It is believed that the custom of making jack - o ' - lanterns at Halloween began in Ireland. In the 19th century, "turnips or mangel wurzels, hollowed out to act as lanterns and often carved with grotesque faces, '' were used at Halloween in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. In these Gaelic - speaking regions, Halloween was also the festival of Samhain and was seen as a time when supernatural beings (the Aos Sí), and the souls of the dead, roamed the earth. The belief that the souls of the dead roamed the earth at Halloween was also found in other parts of Europe. Jack - o ' - lanterns were also made at Halloween in Somerset (see Punkie Night) during the 19th century.
before the pumpkin what vegetable was traditionally carved on halloween
turnips mangel wurzels