Jack O’Lanterns might be my favorite part of the American tradition of Halloween. Perhaps this is because I don’t have much of a sweet tooth or love of the horror genre, but I genuinely enjoy carving pumpkins and seeing my neighbors’ creations. Walking down a neighborhood street, following clumps of Trick-or-Treaters, and seeing the flickering faces of orange orbs adorning doorsteps and pathways makes the effort worthwhile.
I grew up in a pretty average suburban area of a coastal city in Virginia in the 1990’s, and have fond memories of trick-or-treating along the streets near my house. Perhaps I was lucky, but I don’t really think my neighborhood was unusual. I remember several houses had decorated enthusiastically and a few didn’t turn on their porch lights, but more than half seemed to have pumpkins on their stoops. And, the majority of them were carved into faces, ranging from the classic triangles and half-moon grin to attempts to create recognizable characters and more complex textures.
The Appeal of a Jack O’Lantern
The American-style Jack O’Lantern is commonly thought to have originated from an Irish folk tale about a man named “Stingy Jack” and his dealings with the Devil. That story has become detached from the present custom, though, and most of us happily craft temporary lanterns from pumpkins with little thought for the “why.” I have some theories as to why the pumpkins themselves, if not so much the legend, have stood the test of time when other traditions have fallen by the wayside.
So, why do we keep the tradition alive?
It would be interesting to conduct a broader survey, but for now, I’ll share my own reasons for carrying on the annual Halloween ritual of displaying lighted pumpkins.
Halloween itself is a wonderful and unique holiday.
Halloween stands out among our list of major annual holidays for a variety of reasons. It is one of the few that many Americans seem to celebrate with our neighbors, people in the immediate vicinity of our dwellings. What other annual celebration heavily involves interacting with people who are mostly strangers? So many other holidays are primarily based around comradery with friends, family, and colleagues. Do you know every person on your block by name? I don’t, but I love that the spooky, usually light-hearted holiday brings communities together.
I also think Halloween is unique because, although it’s largely secular in its present form, the themes it carries remind us of our mortality. It’s healthy to consider the finite nature of our time on earth and to introduce some of the grizzlier aspects of human existence to young people in a way that’s accessible and palatable. Death and candy, a winning combination.
Anyone can make a Jack O’Lantern.
The barriers to creating a Jack O’Lantern are few. Materials and tools are easy to come by, simple designs are often best, and overall cost in time and treasure is low.
The pumpkins themselves are widely available throughout the United States in late October. The vibrant round vegetables we call “pumpkins” are a native plant in North America and their season naturally coincides with the holidays associated with them, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Our use of native pumpkins to represent Autumn stands in contrast to Valentine’s Day, when out-of-season flower varieties available for purchase must be shipped from around the world every year.
Jack O’Lanterns do not have to be fancy. Once a pumpkin has been procured, all one must do then is remove the guts, cut out a few basic shapes, and light a candle inside it. And, this can be accomplished with tools most people already have in their kitchen. While in the last few decades, pumpkin carving has reached new heights of artistic prowess, most of those made each year remain mischievous faces of the simplest kind. If you have created two eyes, a nose, and a mouth, or some other spooky shape, you have been no less successful in your endeavor than even the greatest sculptors. They are all Jack O’Lanterns, and I would argue, all works of art. Humble though they may be, that accessibility is part of their charm. Many who would never pick up oil paints and canvas are willing to take the time to carve a Jack O’Lantern. Though they are not held on display in expensive museums, they are the expression of the humanity in our own neighborhoods.
Jack O’Lanterns are a multi-sensory experience.
Preparing the pumpkin can be a messy, but enjoyable process. Though we often get our hands involved when preparing normal meals, the ooey gooey-ness of the slimy pumpkin pulp can provide an almost visceral experience. Kids, especially, often love the sounds and feelings of the pumpkin goop, and adults are reminded of their own childhood wonderment at the texture. Then there are the smells. Who doesn’t feel the ghosts of Halloween’s past awaken when the aroma of freshly cut pumpkin reaches their nose? And, equally comforting is the smell of the candle slowly toasting the inside of the globe once the masterpiece is complete. Our vision and taste come into play as well. The warm, flickering movement of lighted candles being no longer a commonplace sight, witnessing the intimate and public use of fire merits appreciation of its beauty. And finally, as we did in my household as a child, many Americans toast and eat the pumpkin seeds scooped from Jack’s innards, or otherwise incorporate pumpkin flesh (canned or fresh) into their seasonal cooking endeavors.
Decay and Renewal
Finally, carved pumpkins require no long-term storage. They must be made every year, but they are delightfully temporary. With so much of our holiday decor having been replaced by molded and extruded mass manufacture alternatives, true Jack O’Lanterns have remained competitive against plastic imposters. Further, the ephemerality of the Jack O’Lantern keeps them from being carved and set out too early, making them resistant to the creep of earlier and earlier holiday consumerism. And, unlike most of the other objects which surround us, we can feel guilt-free about throwing them away at the end of the season. We watch them grow moldy on our porches and steps, curl in, and dry out. But, it’s not a sad process. We can feel almost relieved to toss them in the garbage, and happily resolve to try to carve a spookier or sillier one next year.
Jack lives on.
The reasons our pumpkin carving tradition has survived and remained relevant may be unclear, but I’m certainly glad Jack has stood the test of time. I hope that this year, you take the time to make your own version, and keep this unique American tradition living on.
I will leave you with a poem and accompanying photograph from “The Book of Hallowe’en,” published in 1919. The caption reads: “No Halloween without a Jack-O’-Lantern.”
Memento Mori, and Happy Halloween!
Looking for inspiration for your own historical project?
Head over to Pinterest for more images of vintage pumpkins and Jack O’Lanterns.
Terror-ific 🎃
Enjoyed the read. Thanks for bringing back some great memories.