Pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating are customs that have been around for centuries. The legend of Stingy Jack seems to be universally credited as the origin of the Jack-o’-lantern.

“Stingy Jack is a later Irish myth used to try to ... t have turnips sitting on their doorsteps in October! Well, the pumpkin aspect of the tradition is uniquely American, as Fallingstar explains.

Stingy Jack had one more trick to play on the Devil ... which are native to America, and found they made even better lanterns than turnips. Pumpkin lanterns have been part of Halloween festivities ...