Thaindian News

New York, Oct 20 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Halloween is celebrated with several things and one of the traditions during Halloween is the carving of pumpkins. It must be surprising why that is done. If you have paused to ask yourself that question before, then this piece will give you the answer.

To begin with, the reason for the carving of pumpkin is rooted in the history of Halloween itself.

Halloween started several years ago in Europe, precisely in the current Irish region. The occasion was used by the people to mark the end of a year and celebrate the beginning of the next year. It was a common believe then that the dead came to visit the living on Halloween night.

The pumpkin carving originated from what was then called, “Jack o’Lantern”. The lantern was named after a man called Jack Stingy who legend say tricked the devil take his name away from the people going to hell. Jack’s request was granted by the devil and Jack was doomed to wander on the face of the planet with amber of fire.

Jack o’Lantern therefore was used to describe the wandering Jack. Over years, the image was carved and pumpkin carving was thus born.