Other Pumpkin Facts . Also check out: Incognito History. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Discover how the pumpkin… 10 things you didn’t know about the history (and mystery) of Halloween. Depending on who is telling this story, the history of pumpkin carving, also known as the Halloween tradition of carving Jack-O-Lanterns began during the 18th century in Ireland. The Pumpkin Man was an animatronic that was supposedly going to be sold by Spirit Halloween for the 2018 Halloween season. Cydney Grannan was an Editorial Intern at Encyclopædia Britannica. About 13 years ago, the Kellys visited Sydney, Australia, and a little girl no more than 8 years old came up to Henry and said, “You guys are from America. Discover how the traditions came to be with six facts of the history of Halloween for kids. He had tricked the devil for his own gain. Test your knowledge on topics ranging from movies to history. If you think you feel full after a dessert of pumpkin pie, imagine downing the largest pumpkin pie in history. In 1584, after French explorer Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence region of North America, he reported finding “gros melons.” The name was translated into English as “pompions,” which has since evolved into the modern “pumpkin.”. Carving pumpkins is a common Halloween activity (Photo: Jason Rosewell / Unsplash) After these traditions were exported across the Atlantic, it wasn’t long before carved pumpkins (a gourd native to North America) began to show up. Some people suggested that jack-o’-lanterns representing Christian souls in purgatory like Halloween are the eve of All Saints ’ Day celebrated on 1 November or All Souls’ Day on 2nd November. © 2020 A&E Television Networks, LLC. The tradition of the carving pumpkins for Halloween originally comes from Eastern France. The Origin and History of Halloween. But the use of pumpkin as Halloween decoration goes back in Irish history. 3. If you are not from the British Isles, you won't believe where your hollowed out pumpkin comes from! Tradition held that they would ward off Stingy Jack and other malevolent spirits on Halloween, and they also served as representations of the souls of the dead. READ MORE: Halloween Rituals and Traditions. Brief History of Pumpkins. They take between 90 and 120 days to grow and are picked in October when they are bright orange in color. Everything you ever wanted to know about the pumpkin, but were afraid to ask. Halloween will soon be upon us and provide a great opportunity for youth cultural education. The Halloween costume of today embraces the history of disguise but has evolved to include both scary costumes and fun, creative costumes. It has almost become a tradition over the years to have to pumpkin pies. The History Behind Pumpkins and Halloween. The meaning of pumpkin . The tradition of carving a face on a turnip or swede (and more recently pumpkin), and using these as lanterns, seems to be a relatively modern tradition. in English from the University of Chicago in 2016. Nov 6, 2020 - Explore Robin Deutsch's board "Halloween pumpkins", followed by 1446 people on Pinterest. Halloween is one of the world's oldest holidays, dating back to pagan times. The meaning of pumpkin . According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. So as you carve up a mean-looking Jack O'Lantern this Halloween, think about the history of … The jack-o’-lantern tradition dates back centuries. In the 19th century, “turnips or mangel wurzels, hollowed out to act as lanterns and often carved with grotesque faces,” became a part of Halloween in Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. Pumpkins Are Indigenous to the Americas. Pumpkin decor and jack-o'-lanterns have become ubiquitous symbols of Halloween, but how did a simple squash become a quintessential part of this American holiday? Also check out: Incognito History. The Official History of Halloween. History of Pumpkin Carving and Halloween (Samhain) Stair na hÉireann Irish History Celtic, Celts, Halloween, Ireland, Jack-o-lantern, Pumpkin Carving, Samhain. If it were to be sold in stores, it most likely would have been set up in the Spirit Acre Farms theme. Which famous French explorer is credited with naming them? In the history of pumpkin carving, the whole tale started with a deal with the devil. 1 Description 2 Skins 3 Trivia 4 Update History The Pumpkin Skincrate is an exclusive skincrate that is only obtainable during the Halloween 2020 Event from the Halloween Battlepass. Moreover, when they lighted up a pumpkin they found it was brighter than lighting inside a turnip, potatoes or squash, so the pumpkin became a symbol of Halloween ever since. The thick shell contains the seeds and pulp. The jack-o’-lantern has a long Some people carved pumpkins and set on windowsills to keep harmful spirits out of their homes. Pumpkins are a member of the gourd family, which includes cucumbers, honeydew melons, cantaloupe, watermelons and zucchini. The History of Jack-O’-Lanterns. The heaviest pumpkin was grown in Belgium in 2016 and weighed a whopping 2,624 pounds. Indigenous North Americans have grown pumpkins for thousands of years—even before the cultivation of beans and corn. Pumpkin in a Pumpkin Patch A Jack-O-Lantern to be growing in a pumpkin patch awaiting Halloween. Baldrick would have met his dream! Chuck enjoys celebrating holidays with his family. It’s the start of the Celtic New Year and honors the year that has passed. Take some of the scare out of Halloween and research the history and legends of this fall tradition of carving pumpkins. This has led to an interest in researching & writing about holidays & their traditions. 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