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Did you know that the first Halloween jack-o-lanterns were carved from turnips, potatoes, rutabagas, or even beets? 

That may surprise you, but history and geography explain why it's so.  An Irish legend says that the spirit of "Stingy Jack," who was too mean to get into heaven and was barred from hell because he had tricked the devil too many times, was forced to walk the earth.  To light his way, Jack carried a lantern carved from a turnip, with a glowing coal inside.  Based on this legend, the Irish began carving jack-o-lanterns to chase away any spirits that might be walking the earth on All Hallows Eve.  When Irish immigrants came to America, they discovered that pumpkins, unknown in Europe, made ideal jack-o-lanterns.

The history of Halloween shows us that this holiday, like others, is a combination of pagan and Christian traditions.  Its origins date to about 2,000 years ago with the Celtic tribes of the British Isles and northern France.  The Celtic new year began on November 1, following the harvest.  It was believed that on the last day of the old year, October 31, the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.  As part of this festival (called Samhain), the Celts lit bonfires and donned costumes made of animal heads and skins.

When the Romans conquered the Celts, elements of Roman fall festivals were grafted into Samhain.  One of these Roman festivals honored the goddess of fruit and trees; this may have been the origin of the Halloween traditions of drinking cider and bobbing for apples.

By the seventh century A. D., Christianity's influence was felt throughout Europe.  November 1 was designated All Saints' Day, to honor martyrs.  The preceding night became known as All Hallows Eve (later, Halloween).  About 1000, November 2 became All Souls' Day.  It was celebrated with bonfires, parades, and people dressing up as angels, saints, and even devils.  As part of the All Souls' Day celebrations, the poor begged for food in return for their promise to pray for the souls of the donors' relatives.  This may be the origin of trick-or-treating.

In colonial America, Halloween activities included harvest celebrations, telling ghost stories, and making mischief.  The traditions of jack-o-lantern carving and trick-or-treating (at first, begging for money) entered the country with 19th century immigrants, especially the Irish.  By the late 20th century, most American Halloween celebrations had taken the form of costume parties and community trick-or-treat nights.