Jack-O-Lantern

Black jack-o-lantern face on an orange background

The jack-o-lantern has been a common Halloween symbol for centuries. They originated in Ireland and the Scottish Highlands, where faces were carved into turnips and placed outside the home in order to keep out ghosts and ghouls. The tradition has become much more complex in many regions, where faces, intricate silhouettes, designs, and landscapes are carved into pumpkins.