When I was little, carved pumpkins were called jack o’lanterns. I don’t hear that term too much anymore. Back then our jack o’lanterns had two triangle eyes, and upside down triangle for a nose, and a scraggly tooth grin. It must have been so hard to carve a pumpkin with a butcher knife. I’m sure that is why the teeth usually were repaired with toothpicks. Inside the jack o’lantern we put a stub of an old candle.
Today pumpkin carvers have so many options. You can buy special pumpkin carving drills and tools. You can buy stencils, foam pumpkins, light pegs to stick in the pumpkins, and even pumpkin paint. Paint is a great option for children who are too young to handle the carving tools.
I’ve seen pumpkins carved with words, stacks of pumpkins, pumpkins that make a design of shadow behind it, and even a pumpkin turned on its side that looked like it had thrown up. You can buy Disney designs, movie theme designs, or even the logo for your favorite football team.
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Our family usually gets a pumpkin apiece. We know a wholesaler who gives us five pumpkins for less than ten dollars. We love the Pumpkin Master carving sets. The small tools make it easier to create detail. You get a pattern that you poke onto the pumpkin. Sometimes we cheat a little and draw it on with a permanent marker to save a little time. Because carving five pumpkins does take a few hours. First you transfer the design, then you carve it out. The younger children still need some help, and they of course want the most complicated designs. I’ve found that using the pumpkin scraper to thin the wall does make carving a lot easier.
Instead of a candle stub, you can buy long and slow burning candles especially made for pumpkins. If you don’t have a candle, or are worried about fire safety, you can always use a flashlight. I’ve also seen strobe lights and color changing lights especially made for pumpkins.
Jack o’lanterns have come a long way.
Also See:
Carving Pumpkins – Whose Idea WAS This?
Do Something Different With Pumpkins
Pumpkin Carving – Stencils Are Your Friend