It is October, and millions of American children will be participating in an annual tradition, traveling to a local pumpkin patch to choose the orange orb that they and their parents will carve into a Jack-o-Lantern. But where did the entire idea arise? And how long has it been going on?
Check out our new community for fans and supporters! https://thehistoryguyguild.locals.com/
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
You can purchase the bow tie worn in this episode at The Tie Bar:
https://www.thetiebar.com/?utm_campaign=BowtieLove&utm_medium=YouTube&utm_source=LanceGeiger
All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
Find The History Guy at:
New community!: https://thehistoryguyguild.locals.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHistoryGuyYT/
Please send suggestions for future episodes: [email protected]
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered is the place to find short snippets of forgotten history from five to fifteen minutes long. If you like history too, this is the channel for you.
Subscribe for more forgotten history: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4sEmXUuWIFlxRIFBRV6VXQ?sub_confirmation=1.
Awesome The History Guy merchandise is available at:
https://teespring.com/stores/the-history-guy
Script by THG
#history #thehistoryguy #halloween
source
A viewer complained that I attribute Samhain traditions to Ireland, when many of those at least co-originated in Scotland. I meant no disrespect for Scotland, where "Tumshies," a type of Rutabaga, were carved as part of Celtic Samhain traditions. While the folktale of "Stingy Jack" seems to be of Irish origin, it is likely that the tradition of carving vegetables (or fruits) for Samhain was carried to the United States by both Scotch and Irish immigrants, and so the origin of the practice of carving Jack-o-Lanterns in the US can be said to be multi-national.
I'm going to make my jackal lantern look like Jack Sparrow the pirate arrrggghhhh
You did not mention Wales. The Silures who occupied South East Wales are said the have illuminate the skulles of their enemies. The Welsh can trace their to the first inhabitants of Britain
…someone got some new fade graphics! Very well done as always – but one question – Three times you used the term "Pre-History" – while confusing as the term may be, I am sure there is some history to be shared on this term….
Ah! Such fun!! Tying various superstitions into one big party and of course the 'head cult' of various ethnic groups. It is unfortunate the Country Life in the UK took a stodgy & snooty view of Halloween. Apparently, Stonehenge and barrows aren't 'worthy' of the nation in which they reside or have simply escaped CL's notice. I think cocking a snoot at my certain mortality is precisely the correct thing to do. "Trick or Treat" to all my fellow partiers!
The irony is that we buy a pumpkins for Halloween and carve them up for Jack-o-Laterns, THEN when November rolls around, people buy pumpkins for Thanksgiving and THOSE are left whole. People need to sets of pumpkins for the fall celebrations. Pumpkin growers must be rather satisfied with this arrangement. In either case, the seeds are delicious roasted so there's that.
I had to look it up, SAMHAIN is what THC was referring when referring to old Irish traditions to though the pronunciation is way different from the spelling. I wish THG had put that in his description blurb……
This is great! Thanks for the neat history of the Jack O'Lantern! Fascinating!
In Anchorage, Alaska
the pumpkins freeze on the porch. But often it warms up and they thaw and morph shape. Our population of over 1700 resident moose also enjoy eating the pumpkins on the porch or in the yard.
My mom used to make pie from fresh pumpkin that was never equaled as we traveled across the world to where only canned pumpkin was the only source.
Thanks again!
I was told that, in the old days, Native Americans hollowed out pumpkins, made eye holes and waded into the water to hunt ducks with the pumpkin shell on their heads. The ducks paid no attention to the floating pumpkin. When close enough, the hunter grabbed the duck by the legs and pulled it under. I remember Adam Savage of Mythbusters saying once that this is a myth that he never got to, but that he wanted to test. Maybe seeing these discarded shells in the colonial days helped spark the Jack-O-Lantern's conversion from a turnip.
In the Australian army there is a term calling someone 'jack' where a soldier is selfish. Don't be jack…..
Great episode mate!Thank you for your research
Great video on my favorite tradition on my favorite holiday! You mention The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, and I would love to see a deep dive on the story and history behind it. I don't know if you've talked about Hessians and their history in upstate New York, but that ties in to the story. I think you could put a great History Guy twist on the regional history.
Excellent as always! Love your channel THC
Great video as usual, Lance! I love the detailed content you’ve researched and the presentation in your videos.
This video like all your other videos are very educational. You show many sides of the story in an unbiased way and let the viewers decide what they want.
Keep up the great work that you do!!!
"Coming from Illinois…" The place I was raised and lived for 50 years. Long Islander now. Great story!
I don't understand how you can "hollow out" a turnip or a beet. Pumpkins are naturally hollow but I don't see how you can take a fairly small vegetable and hollow it out sufficiently to put a candle in it, while leaving enouch substance that it doesn't just collapse.
We used a watermelon as a pumpkin. Green face? Not bad.
I'd never heard of Feathertop before. I happen to be creating a spooky adventure game that has many elements in common with that story, so that was a delicious find for me. And all of the other bits of jack-o'-lantern lore are inspiring ideas for my pumpkin patch Halloween yard display. I'd better turn off YouTube now and get carving!
I read a story from a book called Legends and Lore of Missouri, where it describes a famous uncatchable catfish called Ole' Blue raiding farmers fields in the fall for pumpkins and then floatng the Jack-o-lanterns down [Tebo?] Creek to the lake. As this takes place after the building of Bagnall Dam, it can hardly be any kind of origin for the Jack-o-lantern, but rather another story of them.
Thank you for the interesting history of this tradition. I have heard of some of these origins and think like all our of our Holiday traditions are an amalgam of the various people and cultures that have made America our home. Thanks again.
If you want a fun challenge take a large apple and hollow it out with a round apple corer. If you hollow it out thin enough you can get the whole apple lantern glowing red with a small birthday candle🎃 years ago I made one to sit on top of my Apple Computer Monitor at work before monitors became flat screen.
Intriguing, I always knew there was more to life and i have also been looking for a way to find not only protection but a way to be influential to the human society, wish to do more and give more than i am doing now, always feel like i was born for something greater.
The Native Americans taught the Plymoth settlers to stuff hollowed-out pumkins with fruits, nuts and other things and bake them in fire pits dug in the ground (or at least that's what I've heard). Maybe that's where jack-o-lanterns (in place of traditional gourds) and pumpkin pie got their start.
O.M.L ! I Never Never Knew!
Your Amazing 👏
AWESOME!!!!!!!! THANK YOU