The tradition of carving pumpkins traces back to an Irish folklore tale about a man named Stingy Jack, who tricked the Devil and was cursed to roam the earth with only a carved-out turnip holding a coal for light. In the 19th century, Irish immigrants brought this custom to North America, where they found pumpkins—a native fruit—larger and easier to carve than turnips. By the late 1800s, carving pumpkins had become a widespread Halloween activity in the U.S., symbolizing Jack-o’-lanterns to ward off evil spirits. Today, it’s a beloved Halloween tradition for both decoration and creative expression.