Pumpkin carving is one of the oldest Halloween traditions, and it’s history is surrounded by legends and myth.

The famous jack-o’-lantern has been around since before America was discovered. It is widely believed to have stemmed from a Celtic tradition, to celebrate the final day of summer. On this night, it was believed the barriers between this world and the next where thinner than any other night of the year. Because our world and the world beyond were believed to be so close together on this night, the Celtic holiday was a spiritual event centered on their beliefs of the world beyond. This is likely where modern day Halloween gets many of its themes, including ghosts and spirits. Pumpkin Stencils

On this night, the Celtic people created their original version of the Jackolantern, although they weren’t called “jack-o’-lanterns” yet. At this time, they used squash and gourds instead of pumpkins. They also placed burning embers inside the hollow gourd, instead of candles. It is believed the Celtic people made these displays as a glowing beacon of tribute to friends and family who had passed on. There are also beliefs that the jack-o’-lanterns served the purpose of trying to scare away evil spirits, thus their frightening design that is still used to this day.

It wasn’t until quite some time later that the classic gourds were replaced with pumpkins. Pumpkins grew exclusively in the western hemisphere and were unknown to Europe in the days before Columbus. As Europeans began to settle in the western hemisphere, some began to realize that the pumpkin was perfect for jack-o’-lanterns, finding it superior even to the gourds that had been the preferred means of creating jack-o’-lanterns for generations upon generations.

Although European settlers brought the tradition of jack-o’-lanterns to America with them, it wouldn’t be until the eighteen hundreds that jack-o’-lanterns and Halloween in general became popular. Eventually, North America began to embrace Halloween and the ancient traditions that came with it.

Today, the jack-o’-lantern is still extremely popular and is believed to be the truest symbol of Halloween. You can drive down nearly any street on Halloween night, and find a glowing orange face smiling out at you menacingly.

Pumpkin carving is simple, cheap, and fun. This is likely why the tradition has survived so many years and changes in culture. It’s one of the few Halloween decorations we use now that also could have been found hundreds of years ago; and despite its “out-dated” age, it’s still the most popular Halloween decoration.

Jack-o’-lanterns offer a chance for you to show your creativity and do something unique. Despite how long jack-o’-lanterns have been around, people are constantly coming up with new designs to carve into their pumpkins. With some patience, precision, and a good sized pumpkin, you can create almost any image imaginable on your jack-o’-lantern. You can search online and find some really amazing things carved into pumpkins. There are even jack-o’-lantern competitions, and some true works of art are created.

The fact that you make the jack-o’-lantern yourself makes it fun for all ages. Children may prefer to carve something simple like a smiley face, while adults may chose to carve the more classic scary design, or perhaps come up with something entirely new. There is an endless supply of pumpkin decorating ideas.

Pumpkin carving can be a fun family activity. Children however should never make jack-o’-lanterns except under very close supervision. The whole family can each get their own pumpkin and make something unique. Then the collective jack-o’-lanterns can be placed outside together. If your children are too young for pumpkin carving tools, they can draw faces on pumpkins with a magic marker. Jack-o’-lanterns are also bio-degradable, unlike all the plastic decorations you can buy for Halloween. There are pumpkin carving patterns for every age and taste. Pumpkin carving is a great way to get into the Halloween spirit.