Halloween and Sviatki: two destinies of a pumpkin

Jack-o’-lantern (lamp made of pumpkin) is an attribute of Halloween; this holiday developed in the USA in the XIX—XX centuries. The same lamp was widely used by east Slavs during Christmas ritual excesses. Probably, the similarity of ritual objects is caused by the similarity of social conditions which have generated them. The existence of common roots and a genetic linkage seems to be unlikely.