>Why turnips ...
Ok Here is another version. I had ocurred to me that the item was featured in a 1780 edition of "Changing Rooms" but I couldn't find the website. I did find this though:
The Origin of Jack O'Lanterns
The tradition of making Jack O'Lanterns originated in Ireland. They were NOT carved from pumpkins, but from rutabagas, potatoes, turnips, beets and other vegetables.
The Irish legend of 'Stingy Jack' tells of a man so evil and mean he was not allowed in heaven. In fact, he was so demented he played tricks on the devil, who then wouldn't even allow him to enter Hell.
So, when Stingy Jack died he was doomed to roam the earth at night. He carried a turnip lantern with a hot, glowing coal inside, and he soon became known as 'Jack of the Lantern'... or Jack O'Lantern.
Thus began the ritual of placing Jack O'Lanterns in windows and at doors to scare away Stingy Jack and other spooky spirits that are said to aimlessly walk the earth after dark.
http://www.wagsouth.com/hdays/ween2.html
