The tradition of carving a pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern goes back centuries. Turnips, potatoes, even large beets, were originally carved into scary faces to ward off evil spirits. As European immigrants arrived in America, they discovered that pumpkins were the prefect fruit (yes, pumpkins are technically a fruit) to create frightening faces to scare off wandering bad spirits.
Today, people carve all types of faces and other objects into the skin of a pumpkin. Jack-o-lanterns may have scary, sad, happy, and funny faces. Free-hand carving or the use of stencils allows the creator to carve any picture into the pumpkin. Carving a simple design, or a more or complicated one, involves some basic tools and know how.
How To Prepare a Pumpkin for Carving
Select a smooth, solid, undented pumpkin with an intact stem. Avoid pumpkins with bruises or soft spots or ones missing the stem which may indicate that they are beginning to deteriorate. Clean the pumpkin and dry it thoroughly. Prepare a flat work surface with plastic or layers of newspapers.
Materials needed to Carve a Pumpkin
Gather together:
- a long thin bladed knife
- a large spoon or ice cream scoop
- wipe off markers to create design (if desired)
- stencil and thumbtacks (if using a stencil)
Carve a Pumpkin into a Jack-o-lantern
- Using the long knife, cut out the top. Angle the knife in so the lid will not fall through when it is later placed back on top of the jack-o-lantern. Make sure the hole is large enough to insert a hand and a spoon to scrape and remove seeds and pulp.
- Put the lid aside for now. Cinnamon can be sprinkled on the underside of the lid. This will give a pumpkin pie aroma when the lid is placed back on and a candle is lit inside.
- Insert spoon or ice cream scoop into the hole and scrape out seeds and pulp. Try to scrape the walls to a thickness of approximately 1 1/2 inches all the way around. Scrape a flat bottom inside the pumpkin for a candle if desired.
- Use a long serrated knife and begin carving, working from the center outward. Go over the cuts several times with the knife.
- When all cuts have been made, gently push the pieces, using a finger or the eraser end of a pencil. Remove the cut pieces.
- Insert a tealight candle or a battery operated votive candle into the pumpkin. Put the top back on.
- Step back and admire.
Tips for Carving a Jack-o-lantern
- Use a stencil for a more elaborate design. Attach the stencil to the pumpkin with thumbtacks and cut right through the paper.
- Cover the cut areas with vegetable oil so they won't shrivel up.
- Spray the jack-o-lantern with an organic spray used on evergreens to help retain moisture. Find this product at a garden center or home improvement store.
- Want to avoid the mess of carving? Carve a pumpkin online and send it to family and friends through an e-mail.
Carving a pumpkin can be as simple as cutting a few triangles and adding a toothy grin to carving an intricate stencil that involves careful planning. Let your creativity and personality shine through when creating a jack-o-lantern this season.
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