The original Jack-o’-Lantern was not a pumpkin. Pumpkins are a New World crop.

On All Hallows’ Eve in the Old Country, people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips in their windows to keep spirits and ghosts away from their homes.

In the New World, Irish immigrants discovered that the native pumpkin made the biggest, scariest jack-o’-lantern.

This year you can be the first in your neighborhood to try something new:

Replace the pumpkin with a pineapple!

That’s the suggestion from the folks at Fresh Del Monte, who give four reasons why carving a pineapple Jack-o’-lantern might be the way to go this Halloween.
 
 
> The history of Halloween.

> The history of the Jack O’Lantern.

> The history of pineapple.
 
 
A JACK-O’-LANTERN PINEAPPLE

1. It’s different. Pineapples bring an unexpected twist to Halloween décor. Your home will make a statement in a sea of pumpkins.

2. It’s less mess. Carving a pineapple is surprisingly simple, with no need to wrestle with stringy pulp and gooey seeds.

3. It’s instantly edible. There’s no need to cook (or throw out) the flesh. It’s an instant, healthy, and tasty bonus.

4. It’s fun!

Here’s a video showing how to carve a pineapple Jack o’Lantern, plus a way to turn a pineapple into a sophisticated “fruit lamp.”
 
 

[1] Change it up for Halloween (photo © Fresh Del Monte).

[2] If your pine-o’-lantern is lonely, you can always add the classic squash (photo © Gabby K | Pexels).