A European custom with an American pumpkin story
Why do hollowed-out pumpkins glow on doorsteps on October 31? The answer doesn't begin in an American shopping mall, but with various European customs. And the first carved "Halloween pumpkin" was often not a pumpkin at all.
Where does Halloween actually come from?
The name is derived from All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Saints’ Day on November 1. In Ireland and Scotland, there were already customs involving costumes, house visits, and gifts around this time. The Celtic autumn festival of Samhain is often cited as the origin. However, Christian traditions such as All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day have also shaped its modern forms. Halloween therefore has no single, fully documented origin story.
Why did people in costume go door to door?
In customs such as the Scottish-Irish Guising, children wore costumes, recited verses, or performed small acts in exchange for food. Christian Souling combined house visits and gifts with remembering the deceased. The "trick-or-treat" tradition we know today later developed from various traditions.
Before the pumpkin came the turnip
In the 19th century, Irish and Scottish immigrants brought their customs to North America. In Europe, turnips had been hollowed out and faces carved into them for lanterns, among other things. In North America, pumpkins were common, large, and easier to work with. Thus, the orange pumpkin became a widely recognized Halloween symbol.
Who is Jack O’Lantern?
An Irish legend tells of a clever Jack who outwitted the devil and had to wander through the darkness with a light after his death. In the story, the light is inside a hollowed-out turnip. The legend explains the name Jack O’Lantern—but it is a legend, not historical evidence for all Halloween customs.
What we can do with the pumpkin story for our autumn decor
A pumpkin doesn’t need an overly elaborate spooky setting. A clearly visible face and a warm LED light are often enough to create a striking effect. If you want to carve one yourself, our post Pumpkin Carving: Motifs, Instructions, and Safety provides the right steps. Planning Halloween Decor: Style, Budget, and Safety helps with a coordinated design.
Reusable pumpkin figures and warm lighting elements are an alternative if you don’t want to carve a new one every year. These pair well with the Halloween decor ideas from SteinKunstWerk. A small autumn token of appreciation is shown by HE in three ideas for gifting and wrapping with pumpkins.
And what about the inside of the pumpkin?
With a clearly edible pumpkin, you can further process the fresh, hygienically removed pumpkin flesh before carving. Decorative pumpkins are not suitable for eating; carved pumpkins that have already been displayed or illuminated for a longer period should not be cooked afterward. Find out more in Repurposing Pumpkin Scraps: Seven Ideas and a Safety Check.
Three common questions
Is Halloween originally American?
No. Various precursors originated in Europe; the modern, commercially known form developed particularly in North America.
Why are faces carved into pumpkins?
The lantern customs involving carved turnips were brought to North America. Pumpkins were particularly well suited for large lanterns there.
Can every Halloween pumpkin go into the soup?
No. Use only fully edible pumpkin varieties and exclusively fresh, hygienically removed pumpkin flesh.
Halloween pumpkins from the SteinKunstWerk workshop
If you want to combine the pumpkin story with a long-lasting decorative object, you will find a handmade stacked pumpkin figure in eight colors. As a small token of appreciation, there is also the pumpkin tin for dry treats. Both proprietary products are made to order; delivery times are stated on the product and shipping pages.
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