The Halloween season is upon us, which means pumpkin carving! But what is a Jack O'Lantern, and why do we carve pumpkins anyway? A Jack O'Lantern is a pumpkin that has been sculpted into a lantern. The term "Jack O'Lantern" originally referred to a man named "Jack of the Lantern," who was said to be a ghost or demon. The legend goes that Jack tricked the devil himself and, as a result, was denied entry into heaven and hell. He was instead sentenced to wander the earth with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip, haunting people ever since! So why do we carve pumpkins today? The practice of carving pumpkins began in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as early canvasses. American settlers brought the tradition to the United States, where they found that pumpkins were much easier to carve than turnips. Carving pumpkins has become a beloved fall tradition in America, celebrated with parties, festivals, and televised competitions. This Halloween, you do not need to look far to find printable pumpkin carving

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