<P> 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 . </P>
<P> 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 . </P>
before the pumpkin what vegetable was traditionally carved on halloween
before the pumpkin what vegetable was traditionally carved on halloween
turnips mangel wurzels
turnips mangel wurzels