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Jack-O-Lanterns

© Peggy Hoehne

Did you know the first Jack-o-lanterns were most likely made out of turnips? Jack-o-lanterns were first carved in Ireland, where they used turnips, potatoes, and beets. They used a burning lump of coal or a candle to light the lantern.

When thousands of Irish immigrants came to America in the 1800s, they brought many of their traditions with them. In America, they found there were more pumpkins than turnips and a hollowed out pumpkin became the now familiar Jack-o-lantern we see every year around Halloween.

An Irish folktale tells us Jack was a trickster and a drunkard. He played a trick on the Devil by carving a cross on a tree trunk and trapping him up in the tree. The Devil made a deal with Jack to never bother him again if he would let him out of the tree.

When Jack died he was not allowed into heaven because of his trickery and drunkenness. He wasn't allowed into hell either, because the Devil had said he would never bother him again.

The Devil did give him a burning lump of coal from hell to help him see on his eternal wanderings. To protect the coal, Jack put it inside a hollowed out turnip. And that is how the Jack-o-lantern custom began.

You can make your own Jack-o-lantern Luminaries to line your sidewalk or porch.

Jack-O-Lantern Luminaries

Supplies:
Gallon plastic milk jug, with cap
Pen or pencil
Scissors or craft knife
Orange acrylic enamel gloss paint
Sponge brush
Black marker
Hot glue gun or craft glue
Mini flashlight that fits in lid

Directions:
Draw a Jack-o-lantern face on the front of the milk jug.
With an adult's help, use the scissors or craft knife to cut out the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Paint the container with three coats of paint, letting it dry between coats.
Outline the openings with a black marker.
Glue the flashlight to the inside of the lid. Let the glue dry.
Turn on the flashlight and put the lid back on the container.

Make several of these to line up along the edge of your sidewalk or on your porch.

Original craft shown at Kidsdomain.com

For more information on the folktale, read The Story of the Jack O'Lantern and the History of the Jack O'Lantern

For more fun ideas and crafts see the following Suite 101 pages:

Pumpkins and Gourds

Pumpkin Party
Ideas on how to carve or decorate a pumpkin.

Out of Your Gourd
An entire topic about Gourds.

Arts and Crafts

Action Kids Art Activities

Ethnic Crafts