There is also evidence that turnips were used to carve what was called a "Hoberdy's Lantern" in Worcestershire, England, at the end of the 18th century. The term "McLantern" also appears in an 1841 publication of the same paper. In 1837, the Limerick Chronicle refers to a local pub holding a carved gourd competition and presenting a prize to "the best crown of Jack McLantern". On January 16 in 1836, the Dublin Penny Journal published a long story on the legend of "Jack-o'-the-Lantern", although this does not mention the lantern being carved from a vegetable. It has also been suggested that the jack-o'-lanterns originally represented Christian souls in purgatory, as Halloween is the eve of All Saints' Day (1 November)/ All Souls' Day (2 November).
For example, sometimes they were used by Halloween participants to frighten people, and sometimes they were set on windowsills to keep harmful spirits out of one's home. īy those who made them, the lanterns were said to represent either spirits or supernatural beings, or were used to ward off evil spirits. Jack-o'-lanterns were also made at Halloween time in Somerset, England (see Punkie Night) during the 19th century. 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, walked the earth. In the 19th century, " turnips or mangel wurzels, hollowed out to act as lanterns and often carved with grotesque faces," were used on Halloween in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. It is believed that the custom of making jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween time began in Ireland. The carving of vegetables has been a common practice in many parts of the world. Modern carving of a Cornish Jack-o'-Lantern made from a turnip. It is common to see jack-o'-lanterns used as external and internal decorations prior to and on Halloween. However, artificial jack-o'-lanterns with electric lights are also marketed. To create the lantern effect, a light source, traditionally a flame such as a candle or tealight, is placed within before the lid is closed. In a jack-o'-lantern, the top of the pumpkin or turnip is cut off to form a lid, the inside flesh is scooped out, and an image-usually a scary or funny face-is carved out of the rind to expose the hollow interior. Jack-o'-lanterns carved from pumpkins are a yearly Halloween tradition that developed in the United States when Irish immigrants brought their root vegetable carving tradition with them. The name is also tied to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a drunkard who bargains with Satan and is doomed to roam the Earth with only a hollowed turnip to light his way. Its name comes from the reported phenomenon of strange lights flickering over peat bogs, called will-o'-the-wisps or jack-o'-lanterns. As a result, it would make sense that Creepers would be the object of fear for most Minecraft players, which is why one decided to memorialize the terror they feel seeing a Creeper during the scariest day of the year.A jack-o'-lantern in the shape of the Wikipedia logo.Ī jack-o'-lantern (or jack o'lantern) is a carved turnip, pumpkin or other root vegetable lantern, commonly associated with the Halloween holiday. They move silently until they get close to a player, unlike Minecraft zombies, which let out a blood-curdling groan whenever thye move towards a player. An encounter with a Creeper is almost always certain death. Many players have had to navigate the dark world carefully, lest they risk getting blown up. Luckily, trick-or-treaters will likely not hear the menacing hiss of a ready-to-explode Creeper when they approach this house.Ĭreepers are among the most menacing and dangerous creatures in Minecraft. Although the Creeper was originally created as an accident when trying to create a model for a pig, it's arguably the most iconic mob in Minecraft. Few sights in Minecraft are as terrifying as seeing a Creeper appear from out of nowhere, and this pumpkin captures that spirit perfectly.
One Minecraft fan is getting into the Halloween spirit by carving a jack-o'-lantern featuring a Creeper.