And The Pumpkin Carving Winner Is.

Written by bmlengel on December 9th, 2009

The best pumpkin carving I’ve ever seen made its way around the Internet several years ago. It was a jack-o-lantern of expert, but unexceptional carving. Two eyes, a nose, and a wide, gaping mouth that was in most ways unextraordinary.

The thing that made this design great was, the carver took the inside gook of the pumpkin and arranged it so that it looked like the pumpkin was throwing up. Some times too much punch from a holiday party can make one feel this way. It cracks me up every time I think about it.

Another of the best pumpkin carving ideas I can remember is in the same vein. Cut your jack-o-lantern with a scary looking face. Give him narrow, angry eyes and a gaping maw with sharp fangs. Next your carve a small pumpkin with a very frightened look and stick it in the large pumpkins mouth. The smaller jack-o-lantern looks like it is being eaten by the larger one. When done correctly, you add a bit of malicious delight to All Hallow’s Eve.

For centuries the jack-o-lanterns have been a large part of the Halloween tradition. According to wikipedia, the origin of the jack-o-lantern is as follows:

Another version of the myth says that Jack was getting chased by some villagers from whom he had stolen, when he met the Devil, who claimed it was time for him to die. To stall his death, the thief offered the devil a way to bewitch the villagers hot on his trail. Jack told the Devil to turn into a coin with which he would pay for the stolen goods (the Devil could take on any shape he wanted); later, when the coin/Devil disappeared, the Christian villagers would fight over who had stolen it. The Devil agreed to this plan. He turned himself into a silver coin and jumped into Jack’s wallet, only to find himself next to a cross Jack had also picked up in the village. Jack had closed the wallet tight, and the cross stripped the Devil of his powers; and so he was trapped. In both stories. the Devil is let go because he agrees to have Jack keep his soul forever. Soon there after jack died. No big surprise, Jack’s life had been too sinful to go to heaven; but the Mr D. said he would not to take his soul, and so he could not go to hell either. With no home, where was Jack to go. From the flames of hell, the Devil gave Jack an ever glowing ember to light his way. Jack carved out one of his turnips (which was his favourite food), put the ember inside it, and began endlessly wandering the Earth for a resting place. From then on he was known as Jack-o’-Lantern - Jack of the Lantern.

So don’t forget that when looking for the best pumpkin carving ideas, either!

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