Pumpkins – To Carve Or Not to Carve

Many centuries ago, October 31st was a magical night when glowing jack-o-lanterns, carved from turnips or gourds, were set on porches and in windows to welcome deceased loved ones, but also to act as protection against malevolent spirits. Burning lumps of coal were used inside as a source of light, later to be replaced by candles. Soon after, it was the Irish who decided it was much easier to use pumpkins since they were much larger and easier to carve.

Today pumpkin carving is an age old tradition. Pumpkin carving has come a long way from the simple triangle eyes, nose and smiling mouth to the more elaborate design stencils you’ll find on the market today. There are many places to find a pumpkin for carving, but for many it’s the thrill of going to their local pumpkin patch and actually walking through rows and rows of pumpkins still on the vine and picking out that one perfect pumpkin. Children also love going to pumpkin patches and searching for what seems like hours just to find that one special pumpkin to carve. Pumpkins come in every shape and size imaginable, that’s what makes carving them so fun. It’s always easier to pick out your pumpkin if you already have an idea of what design you want to carve into it.

Did you know that you should never carry a pumpkin by its stem, it may break? If it does break off you can use toothpicks as a basic patch. If you find a perfect pumpkin but it’s missing its stem, have no fear, you can still use it. Just carve the bottom out for the opening the same way you would do the top. Then, just sit your light source on the cleaned bottom piece and sit the pumpkin over it. This works great and you don’t need the stem for a lid handle. The light source for a carved jack-o-lantern is the ever popular candle or if you don’t want an open flame you can use a battery powered artificial pumpkin light or glow stick.

To prolong the life of your carved pumpkin it’s important to prolong the dehydration process by keeping your pumpkin moist. One way to do this is to coat the entire cut surface of the pumpkin (including the inside) with petroleum jelly right after you finish carving it. This acts as a barrier to seal in the pumpkins internal moisture. Also, if you have your pumpkin sitting out on the front porch, make sure it’s a dry shaded area, not sitting directly in the sun.

You’ll find so many great ideas for carving and decorating a pumpkin such as stencils or cutouts that you can place right on the pumpkin to use as an outline for whatever design you choose. They can be anything from scary and spooky to weird and funny and you can find them in Halloween magazines, online or in stores.

Here are a few other ideas to give your pumpkin that special Halloween look:

1. Carve small holes all over your pumpkin then push each bulb from a small strand of white lights through each hole. When lit up the pumpkin looks amazing – and it’s so simple.

2. Let your children “paint” their pumpkin. If your child wants nothing to do with gutting a pumpkin, paint a face on instead. Let their imagination run wild and it will be a pumpkin that they created on their own.

3. For smaller children a “pushpin” pumpkin kit found in stores works just like a Mr. Potato Head. You just push in the eyes, nose, mouth, ears etc… and you’ve got the perfect no mess pumpkin.

Pumpkins carved into jack-o-lanterns are without a doubt the most widely recognized symbol for Halloween. You’ll find them sitting of porches, in front yards and even on the kitchen table. So this Halloween, get out that carving kit and start carving. Nothing says Happy Halloween like a brightly lit jack-o-lantern!

Anna Bradford is an author and blogger for Halloween Express where you’ll find the absolute largest selection of Halloween costumes and costume accessories available anywhere including the latest Teen Costumes and Sexy Costumes.

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