Halloween History From Ireland
In my book ‘Storytellin: True And Fictional Short Stories Of Arkansas’ I write about one of the first Halloween adventures I can recall as a young child with my younger brother and parents as we went about trick-or-treating American style in the 1950s. We encountered plenty of costumes and decorations, most notably the ever-present carved pumpkins called jack-o-lanterns, without consideration of the origins of the holiday art.
Did you know the carving tradition began in Ireland?
Ed Mooney, an accomplished and award-winning Irish photographer and storyteller posted a very interesting tale titled ‘The Legend of Jack O’ Lantern’ on his blog ‘Ed Mooney Photography ~ The home of Kildare based Photographer, Blogger and Self-Proclaimed Ruinhunter’.
Pumpkins are indigenous to the Americas but not to Ireland. When it came to Irish Halloween carving, turnips were all the rage according to a post-Christian Irish legend and a rather interesting fellow named Stingy Jack (no relation, I hope!)
Here’s Ed’s retelling of the old story he heard as a youngster:
I think it’s a bit easier carving a pumpkin that a turnip, Jack. It’s hard enough to slice a turnip for cooking. I didn’t know it originated in Ireland, thanks for posting Ed’s story about it.
Agree, Jean. Small knives, careful planning, dexterity, and Irish whiskey perhaps? 🙂
Is the whiskey to sterilize the wound when the knife slips? Or to drink so you won’t feel the pain when the knife slips?
Ha, ha! Can we apply it to both scenarios, Jean?
I’ll drink to that!
LOL
Thanks for sharing that entertaining informaiton, Jack. 🙂 — Suzanne
You are welcome! A fun story.