<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1319476 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle= "eop"&gt;When we in the west think of Halloween or All Hallow's Eve, carving pumpkins is one of the first things that comes to mind.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1319476 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="eop"&gt;It's&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW1319476 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="eop"&gt;a tradition parents share with kids, and even as adults we enjoy it. In fact, we spend a lot of time researching cool designs to carve and choosing the best pumpkins at the pumpkin patch. And&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1319476 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle= "eop"&gt;let's&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1319476 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="eop"&gt;not forget gutting it and roasting the seeds! But why do we do all of this? How did turning pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns become a Halloween tradition?&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class= "TextRun SCXW265485877 BCX8" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"&gt;&lt;span class="NormalTextRun SCXW265485877 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun"&gt;On this episode,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="NormalTextRun SCXW265485877 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" data-ccp-charstyle-defn= "{"ObjectId":"c4b67a90-b6ba-466d-bfa0-993c212c793d|8","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469775450,"eop",201340122,"1",134233614,"true",469778129,"eop",335572020,"1",469778324,"Default Paragraph Font"]}"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="NormalTextRun SCXW265485877 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="eop"&gt;we&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW265485877 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="eop"&gt;look at why we&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="NormalTextRun SCXW265485877 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="eop"&gt;love to&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW265485877 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="eop"&gt;carve out pumpkins, eat their guts and use them to light up the darkness.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="NormalTextRun SCXW265485877 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="eop"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class= "EOP SCXW265485877 BCX8" data-ccp-props= "{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The Unusual History of Every Thing

Melanie Dellas and Karen Lacy

Stingy Jack & the Devil: This Unusual History of Jack-O-Lanterns

OCT 31, 202310 MIN
The Unusual History of Every Thing

Stingy Jack & the Devil: This Unusual History of Jack-O-Lanterns

OCT 31, 202310 MIN

Description

When we in the west think of Halloween or All Hallow's Eve, carving pumpkins is one of the first things that comes to mind. It's a tradition parents share with kids, and even as adults we enjoy it. In fact, we spend a lot of time researching cool designs to carve and choosing the best pumpkins at the pumpkin patch. And let's not forget gutting it and roasting the seeds! But why do we do all of this? How did turning pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns become a Halloween tradition? On this episode, we look at why we love to carve out pumpkins, eat their guts and use them to light up the darkness.