Why the FIRST Jack O' Lanterns were Carved From Turnips not PUMPKINS

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The grinning, glowing pumpkin is a Halloween staple, but did you know it’s a modern twist on a much older, darker tradition? The original Jack-o'-Lanterns weren’t carved from pumpkins at all, but from humble turnips. This is the centuries-old story you never knew you needed to hear.

In this video, we'll get to the bottom of this bizarre history and explore:

The legend of "Stingy Jack," an Irish folktale about a man too wicked for heaven and too clever for underworld, who was doomed to wander the earth with only a carved turnip lantern.

The practical reasons behind the turnip: In Ireland and Scotland, pumpkins weren't readily available. Instead, people relied on turnips and other root vegetables to create lanterns that would ward off evil spirits on the Celtic festival of Samhain.

How Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, where they discovered that the native, much softer, and larger pumpkin was a perfect canvas for their ghoulish creations.

So sit back, relax, and learn how a spooky Irish legend turned a difficult-to-carve root vegetable into the iconic holiday symbol we know today. This is the perfect story to help you fall asleep—or to awaken a new understanding of Halloween history.

#BoringHistory #Halloween #JackOLantern #History #Folklore #IrishFolklore #Samhain #Pumpkins #Turnips #SleepAid