Turnips, Pumpkins & Stingy Jack

WHY WE CARVE PUMPKINS INTO JACK-O-LANTERNS: A BRIEF HISTORY

Do you know where the tradition of carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns came from? It begins with an Irish legend and ends with Irish immigrants to the United States. Here’s the story. Read it to your kids in your scariest voice!

Many years ago, in a village in the Irish countryside, there lived a miserable man known as “Stingy Jack.” Because he was lazy and opposed to work, he lived by stealing from others.

Jack’s favorite food was turnips, and he often carried a turnip with him—just in case he should get hungry before he found a bit of food to steal.