<P> Jack - o' - lantern's are a yearly Halloween tradition that came to the United States from Irish immigrants . </P> <P> 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 monstrous or comical face--is carved out of the rind to expose the hollow interior . To create the lantern effect, a light source is placed within before the lid is closed . The light source is traditionally a flame such as a candle or tea light, but artificial jack -' o - lanterns with electric lights are also marketed . It is common to see jack - o' - lanterns on doorsteps and otherwise used as decorations prior to and on Halloween . </P> <P> The term jack - o' - lantern was originally used to describe the visual phenomenon ignis fatuus (lit., "foolish fire") known as a will - o' - the - wisp in English folklore . Used especially in East England, its earliest known use dates to the 1660s . The term "will - o' - the - wisp" uses "wisp" (a bundle of sticks or paper sometimes used as a torch) and the proper name "Will": thus, "Will - of - the - torch ." The term jack o'lantern is of the same construction: "Jack of (the) lantern ." </P> <P> The carving of vegetables has been a common practice in many parts of the world, and gourds were one of the earliest plant species domesticated by humans c. 10,000 years ago . For example, gourds were used to carve lanterns by the Māori over 700 years ago; the Māori word for a gourd also describes a lampshade . </P>

Where does the jack o lantern name come from
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