4:29 AM
Zeeshan
May this day be remembered please leave your comments
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Carving Jack-O-Lanterns
What is harvest and Halloween without jack o lanterns? One of the best things about Halloween is decorating your home or yard for the holiday -- or a Fall party festival. From large to small, pumpkins make great decorations to get into the Autumn spirit.
Whether you want your jack-o-lantern to be cute, creepy or downright scary, here are some pumpkin picking and classic carving tips for some great jack-o-lanterns. Make sure you take a picture of your masterpiece when you're finished for unique Halloween memories.
How to Pick a Perfect Pumpkin
Take your camera along to capture the moment.
If possible, go straight to the pumpkin patch and hand-pick your pumpkins right off of the vine. Some farms offer unique varieties such as miniatures and ghost white pumpkins.
Grab some gourds and Indian corn while you're at it and you're all set for Halloween decorating. Not only is it fun, your pumpkins and gourds will be fresh and last longer.
Look for a well-balanced pumpkin with a steady base.
Make sure the stem isn't broken.
Choose a solid, not soft or mushy pumpkin.
The color should be dark and even, with no fungus.
Check the pumpkin for flat spots and molding.
Never pick up a pumpkin by the stem, it may break off.
If you plan on carving your pumpkin, make sure it's not too small. You will need ample room for carving out the face.
After you've brought it home, leave it in the garage for the night if a freeze is in the weather forecast.
Carving a Jack 'O Lantern
Use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds.
The rind should be about 1" thick so it doesn't collapse.
Map out your pumpkin face on a piece of paper ahead of time for some ideas.
Draw the lines for your lid before carving. Make a special "notch" so the lid is easy to put on.
When using a stencil, pick a pumpkin that is similar in shape to the pattern you are using.
Use a knife long enough to cut through the rind, but not so long that it cuts the other side.
When you carve out the lid, angle your knife slightly towards the center of the pumpkin. This keeps the lid from falling into the pumpkin.
If the base of your pumpkin sets crooked, consider cutting out the bottom to straighten it out and provide a sturdy base for a candle when you set it down.
Draw the facial features on the pumpkin ahead of time with a pencil or use a stencil pattern specifically for jack-o-lanterns.
Don't cut out the features on your jack-o-lantern too closely together or it's face will probably weaken and cave in.
Your pumpkin will last longer if you use an electric or battery operated lighting device instead of a candle.
If you choose to use a candle, insert an appropriate scented one -- such as cinnamon, spice or "baked pumpkin pie."
Coat the edges of your carving with petroleum jelly to reduce shriveling.
You don't have to carve your pumpkin. Consider using a stencil to draw on the face. Fill in the features with markers or acrylic paint made for crafts.
Halloween History and Origin
Halloween is the one of the oldest holidays still celebrated today. It's one of the most popular holidays, second only to Christmas. While millions of people celebrate Halloween without knowing its origins and myths, the history and facts of Halloween make the holiday more fascinating.
Some people view Halloween as a time for fun, putting on costumes, trick-or-treating, and having theme parties. Others view it as a time of superstitions, ghosts, goblins and evil spirits that should be avoided at all costs.
As the Christian debate goes on, celebrating Halloween is a preference that is not always viewed as participating in an evil holiday. Halloween is often celebrated with no reference to pagan rituals or the occult.
The History Halloween
Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago.
All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert pagans, and is celebrated on November 1st. The Catholic church honored saints on this designated day.
The Origin of Halloween
While there are many versions of the origins and old customs of Halloween, some remain consistent by all accounts. Different cultures view Holloween somewhat differently but traditional Halloween practices remain the same.
Halloween culture can be traced back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feast of Samhain, which was annually on October 31st to honor the dead.
Samhain signifies "summers end" or November. Samhain was a harvest festival with huge sacred bonfires, marking the end of the Celtic year and beginning of a new one. Many of the practices involved in this celebration were fed on superstition.
The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating.
