Pumpkin and the culture of Halloween

Carved pumpkins have become indispensable works of art in Halloween festivals.

The Halloween festival that people celebrate in many places around the world has its origins in ancient times and is believed to have originated in Ireland, brought to America by Irish immigrants. This custom of the Irish in America spread and then followed American soldiers to Europe to gradually become very popular in Europe. There are also a number of other explanations about the origin of Halloween and the answer to the question of why this festival is celebrated enthusiastically all over the world. Today, the symbol of Halloween is not only strange costumes and masks that cause surprise and fear, but also hollow pumpkins with bright flames coming through the carved slits, both for permanent display and as a wayfinding lamp. Pumpkins have become an indispensable part of the annual Halloween festival. In the beginning, it was not exactly like that.

Legend has it that once upon a time there was a wicked man named Jack. After he died, he knocked on the door of heaven. God did not let him into heaven because he was so wicked in his life. He was banished in the middle of a cold and dark night. The devil in heaven took pity on him and gave him a glowing coal from the fire of hell, placed in a hollowed out turnip to use as a lamp to light his way in the dark night. The light helped the man to be less afraid and drove the devil away.

Irish immigrants to America brought with them Halloween customs and the turnip lantern. They placed it on their doorsteps to ward off evil spirits. Turnips were grown in Europe, while turnips were not native to America. In America, there were many varieties of pumpkins that produced large, high-yield fruits. Pumpkins were also easier to carve. Therefore, pumpkins gradually replaced turnips in Halloween celebrations.

Over time, the ancient religious and spiritual acts have become a real traditional cultural festival and have gradually spread to many places around the world. Pumpkins are not only used as lamps to replace radishes in legends but also take on their own cultural mission. The hollowed-out pumpkins, with a light inside, are carved and carved on the outside into objects with different shapes and styles, making the Halloween festival very special and unique, bridging the legendary world with the real world, connecting past history with the present.

Over time, the annual Halloween festival gradually formed Pumpkin Festivals and Pumpkin King crowning contests in many places around the world. Pumpkin King crowning contests screen out the largest, heaviest, and most beautiful or strangely shaped pumpkins. Pumpkin festivals are no different from purebred pumpkin fairs for display and trade, but at the same time, they are also for competing for pumpkin record titles.

And then thanks to Halloween, pumpkins entered the art scene. From the initial simple carvings on turnips to let the light of the hellish coals shine through to light the way, pumpkins were later carved into individually created works of art or imitations of works of art, works of art, monuments... on the shell. And then people organized exhibitions in many localities, countries and around the world about the works of art carved and arranged with pumpkins.

Halloween exploits the fear effect in people through costumes and masks as well as the image of evil in pumpkin lanterns. But it has also had the effect and spread of a cultural and artistic activity so that people can enjoy the beauty of cultural and artistic creation from this ancient custom.

MINH H A NH

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