“Autumn leaves a fringe of frost when pumpkins turn to gold.” – from poetry by Myra Cohn Livingston
“When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.” – James Whitcomb Riley, 1881
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – People have been carving their fall harvest veggies for display for over 10,000 years.
Gourds were frequently carved by the Maori as far back as 7,000 years.
Our current autumn pastime of visiting a pumpkin patch and selecting the perfect pumpkin for carving began in Ireland during the 19th century, not with pumpkins, but with hollowed turnips.
It was customary in Scotland and Ireland to celebrate the festival called Samhain. The Samhain festival, for those who believed, was when souls rambled about, therefore, the turnip carvings were designed to frighten the spirits.
Jack-o-lanterns as a concept, are derived from English folklore when “will-o-the-wisp,” a sort of glow which can occur over bogs or swamps, was simulated with carved lanterns.
Will-o-the-wisp was also known as “foolish fire,” when sticks or other combustible material was gathered, then lit as a light, or torch. There are numerous stories in folklore to describe will-o-the wisp, or jack-o-lanterns.
In some European countries the story of “Stingy Jack” is told, in which demons and villagers chase Jack.
The folktale gets quite involved, culminating with Jack cutting his trusty turnip into a lantern to roam the lands in search of respite.
Literature is peppered with pumpkins and Jack-o-lanterns.
For example, in Washington Irving's story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” a pumpkin plays a part when one is found by Ichabod Cranes' cap.
Numerous poems portray pumpkins in their stanzas, such as John Greenleaf Whittier's “The Pumpkin” and “Totem” by Eamon Grennan.
You may choose to view a spinoff of cartoonist Charles Schulz' “Peanuts” comic in the animated television show called, “It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” It's hard to believe that the Great Pumpkin is now 50 years old!
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.
Lake County Time Capsule: Jack-o-lantern time!
- Kathleen Scavone
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