Every October, carved pumpkins peer out from porches and
doorsteps in the United States and other parts of the world. Gourd-like orange
fruits inscribed with ghoulish faces and illuminated by candles are a sure sign
of the Halloween season. The practice of decorating “jack-o’-lanterns”—the name
comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack—originated in
Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as an early canvas. Irish
immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it became
an integral part of Halloween festivities. Read more about Stingy Jack at http://www.history.com/topics/jack-olantern-history
