Pumpkins weren’t always used for jack‑o’lanterns. Before pumpkins became the standard, people in Celtic regions carved hollow turnips, potatoes, or other root vegetables and placed embers inside to glow and ward off evil spirits. When Irish and later Scottish and other immigrant communities brought the tradition to North America, pumpkins, which were larger and easier to carve, gradually supplanted turnips for lanterns and became the familiar Halloween icon. Key points

• Origins: The practice traces back to Celtic traditions, with turnips (and sometimes potatoes) carved to light the way for spirits or to ward off mischief. [turnips and lamps as early visuals from Celtic folk customs]

• Transition to pumpkins: Immigrants in the United States found pumpkins ideal for carving, leading to the modern jack‑o’lantern tradition. [historical notes on pumpkin adoption in America]

• Cultural threads: The motif is linked to folk legends such as Stingy Jack, which influenced the symbolism of carved lanterns. [Jack‑o’lantern lore]

If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific region or time period, or provide a concise timeline of turning points from turnips to pumpkins.