The vegetable that is usually carved for Halloween is the pumpkin. The tradition of carving pumpkins for Halloween originated in Ireland, where people would carve turnips and potatoes to create lanterns for the festival of Samhain. When Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, they began using pumpkins, which were larger and easier to carve. Today, pumpkin carving has become a popular Halloween activity and many families enjoy picking out the perfect pumpkin to carve into spooky or silly designs.