<P> A jack - o' - lantern (or jack o'lantern) is a carved pumpkin or turnip lantern, associated with the holiday of Halloween and named after the phenomenon of a strange light flickering over peat bogs, called will - o' - the - wisp or jack - o' - lantern . 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 Maori over 700 years ago; the Māori word for a gourd also describes a lampshade . </P>

How did jack o lanterns get their name
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