Why Do We Carve
Pumpkins for Halloween?.
Modern Halloween is derived from
the Irish festival, “Samhain,’ which marks
the passage from summer into winter. .
During the traditional bonfires of the festival,
it was believed that evil spirits lurked in
the surrounding shadows. .
To ward off these evil spirits, rudimentary
faces were carved into hollowed-out turnips
and placed in windows and alongside roads. .
They also used the turnip
lanterns to light the way for
travelers and good spirits. .
This Irish tradition was later
carried over to America by
immigrants in the mid-1800s.
Pumpkins quickly became the
staple for carving, as they were
abundantly available and the
easiest fruit to work with. .
From there, pumpkins grew into
a multi-million dollar industry, with
John Howden developing the ideal
carving pumpkin in the 1960s. .
The Howden pumpkin is the most popular Halloween pumpkin, as its thin flesh and shallow ribs make it perfect for carving.
Pumpkins for Halloween?.
Modern Halloween is derived from
the Irish festival, “Samhain,’ which marks
the passage from summer into winter. .
During the traditional bonfires of the festival,
it was believed that evil spirits lurked in
the surrounding shadows. .
To ward off these evil spirits, rudimentary
faces were carved into hollowed-out turnips
and placed in windows and alongside roads. .
They also used the turnip
lanterns to light the way for
travelers and good spirits. .
This Irish tradition was later
carried over to America by
immigrants in the mid-1800s.
Pumpkins quickly became the
staple for carving, as they were
abundantly available and the
easiest fruit to work with. .
From there, pumpkins grew into
a multi-million dollar industry, with
John Howden developing the ideal
carving pumpkin in the 1960s. .
The Howden pumpkin is the most popular Halloween pumpkin, as its thin flesh and shallow ribs make it perfect for carving.
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