Halloween jack-o'-lantern.
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Pumpkin projected onto the wall.
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A jack-o'-lantern
See also
In Spanish: Jack-o'-lantern para niños
