You don’t need to be a trick-or-treater to know that jack-o’-lanterns on your neighborhood porches mean that Halloween is coming! From black triangle eyes to elaborate monster faces, the carved jack-o’-lantern pumpkin has gone through many phases to become an enduring symbol of Halloween around the world.
But where did we get the idea of lighting carved pumpkins at the end of October? Discover the origin of jack-o’-lanterns and interesting facts about them, including what root vegetable was originally used to carve jack-o’-lanterns (hint: it wasn’t a pumpkin) and how jack-o’-lantern celebrations go on to set records every October 31st.
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1. They’re named after a trickster in Irish folklore
The history of the jack-o’-lantern begins in Ireland and Great Britain with the legend of Stingy Jack. In this common folktale, Stingy Jack managed to trick the Devil a number of times, irritating both the Devil and God—and preventing Jack from going to either heaven or hell after his death. He was doomed to roam the Earth with only a hollow turnip lit with a coal, forever spooking those who happened to catch sight of the light on darkened autumn nights.
Because of the imagery of a man forever holding a coal lamp in the dark, the term also referred to night watchmen carrying lanterns. Police officers or others keeping guard overnight could be known as a “jack-of-the-lantern,” similar to the phrase “jack of all trades.”
2. They’re linked to mysterious fairy appearances
There’s even more folk magic connected to the etymology of “jack-o’-lantern.” Both this distinctive phrase and the term “will-o-the-wisp” refer to a phenomenon where swamp gas released in marshy areas looks like flashes of light.
Often known as ignis fatuus, Latin for “foolish fire,” this mysterious sight looked a lot like fairies that Irish and British residents called “will-o-the-wisp,” or in some cases, “Jack-of-the-lantern,” the ghostly figure of Stingy Jack.
3. Jack-o’-lanterns also have African American roots
Although neither the folktale of Stingy Jack nor the pumpkin itself is native to the continent of Africa, the origin of the jack-o’-lantern is part of the African American folklore experience. In Zora Neale Hurston’s folklore collection Mules and Men, she includes the mainly spoken story “How Jack O’Lanterns Came to Be,” which describes a supernaturally strong enslaved man named Big Sixteen in the Stingy Jack role.
Like Stingy Jack, Big Sixteen tricks the Devil and is cast out of both heaven and hell, and sent on his immortal way with only a lit coal to guide him. As Hurston finishes the story, “So when you see a Jack O’Lantern in de woods at night you know it’s Big Sixteen wid his piece of fire lookin’ for a place to go.”
4. Jack-o’-lanterns weren’t always pumpkins
You may have caught that Stingy Jack carried a lit turnip, rather than a pumpkin—and that’s for a good reason! Root vegetables like turnips, potatoes, and beets were more common in Ireland and parts of Britain, so they became the symbol of Stingy Jack’s fate.
During Halloween celebrations in these parts of the world, people would carve their own lanterns out of these vegetables, or create scary faces to keep Stingy Jack away from their homes. However, pumpkins were an abundant part of an autumn harvest in North America, and 19th-century Irish immigrants began carving their jack-o’-lanterns on these large orange gourds.
5. Over 150 million people carve jack-o’-lanterns today
The tradition of jack-o’-lanterns continues today, with millions of people carving pumpkins into different faces and designs. In the last several years, over 150 million people carved jack-o’-lanterns or planned to carve them, making this time-honored tradition just as popular as ever.
And modern jack-o’-lantern artists aren’t just cutting their pumpkins into triangle eyes and toothy grins anymore (although they’re classics for a reason!). Many designers use this Halloween tradition to innovate pumpkin carving techniques like using negative space, choosing non-conventional designs, and stenciling pre-designed images into the pumpkin.
6. The largest jack-o’-lantern weighed as much as a small car
Pumpkins can get quite large, making their jack-o’-lantern designs larger than life in some cases. The record for the heaviest jack-o’-lantern is 2,749 pounds, which is around the same weight as a small sedan.
This huge jack-o’-lantern, nicknamed “Michael Jordan,” was carved by horticulture teacher Travis Gienger and won the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California, in 2023.
Carved with patriotic images to celebrate Veteran’s Day in November, the winning pumpkin wasn’t Geinger’s first foray into giant jack-o’-lanterns. He had previously set US records for the heaviest jack-o’-lantern in both 2020 and 2022, and went on to win the US Championship again with a 2,471-pound jack-o’-lantern in 2024.
7. Ichabod Crane never carried a jack-o’-lantern
If you’re familiar with the tale of Ichabod Crane and Sleepy Hollow, you may have a mental image of the Headless Horseman or Ichabod Crane (depending on your memory of the story) clutching a fiery jack-o’-lantern in his arms. However, that image only comes from the movie itself, as the 1820 story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving never described a carved jack-o’-lantern—only the remnants of a smashed pumpkin as clue to the fate of Ichabod Crane.
According to Irving’s story: “In one part of the road leading to the church was found the saddle trampled in the dirt; the tracks of horses’ hoofs deeply dented in the road, and evidently at furious speed, were traced to the bridge, beyond which, on the bank of a broad part of the brook, where the water ran deep and black, was found the hat of the unfortunate Ichabod, and close beside it a shattered pumpkin.”
The image of the Headless Horseman throwing a lit jack-o’-lantern comes from the 1949 Disney short of the same title. But in the story itself, the pumpkin is never identified as a jack-o’-lantern, and Ichabod Crane certainly never holds it. In fact, by the end of the story, only his hat remains after a legendary prank (or haunted spirit!) scares him out of town.
8. Jack-o’-lanterns are becoming part of Dia de los Muertos
While Halloween and Dia de los Muertos take place at the same time of year (October 31st and November 1st and 2nd, respectively), they haven’t had much to do with each other until recently. After all, Halloween’s origins go back to ancient Ireland and Britain, while Dia de los Muertos traditions are a fusion of Aztec festivals and Spanish religious observances of All Saints Day.
Lately, however, the connection between Halloween traditions and Dia de los Muertos is getting stronger. Jack-o’-lanterns are beginning to appear on traditional ofrendas (altars) painted with elaborate designs normally reserved for calaveras (sugar skills), while Mexican American children engage in Halloween trick-or-treating before celebrating Dia de los Muertos at home. While older generations may not approve of the two traditions coming together, the combination shows how both holidays continue to evolve throughout different cultures.
9. One state grows way more pumpkins than the others
Every state in the US grows pumpkins to some capacity, but one state grows the vast majority—and it’s not even close. In fact, Illinois grows over 600 million pounds of pumpkins each year, followed by Indiana and California, who each grow just over 100 million pounds. Illinois also has the highest pumpkin yield (45,000 pounds per acre).
Most of Illinois’ pumpkins (75%) are grown for processing, not for carving jack-o’-lanterns. However, 25% of 600 million is 150 million, which means Illinois still produced more jack-o’-lantern-ready pumpkins than any other state in the nation.
10. The US is not the world pumpkin leader
Despite Illinois’ staggering pumpkin statistics, the United States does not produce the majority of the world’s pumpkins. While the US produces 1 million tons of pumpkins, China grows over 7 times as many (7.7 million tons), with India coming in second (5 million tons).
One reason pumpkins are grown so plentifully throughout the world is that they are climate resistant, low-maintenance crops with dense nutritional value. In areas where water scarcity and famine are major problems, pumpkins can be a rich source of nourishment. That’s why pumpkins are valuable tools to combat starvation, even beyond their traditional purpose as festive jack-o’-lanterns.
11. One city lit over 30,000 jack-o’-lanterns
It’s one thing to light one or two jack-o’-lanterns on your porch for Halloween, but what about 30,000? That’s what the city of Keene, New Hampshire did in 2013, when they broke the record for most jack-o’-lanterns lit (30,581).
Who set the original record? Keene, New Hampshire! In fact, this Halloween-enthused city has broken the record for jack-o’-lanterns lit 8 times since setting it in the first place. If you’re ever in the neighborhood in October, stop by the Keene Pumpkin Festival to see these jack-o’-lanterns light up the night sky.
12. Jack-o’-lanterns can liquify in the heat
If you thought your jack-‘o’lantern was scary on Halloween, just wait a few more weeks! Pumpkins are around 92% water, making them a great resource for hydration and easy to carve around Halloween. It’s also why they tend to become mushy a few days after carving, and if jack-o’-lanterns are left in the heat, they can actually liquify into a pumpkin-mush puddle on your porch. If you’d like your jack-o’-lantern to last longer, consider refrigerating it during the night (or cleaning it up early during warmer Octobers).
13. Modern jack-o’-lanterns aren’t just pumpkins
The history of jack-o’-lanterns takes them from Irish turnips and beets to American pumpkins, but they’re not done changing yet! Today, a more tropical Halloween trend combines the tradition of carving faces into produce with a refreshing pineapple twist.
With their barbed surfaces and spiky leaves, pineapples are a naturally spooky choice for carving an equally spooky face. Though pineapple jack-o’-lanterns are especially popular in Hawaii and other warm-climate parts of the world, they’re certainly welcome at any Halloween party that feels more like a luau than a haunted house.
Celebrate the fall with time-honored traditions
Jack-o’-lanterns are just one example of the way our history affects us every day, especially on holidays. Though lighting turnips to avoid Stingy Jack may be a long-forgotten autumn superstition, it’s good to remember how important storytelling has been in establishing our traditions, and how important it is to keep telling those stories.
For more autumn rituals and celebrations, find out how different cultures celebrate the autumn equinox. You can also download the Rosetta Stone App to explore a new language and uncover even more fascinating cultural stories from around the world!
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