Why do you put a pumpkin on your front steps on halloween?

• == to make it look nice ==
• == just to carve it but dont waste it ==

The Irish brought the Jack O'Lantern to America. The Jack O'Lantern legend goes back hundreds of years in Irish History. As the story goes, Stingy Jack was a miserable, old drunk who liked to play tricks. He played tricks on the Devil himself. One day, he tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree. As soon as he did, Stingy Jack carved crosses around the trunk of the tree. Unable to get down the tree, Stingy Jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died.

When Jack finally died, he went to the pearly gates of Heaven and was told he was too cruel and had led a miserable life on earth. He was not allowed to enter heaven. He then went to the Devil. The Devil kept his promise and would not allow him to enter Hell. But, the Devil tossed him an ember from the flames of Hell to help him light his way. Jack placed the ember in a hollowed out Turnip. Without a resting place, Stingy Jack roamed the earth for eternity.

On all Hallow's eve, the Irish hollowed out Turnips, rutabagas, gourds, potatoes and beets and placed a light in them. This was to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. These were the original Jack O'Lanterns. In the 1800's a couple of waves of Irish immigrants came to America. The Irish immigrants quickly discovered that Pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve out. So they used pumpkins for Jack O'Lanterns and our modern tradition was born.

First answer by ID1130819235. Last edit by Jortiz1854. Contributor trust: 190 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 14 [recommend question]