The jack-o’-lantern tradition can be traced back to the 1800s in Ireland when people began fashioning lanterns out of root vegetables to scare off a wicked mythical character who had been forced to wander the earth after making a deal with the devil.
Originally a lump of burning coal was placed inside a turnip or a potato and some of these creations were really scary-looking.
Ironic, the Irish, of which so many came here to escape starvation, would waste food.
ReplyDeletexoxoxoBruce
It's difficult to eat with Stingy Jack breathing down your neck.
DeleteNow those are actually scary. Even scarier would be trying to carve a rutabaga (turnip)!
ReplyDelete( Turnips are a favourite of ours. Mashed & with butter & some pepper, however cutting them up is not for the incautious.)
Maybe we'll try a couple of potatoes this year...more our speed these days. ;)
A turnip lantern is perfect for scaring away trick or treaters when you've forgotten to buy candy.
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