Did Shakespeare Carve a Pumpkin?

Halloween is right around the corner and that means pumpkins! Modern day carved pumpkins can trace their roots back to many 18-19th century legends about a man named Jack who tricked the Devil into buying him a drink and was forced to wander the Earth after death carrying only a small ember to light his way. That story has a different version depending on which country of origin you look for the story in, but it made me wonder about Shakespeare. Was there a 16th century legend about carved pumpkins? That’s why, this week, we are asking: Did Shakespeare Carve a Pumpkin? See all the resources from today’s episode, and links to the historical reference material mentioned at