|Did you know?|
|Written by Holyoke Enterprise|
The tradition of jack-o’-lanterns began in Ireland and Scotland, and pumpkins were not the first gourd of choice to use as lanterns. Turnips and rutabagas were often used because of their availability.
When Irish immigrants migrated to America, they brought their jack-o’-lantern traditions with them. Turnips were not as prevalent on this side of the Atlantic, so carvers turned to pumpkins, which were larger and easier to carve.
Jack-o’-lanterns get their name from Irish folklore, particularly a character named Jack.
For the full article, consider an e-Subscription. Call 970-854-2811 to learn more.