How did the pumpkin become a symbol for halloween?

Answer 1

Ok heres the story in its entirety or so its told ......... People have been making jack o'lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern."

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack's lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o'lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack o'lanterns.

Answer 2

The jack-o-lantern is used to ward off evil and is the image of a damned soul. When Irish immigrants came to the US the original turnip used to make such lanterns were replaced with pumpkins. For the full history with legend check the site listed below and click on the history link. =)

Answer 3

The Irish used to carve jack o lanterns out of turnips and potatoes. When they immigrated to the US they found pumpkins made a better carving jack o lantern

Answer 4

The Celts that lived in what's now large Britain and northern France might carry a lantern while they walked on the eve of October 31. those lanterns have been carved out of massive turnips and the lighting fixtures fixtures have been believed to maintain the evil spirits away. infants might carve faces interior the turnips. those carved turnips have been stated as "jack-o-lanterns. Legends have it that the "jack-o-lantern" have been given its call from a stingy and advise old guy, named Jack, who while he died replaced into too advise to get into heaven. while Jack went to hell he replaced into meet by potential of the devil who gave him a chew of burning coal and sent him away. Jack placed the burning coal in a turnip to apply as a lantern to easy his way. The legends declare that Jack remains walking with the lantern searching for a place to stay. while the early settlers got here to usa they chanced on the large around orange pumpkin. Being larger and much greater colourful than turnips, the pumpkin made large "jack-o-lanterns". ultimately the pumpkin might replace the turnip. through fact the settlers unfold in the process usa they took their Halloween celebrations with them. The custom of the "jack-o-lantern" might holiday with them. ultimately the Pumpkin might grow to be the main appreciably regarded image of the Halloween holiday.

Answer 5

It was when the Scottish/Irish people migrated to America that they brought this tradition with them. They actually began in their own country by carving gourds (squash). You can search on Yahoo by typing in the history of halloween and get a lot of answers there.