symbols
Development of artifacts and symbols associated with Halloween formed over time.
For instance, the carving of jack-o'-lanterns springs from the Samhain custom of
carving turnips into lanterns as a way of remembering the souls held in purgatory
.[24] The turnip has traditionally been used in Ireland and Scotland at Halloween
,[25][26] but immigrants to North America used the native pumpkin, which is both much
softer and much larger making it easier to carve than a turnip.[25] Subsequently, the
mass marketing of various size pumpkins in autumn, in both the corporate and local markets,
has made pumpkins universally available for this purpose. The American tradition of carving
pumpkins is recorded in 1837[27] and was originally associated with harvest time in genera
l, not becoming specifically associated with Halloween until the mid-to-late 19th century
.[28]
The imagery of Halloween is derived from many sources, including national custom
s, works of Gothic and horror literature (such as the novels Frankenstein and Dr
acula) and classic horror films (such as Frankenstein and The Mummy).the earliest works on the subject of Halloween is from Scottish poet John Mayne,
who, in 1780, made note of pranks at Halloween; "What fearfu' pranks ensue!",