To the best of my knowledge, basically, in the very old days, people would use turnips (used in Ireland and Scotland), potatoes, etc., to carve spooky faces in and supposedly scare off evil spirits. North American immigrants then realized pumpkins would do the job even better, as they are softer, larger and easier to carve than a turnip or potato.
Actually, the term 'jack-o-lantern' comes from 'jack's lantern'. Jack-o-lanterns were not originally even made of pumpkins, but of turnips. Indeed, jack-o-lanterns have adapted very much. The story goes that a man named Jack was so wicked that not heaven, nor even hell would accept him, so he was shunned, and forced to wander the darkness of night forever, with only a turnip with a face for a lamp. When settlers came to the United States, there were not many turnips at all in the area, however there were pumpkins, so they utilised them and now we all use pumpkins and watermelons.
In Ireland but using turnips. The use of pumpkins started with Irish immigrants in America.
That ultimately depends on how you use a Jack-O-Lantern. Most commonly, Jack-O-Lanterns are used on Halloween as a spooky or silly head of a false person. For the origin of this tradition, see the related question "Where did the tradition of carving pumpkins into Jack-O-Lanterns originate?".
That ultimately depends on how you use a Jack-O-Lantern. Most commonly, Jack-O-Lanterns are used on Halloween as a spooky or silly head of a false person. For the origin of this tradition, see the related question "Where did the tradition of carving pumpkins into Jack-O-Lanterns originate?".
That ultimately depends on how you use a Jack-O-Lantern. Most commonly, Jack-O-Lanterns are used on Halloween as a spooky or silly head of a false person. For the origin of this tradition, see the related question "Where did the tradition of carving pumpkins into Jack-O-Lanterns originate?".
Hallowen
That ultimately depends on how you use a Jack-O-Lantern. Most commonly, Jack-O-Lanterns are used on Halloween as a spooky or silly head of a false person. For the origin of this tradition, see the related question "Where did the tradition of carving pumpkins into Jack-O-Lanterns originate?".
Scotland and Ireland
Jack-o-Lanterns were originally made from turnips.
Jack-o-Lanterns were originally made from turnips.
Because the worlds famous Jack O Lantern died and everybody puts the jack o lanterns in there window sell so that it reminds people about Jack O Lantern.
Pumpkins are used to carve jack-o-lanterns.
Jack-o-lanterns were originally used to scare away vampires.