Jack-o'-lanterns were once made out of turnips, beets and potatoes — not pumpkins.

In Ireland and Scotland, people made jack-o-lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them in windows or near doors to frighten wandering evil spirits.

Immigrants brought the tradition when they came to the United States. They found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack-o'-lanterns