Pumpkin patches around the country fill with anxious customers during October. One symbol of fall is a pumpkin, which is often used for decoration purposes. Some may choose to carve a pumpkin, while others may have additional ideas for this popular fruit.
History of Pumpkins for Halloween
Depending on the source, the folklore of Jack O’ Lanterns stems from the Irish. The story describes a man named Jack who was able to fool the devil by trickery on several occasions. As part of the story, Jack was able to convince the devil to never take his soul.
Once Jack died, he was denied entrance into heaven based on his personal character. When Jack went to hell, the devil remembered his promise and denied him from entering. Jack’s soul was to remain roaming the earth; however, the devil provided Jack with a burning coal to light Jack’s way on earth. Jack hollowed out a turnip and placed the coal within, hence Jack O’ Lantern.
The story evolved where villagers used Jack O’ Lanterns with faces made out of turnips to scare away the ghosts of dead relatives, who were thought to return on All Hallow’s Eve. As the tradition continued through the years, other fruits and vegetables were used to make the lanterns, including the pumpkin.
Carving Pumpkins
One of the most popular ways of decorating a pumpkin is to carve a scary face into it. Some will choose to carve their own design on the pumpkin using simple geometric shapes. Others will choose more elaborate carvings designs, usually based off of pumpkin stencils.
Those who choose to use stencils can easily find free pumpkin stencils on the internet. Designs range from scary faces, to scenery, to profiles of family members. Popular stencils include cartoon characters. There are pattens available to stencil wording into the pumpkin, like "trick or treat." Carving kits are available at most discount stores, which make the carving process easier.
Painting Pumpkins
For some, painting is the preferred method of decorating a pumpkin. A carved pumpkin will only last for a day or two, while a painted pumpkin can last for several weeks.
Novice painters can use pumpkin stencils, such as the ones on the internet. Advanced painters can create a variety of faces and scenes on the pumpkin. While many types of paint can be used, permanent markers are a great choice for a more simple and less messy option.
Decorating with Pumpkins
While much thought goes into the “face” of a pumpkin, one should also consider the option of using the pumpkin as a character object. The pumpkin can be mounted or affixed to look like a person. Once can use props like hats, wigs, overalls, and shirts to dress up the pumpkin.
Some websites, like Extreme Pumpkin, host contests for the best decorated and creative use of a pumpkin. Examples for the site include The Angry Kid, Gene Simmons, and The Buried Alive Pumpkin Scene.
Decorating with pumpkins for the fall can be entertaining and provide an outlet for creativity. Using resources, like the internet, can provide ideas and inspiration to holiday decoration. Whether it is carving, painting, or staging a pumpkin, the outcomes are limitless.
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