Why do people carve pumpkins on Halloween?

When Halloween is near, lights start to pop up on front porches and windows. Perhaps the most iconic signs of Halloween are the jack-o'-lanterns or pumpkin carvings. But how did they get there, and why do humans even carve pumpkins? The story starts in Ireland, and it tells a story of an elderly man called Stingy Jack. The story goes that Jack was clever but also greedy and that he deceived the Devil several times. When he died, he was not received into Heaven because of his bad behavior, but the Devil also did not receive him into Hell. The Devil sent Jack away with no more than a red-hot coal to lead the way. Jack placed the coal in a turnip he had hollowed out, and since then, people said they saw him wandering around the night, giving him the nickname "Jack of the Lantern," or Jack-o'-lantern. They carved turnips and potatoes in Scotland and Ireland to make their own versions of jack-o'-lanterns. They would put candles in them to keep evil spirits away and to ensure "Jack" did not come to their homes. It was when the Irish moved to the United States in the 1800s that they found pumpkins, native to North America, were big, easy to carve, and perfect for lanterns. The pumpkin eventually became the official symbol of Halloween. Today, pumpkin carving is no longer about keeping out creepy things; rather, it is a fun activity for the whole family and a favorite means of expressing creativity. People create all kinds of faces, scary to silly, and generally light them up with candles or LEDs to get a soft Halloween atmosphere. Pumpkin-carving contests, events, and displays have also emerged as international popular traditions. What started out as a terrifying custom rooted in folklore finally blossomed into a cheerful representation of ingenuity. These days, people carve pumpkins to decorate their homes and celebrate autumn, and to spend some festive moments with loved ones, rather than actually to ward off spirits. Everywhere we look, Jack-o'-lanterns glow on doorsteps, serving as a reminder of how tales from the past can influence the festivities we enjoy today.