From Turnips to Pumpkins: Immigrant Roots of Modern Halloween

This episode traces how Irish and Scottish immigrants brought turnip lanterns, guising rituals, and a spirit‑wardening tradition across the Atlantic, which evolved into pumpkin jack‑o‑lanterns, trick‑or‑treating, and a booming candy market in America. We examine how these cultural adaptations set the stage for Halloween’s commercial and communal life today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices