Meet Stingy Jack And The Scots Irish Origins Of Pumpkin Carving

If you love Halloween pumpkins, be sure to thank your Texan friends with Scots/Irish roots!

Halloween Pumpkin History is Rooted in Ireland and Scotland

When it comes to Halloween in the United States, pumpkins rule the roost. Nothing says it is time for trick or treating like a carved pumpkin, and we have our Scots Irish ancestors to thank! Folks in Ireland and Scotland were the first to carve faces into large turnips to ward off evil spirits as winter approached.

Stingy Jack Crossed the Atlantic and Made Pumpkins a Halloween Staple

One particular Irish Halloween legend made its way into print in the 19th century. According to History.com, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him, but being stingy, did not want to pay. The legend says Stingy Jack persuaded the devil to change himself into a coin to buy the drinks, and when he did, Jack put the coin into his pocket next to a silver cross. According to legend, the cross prevents the Devil from returning to his original form.

Jack Had More Tricks for the Devil

Jack freed the Devil from his pocket with the promise that he would leave Jack alone for a year and should he die, the Devil would not claim Jack’s soul. The following year, Jack trapped the devil in a tree until he promised not to bother him for ten more years.

God Enters the Stingy Jack Story

According to the legend, God refused to allow Stingy Jack into Heaven when he died, so the Devil cursed Jack with the task of roaming the earth at night. Because Jack placed a burning coal into a carved-out turnip, the Irish began to refer to him as “Jack of the Lantern,” which was later shortened to “Jack O’Lantern.”

Jack O Lanterns Served a Purpose in Ireland and Scotland

The Scots Irish had a reason for carving scary faces into turnips and placing them into windows or near front doors. The goal was to scare away Stingy Jack and other evil spirits. Scots Irish immigrants brought the practice to America where pumpkins replaced the turnips.

Carry on the Scots Irish Pumpkin Tradition at the Robinson Family Farm Fall Festival

Kick off the first full weekend of October this Saturday (10/4/25) with me and Robinson Family Farm! This place is a pumpkin patch paradise and the perfect place to choose this year’s family pumpkin. If you are looking for a great place to take fall photos, the Robinson Family has you covered with a pumpkin house and plenty of cool, photo friendly exhibits. Don’t worry about what you will eat or wat to do with the kiddos. The farm has food trucks, a wine & biergarten, farm animals, mega slide, axe throwing, crazy desserts, live music, a gift shop and plenty more! Tickets are available online only.