A jack-o'-lantern (or jack o'lantern) is a carved pumpkin, turnip, or other root vegetable lantern, commonly associated with the Halloween holiday. Its name comes from the reported phenomenon of strange lights flickering over peat bogs, called will-o'-the-wisps or jack-o'-lanterns. The name is also tied to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a drunkard who bargains with Satan and is doomed to roam the Earth with only a hollowed turnip to light his way.

Jack-o'-lanterns carved from pumpkins are a yearly Halloween tradition that came to the United States with Irish immigrants.

In a jack-o'-lantern, the top of the pumpkin or turnip is cut off to form a lid, the inside flesh is scooped out, and an image—usually a scary or funny face—is carved out of the rind to expose the hollow interior. To create the lantern effect, a light source, traditionally a flame such as a candle or tealight, is placed within before the lid is closed. However, artificial jack-o'-lanterns with electric lights are also marketed. It is common to see jack-o'-lanterns used as external and internal decorations prior to and on Halloween.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack-o%27-lantern 

 

The carving of vegetables has been a common practice in many parts of the world. It is believed that the custom of making jack-o'-lanterns at Hallowe'en time began in Ireland. In the 19th century, "turnips or mangel wurzels, hollowed out to act as lanterns and often carved with grotesque faces," were used on Halloween in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. In these Gaelic-speaking regions, Halloween was also the festival of Samhain and was seen as a time when supernatural beings (the Aos Sí), and the souls of the dead, walked the earth. Jack-o'-lanterns were also made at Halloween time in Somerset, England (see Punkie Night) during the 19th century.

 

Top left and right: Windfall apples carved and left for birds in our garden (Photos: Grant Sherman)

Bottom left: File:Traditional Cornish Jack-o'-Lantern made from a turnip.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Bottom right: File:Hop-tu-naa turnip with witch and cat.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

 

Turnip or Swede?

Rutabaga (North American English) or swede (British English and some Commonwealth English) is a root vegetable, a form of Brassica napus (which also includes rapeseed). Other names include Swedish turnip, neep (Scottish) and turnip (Canadian English, Irish English and Manx English) – however, elsewhere the name "turnip" usually refers to the related white turnip. The species Brassica napus originated as a hybrid between the cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and the turnip (Brassica rapa). Rutabaga roots are eaten as human food in a variety of ways, and the leaves can be eaten as a leaf vegetable. The roots and tops are also used for livestock, either fed directly in the winter or foraged in the field during the other seasons. Scotland, Northern England, West England, the Isle of Man and Ireland had a tradition of carving the roots into lanterns at Halloween.

Halloween People living in Northern England, West England, Ireland and Scotland have long carved turnips and often used them as lanterns to ward off harmful spirits. In the Middle Ages, rowdy bands of children roamed the streets in masks carrying carved turnips known in Scotland as "tumshie heads". In modern times, turnips are often carved to look as sinister and threatening as possible, and are put in the window or on the doorstep of a house at Halloween to ward off evil spirits. Since pumpkins became readily available in Europe in the 1980s, they have taken over this role to a large extent. In the Isle of Man, turnip lanterns are still carved at Hop-tu-Naa (Manx equivalent of Halloween), lit with a candle or electric torch, and carried from house to house by some children, with the accompanying Hop tu Naa song; hoping for money or treats of food. The smell of burning turnip is an evocative part of the event.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutabaga 

 

Hop tu Naa

Hop-tu-Naa (/ˌhɒp tuː ˈneɪ/ HOP too NAY; Manx: Oie Houney; Irish: Oíche Shamhna [ˌiːçə ˈhəunˠə]) is a Celtic festival celebrated in the Isle of Man on 31 October. It is the celebration of the traditional Celtic festival of Samhain, the start of winter. It is thought to be the oldest unbroken tradition in the Isle of Man.

Turnip lanterns At the modern Hop-tu-Naa, children dress up and go from house to house hoping to be given sweets or money, as elsewhere. The children carry carved "turnip" lanterns (which are known as "moots" by the Manx) and sing Hop-tu-Naa songs. There are regional varieties of how turnips should be carved for Hop-tu-Naa, with variations focusing on which way up the turnip is and the nature of the decorations. It is believed that turnip-lanterns do not date earlier than the start of the 19th century, as the vegetable had only been introduced at the end of the previous century. In the past children would bring the stumps of turnips with them and batter the doors of those who refused to give them any money, in an ancient form of trick or treat. This practice appears to have died out.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hop-tu-Naa 

 

Devonshire Association Volume 149 (2017) of the Devonshire Association’s annual Report and Transactions includes the 7th report on Dialect and Folklore, which combines the 114th report on Dialect and the 108th on Folklore. Topics discussed include dialect words for the ignis fatuus, such as ‘Jackie twad’, ‘Joan the wad’ and ‘hinkypunk’.

https://devonassoc.org.uk/report-and-transactions-2017-an-overview/ 

 

Legendary Dartmoor Much of Dartmoor is covered by peat bogs, for centuries these have always struck fear into the heart of moorland travellers, especially those venturing out at night. In the dark it is only too easy to stray off into the depths of these black, peaty mires and get ‘stogged’ (stuck) as the thick ooze slowly sucks it’s victims deep down to their deaths. An old moor term for the bogs is ‘Dartmoor Stables‘ so named for the many ponies that have got stogged in them and have been ‘stabled’ for eternity.

Is it therefore surprising that such places should have their own spirits? Some say they are evil others will vow they look kindly on travellers in distress. On the moor they are called ‘Jack O’ Lantern’ and appear as luminescent lights. Nobody has ever been close enough to see who carries the ‘lantern’ as it hovers and floats over the mires. Most moorfolk agree that they appear mainly in hot summers during the months of July, August, and September or as the men of the moor say: “when the vaen (fen, bog) rises.” That is to say when the summer heat causes the vegetation to rot and ferment in the mires.

https://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/jack_lant.htm 

 

Plastic-Free North Devon - Waste Free Pumpkins Do you ever find yourself struggling to find decent Halloween ideas that don’t cost the Earth – literally? Most decorations and party games involve lots of plastic and are usually thrown out at the end of Halloween. Here are some ways we can use a Halloween classic, the pumpkin, to create some plastic free entertainment and cook up some tasty treats.

https://plasticfreenorthdevon.org/blog/waste-free-pumpkins-guest-blog-molly-jeffery 

Halloween to Hallogreen Halloween is only a few days away, and amid preparations for fright night, we thought we'd share some tips and tricks (or treats!) on how to avoid the huge amount of waste that is produced at this time every year. Plastic wrapped sweets, plastic costumes and plastic decorations are just a few of the things we can switch out for many other environmentally friendly alternative to ensure our environment doesn’t take the hit for our celebrations. Let’s make sure single-use plastic is kept off the list of scares this Halloween.

https://plasticfreenorthdevon.org/blog/halloween-to-hallogreen-how-to-reduced-plastic-waste-this-holiday 

 

Recycle Devon Pumpkin Rescue Only 1 in 12 people cook their pumpkin at Halloween. Although carving pumpkins can have a reputation for not being the tastiest, if you cook them properly they can be a real treat. Plus, they are a great source of vitamins A and C, iron and riboflavin.

https://www.recycledevon.org/pumpkin-rescue 

 

10 Ideas To Reuse And Recycle Halloween Pumpkins For A Zero Waste Lifestyle I can still remember to this day the annual Halloween party that my aunt used to throw for all the cousins every year. We would all dress up and do crafts, bob for apples, and ultimately carve our own pumpkin. The feel of an odd sort of glee as I scooped out the pumpkin guts with my hands still lingers in my mind today.

Do you have happy carving memories from your childhood? Do you make this an annual occasion with your own children? Truth be told, due to our crazy life situation these last few years, we have been lucky to even have a pumpkin or two on our door step come Halloween, let alone a jack-o-lantern. This year, however; we are going to really try and celebrate this Halloween a bit more.

https://www.coloryourhealth.com/home/ideas-to-reuse-and-recycle-halloween-pumpkins-for-a-zero-waste-lifestyle 

 

Vegan Pumpkin Recipes Not sure what to do with leftover pumpkins from all your Halloween fun? These vegan pumpkin recipes will put them to good use!

https://veganuary.com/best-vegan-pumpkin-recipes/ 

 

Saving Pumpkin Seeds: How To Store Pumpkin Seed For Planting Perhaps this year you found the perfect pumpkin to make a jack-o-lantern or perhaps you grew an unusual heirloom pumpkin this year and wish to try growing it again next year. Saving pumpkin seeds is easy. Planting pumpkin seeds from pumpkins you have enjoyed also ensures that you can enjoy them again next year.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pumpkin/saving-pumpkin-seeds-how-to-store-pumpkin-seed-for-planting.htm 

 

The Seven Sisters of Abenaki Indigenous Agriculture One of the recurring themes during my first season gardening in Vermont has been seeds – where seeds originally come from and how to honor the sacredness of life within a seed when seeds are so abundant and readily available in Vermont. Last month I went to a workshop on northeastern indigenous crops hosted by the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, and the theme of the sacredness of seeds resurfaced. Professor Fred Wiseman, an ethnobotanist and Abenaki tribe member who researches the crops, agriculture and cuisine of the Wabanaki region, presented the workshop. Through his Seeds of Renewal project, Professor Wiseman is on a mission to assist and encourage the Abenaki tradition of seed saving and indigenous gardening by helping to track down rare or long-lost seeds native to northern New England.

I learned that the Abenaki people cultivated gardens that were much more complex than the “Three Sisters Garden” we typically hear about. In addition to the corn, beans and squash, there were 4 other indigenous crops that Professor Wiseman presented as the Abenaki’s “Seven Sisters.” He referenced the famous seven sister star cluster known as the Pleiades that has been known to cultures all around the world. The Abenaki in North America likely observed the Pleiades rising with the sun in the spring to signal the time to plant and appearing in the night sky in early winter when it was time to harvest.

https://vcgn.org/the-seven-sisters-of-abenaki-indigenous-agriculture/ 

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