Around the world

Before the Pumpkin

Halloween started with a turnip? Follow the story across the Atlantic.

A song. A few new discoveries.

Travel through Ireland, Scotland and England to meet turnip lanterns, guising, soul cakes, apple bobbing and the folktale of Stingy Jack. Then cross the Atlantic to discover why pumpkins became the carving favorite.

Halloween brings together traditions from different places and times. Stingy Jack and the fairy world are folklore. Early newspaper records of “tricks or treats” come from Canada; the song introduces this history through a playful story.

Made for curious kids around ages 6–12 and the grown-ups watching with them. Music and animation created with AI tools under Mike Sego’s direction. YouTube’s video description includes the release notes and credits.

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Read the sing-along lyrics

Smarty Party! Behold! The most magnificent jack-o'-lantern ever carved! But before the pumpkin... there was a turnip. Long ago in Ireland and Scotland, too, When the harvest was in and the summer was through, They called it Samhain—say it: "SOW-in!" Bonfires blazing and the cold wind blowin'! Old stories said, on that one spooky night, The fairy world opened—keep your lantern bright! Then folks carved turnips with a spooky face, Or a mangelwurzel! Put a candle in place! Before the pumpkin, there was a turnip! Turnip! Before the pumpkin, there was a turnip! Turnip! Carve a spooky face and make it glow tonight— Before the pumpkin... turnip the light! Hey! In Scotland, kids went guising, dressed in disguise— Knock-knock at the door! But you don't get a prize Till you sing a song or tell a joke just right, Then you get an apple or a cake tonight! In England, kids went souling, door to door, For spicy little soul cakes—"Please, one more!" They'd sing, "A soul! A soul! A soul cake, please!" Then bob for apples, splashing on their knees! Before the pumpkin, there was a turnip! Turnip! Before the pumpkin, there was a turnip! Turnip! Carve a spooky face and make it glow tonight— Before the pumpkin... turnip the light! Hey! Turnip! Turnip! Turnip the light! Hey! Turnip! Turnip! Turnip the light! Hey! Gather round for the tale of Stingy Jack— He tricked the Devil, and he got paid back! Now he wanders the dark with a turnip light... Jack of the lantern! Jack-o'-lantern! Goodnight! Knock, knock! Guisers here! We've got a joke! What's a ghost's favorite dessert? I-scream! They sailed to America across the sea, Found a big orange squash—a pumpkin! Whee! Carve a pumpkin? Easy! Carve a turnip? Hard! So the pumpkin got the job in every yard! And the first "trick or treat" in the paper—where? Canada! Now kids shout it everywhere! Before the pumpkin, there was a turnip! Turnip! Before the pumpkin, there was a turnip! Turnip! Carve a spooky face and make it glow tonight— Before the pumpkin... turnip the light! Hey! Turnip! Turnip! Turnip the light! Hey! Before the pumpkin... turnip the light! Hey! Okay. My turnip lantern is done. That took three hours. Now I know why they switched to pumpkins. Smarty Party Songs! Like, subscribe, PARTY!

Lyrics from the published video’s caption file.