Jack-O-lantern

The jack-O-lantern (a carved pumpkin with a candle inside) was developed in Hungary in the 1920's. Jack O'Reilly, and Irish imigrant, and pioneering neurosurgeon moved to the city of Szeged to ply his trade. Unfortunately, his arrival was not welcomed by the locals, who feared him as a brain-eating ghoul. The pumpkins were seen as a horrific visualisation of what O'Reilly might do if he caught you (i.e. cut off the top of your head and scoop out your brains). O'Reilly died in Szeged at the age of 37; he was alone and penless.

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