Why Do We Carve<br />Pumpkins for Halloween?.<br />Modern Halloween is derived from<br />the Irish festival, “Samhain,’ which marks<br />the passage from summer into winter. .<br />During the traditional bonfires of the festival, <br />it was believed that evil spirits lurked in <br />the surrounding shadows. .<br />To ward off these evil spirits, rudimentary<br />faces were carved into hollowed-out turnips<br />and placed in windows and alongside roads. .<br />They also used the turnip<br />lanterns to light the way for<br />travelers and good spirits. .<br />This Irish tradition was later<br />carried over to America by<br />immigrants in the mid-1800s.<br />Pumpkins quickly became the <br />staple for carving, as they were<br />abundantly available and the<br />easiest fruit to work with. .<br />From there, pumpkins grew into<br />a multi-million dollar industry, with<br />John Howden developing the ideal<br />carving pumpkin in the 1960s. .<br />The Howden pumpkin is the most popular Halloween pumpkin, as its thin flesh and shallow ribs make it perfect for carving.
