Tuesday, October 26, 2021 – Decorated and Carved Pumpkins
- Mary Reed
- Oct 26, 2021
- 12 min read
The photo is one of the entries in the Addison Athletic Club employees pumpkin contest. I thought it was so creative. It is supposed to be Aladdin on a cloud. He even has a gold earring in one ear and there is a gold lamp underneath. I did not inherit an artistic gene, so any attempt at decorating or carving a pumpkin would be subpar for me. However, I love to see everyone else’s creative attempts. It seems like it would be easier to paint or somehow decorate a pumpkin instead of carving it. Surely it would be less messy. They probably should have two different competitions — one for decorating and one for carving. I am a proponent of happy characters at Halloween — friendly ghosts, pretty witches, smiling pumpkins, etc. I realize that the creepy characters take talent to fashion, so I can admire the effort put into decorations and costumes. I guess since I’m not a big fan of horror movies, I don’t want to see that at Halloween either. At any rate, stylishly decorated and carved pumpkins do require a certain amount of skill and expertise. Let’s learn more about them.
Origin
According to Wikipedia, the carving of vegetables has been a common practice in many parts of the world. It is believed that the custom of making jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween time began in Ireland. In the 19th century, "turnips or mangel wurzels, hollowed out to act as lanterns and often carved with grotesque faces," were used on Halloween in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. In these Gaelic-speaking regions, Halloween was also the festival of Samhain and was seen as a time when supernatural beings and the souls of the dead walked the earth.
Jack-o'-lanterns were also made at Halloween time in Somerset, England during the 19th century. Punkie Night is a traditional West Country or southwestern England holiday practiced on the last Thursday of October in Somerset. Children will march around with a jack o'lantern, singing the following song :
It's Punkie Night tonight It's Punkie Night tonight Adam and Eve would not believe It's Punkie Night tonight
There are some variants which also include these lines:
"Give me a candle, give me a light If you don't, you'll get a fright"
or alternatively:
"Give me a candle give me light If you haven't a candle, a penny's all right."
As Cooper and Sullivan explain in 1994, this relates to the tradition of children begging for candles on this night and threatening people who refused to give them anything, comparable to the custom of trick or treat. A Punkie King and a Punkie Queen would typically lead the proceedings.
No one knows how the custom originated, although it is almost certainly linked with Halloween and similar traditions can be found across the West Country. As Morrell explains in 1977, the word "Punkie" is an old English name for a lantern, and jack o'lanterns for Punkie Night may be made of the vegetables swedes (rutabagas) or mangel-wurzels rather than pumpkins. An alternative explanation of the term is that it is derived from pumpkin or punk, meaning tinder. Cooper and Sullivan in 1994 attribute the custom's origins to a fair which was at one time held at Chiselborough. Men who would come back late from the fair would often need candles as lights to guide them home, in late October, which would lead either to women making a jack o'lantern for their husbands or men making the jack o'lantern, according to different versions of story.
Morrell explains how, in earlier times, farmers would put a traditional "Punkie" on their gates to ward off evil spirits at this time of year.
The Punkie Night festival has been celebrated at various sites including Castle Neroche in the Blackdown Hills, Long Sutton and, more commonly, at Hinton St George and the neighboring village of Lopen. In Ireland there is a similar Halloween tradition called Pooky Night. Pooky is a Celtic name for faeries or sprites. Children dress up in costumes going from door to door asking for treats for the pooky.
By those who made them, the lanterns were said to represent either spirits or supernatural beings or were used to ward off evil spirits. For example, sometimes they were used by Halloween participants to frighten people, and sometimes they were set on windowsills to keep harmful spirits out of one's home. It has also been suggested that the jack-o'-lanterns originally represented Christian souls in purgatory, as Halloween is the eve of All Saints' Day (November 1)/All Souls' Day (November 2).
On Halloween in 1835, the Dublin Penny Journal published a long story on the legend of "Jack-o'-the-Lantern." In 1837, the Limerick Chronicle refers to a local pub holding a carved gourd competition and presenting a prize to "the best crown of Jack McLantern." The term "McLantern" also appears in an 1841 publication of the same paper.
There is also evidence that turnips were used to carve what was called a "Hoberdy's Lantern" in Worcestershire, England, at the end of the 18th century. The folklorist Jabez Allies outlines other derivations of the name "Hobany's", which is most likely derived from "Hob and his," with other variations including "Hob-o'-Lantern," "Hobbedy's Lantern" and "Hobbady-lantern."
History in North America
Adaptations of Washington Irving's short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" in 1820 often show the Headless Horseman with a pumpkin or jack-o'-lantern in place of his severed head. In the original story, a shattered pumpkin is discovered next to Ichabod Crane's abandoned hat on the morning after Crane's supposed encounter with the Horseman.
The application of the term to carved pumpkins in American English is first seen in 1834. The carved pumpkin lantern's association with Halloween is recorded in the November 1, 1866 edition of the Daily News in Kingston, Ontario:
The old time custom of keeping up Hallowe'en was not forgotten last night by the youngsters of the city. They had their maskings and their merry-makings and perambulated the streets after dark in a way which was no doubt amusing to themselves. There was a great sacrifice of pumpkins from which to make transparent heads and face, lighted up by the unfailing two inches of tallow candle.
James Fenimore Cooper wrote a nautical novel titled The Jack O'lantern (le Feu-Follet) or the Privateer in 1842. The Jack O'lantern was the name of the ship.
The poet John Greenleaf Whittier, who was born in Massachusetts in 1807, wrote the poem "The Pumpkin" in 1850:
Oh!—fruit loved of boyhood!—the old days recalling, When wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling! When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin, Glaring out through the dark with a candle within!
Agnes Carr Sage wrote in the article "Halloween Sports and Customs" in “Harper's Young People” in 1885:
It is an ancient British custom to light great bonfires (bone-fire to clear before winter froze the ground) on Hallowe'en and carry blazing fagots [rough bundles of brushwood] about on long poles; but in place of this, American boys delight in the funny grinning jack-o'-lanterns made of huge yellow pumpkins with a candle inside.
In the United States, the carved pumpkin was first associated with the harvest season in general, long before it became a symbol of Halloween. In 1895, an article on Thanksgiving entertaining recommended a lit jack-o'-lantern as part of the festivities.
Folklore
The story of the jack-o'-lantern comes in many forms and is similar to the story of Will-o'-the-wisp retold in different forms across Western Europe, including, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden. In Switzerland, children will leave bowls of milk or cream out for mythical house spirits called Jack o' the bowl. An old Irish folk tale from the mid-18th century tells of Stingy Jack, a lazy yet shrewd blacksmith who uses a cross to trap Satan. One story says that Jack tricked Satan into climbing an apple tree, and once he was up there, Jack quickly placed crosses around the trunk or carved a cross into the bark, so that Satan couldn't get down.
Another version of the story says that Jack was getting chased by some villagers from whom he had stolen. He then met Satan, who claimed it was time for him to die. However, the thief stalled his death by tempting Satan with a chance to bedevil the churchgoing villagers chasing him. Jack told Satan to turn into a coin with which he would pay for the stolen goods — Satan could take on any shape he wanted; later, when the coin (Satan) 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 closed the wallet tight, and the cross stripped the Devil of his powers; and so he was trapped.
In both folktales, Jack lets Satan go only after he agrees to never take his soul. Many years later, the thief died, as all living things do. Of course, Jack's life had been too sinful for him to go to Heaven; however, Satan had promised not to take his soul, and so he was barred from Hell as well. Jack now had nowhere to go. He asked how he would see where to go, as he had no light, and Satan mockingly tossed him a burning coal, to light his way. Jack carved out one of his turnips which were his favorite food, put the coal inside it and began endlessly wandering the Earth for a resting place. He became known as "Jack of the Lantern" or jack o'lantern.
Cornish folklorist Dr. Thomas Quiller Couch who died in 1884 recorded the use of the term in a rhyme used in Polperro, Cornwall, in conjunction with Joan the Wad, the Cornish version of Will-o'-the-wisp. The people of Polperro regarded them both as pixies. The rhyme goes:
Jack o' the lantern! Joan the wad, Who tickled the maid and made her mad Light me home, the weather's bad.
Jack-o-lanterns were also a way of protecting one's home against the undead. Superstitious people used them specifically to ward off vampires. They thought this because it was said that the jack-o-lantern's light was a way of identifying vampires who — once their identity was known — would give up their hunt for you.
World records
For a long time, Keene, New Hampshire, held the world record for most jack-o'-lanterns carved and lit in one place. The Life is Good Co. teamed up with Camp Sunshine — a camp for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families — to break the record. A record was set on October 21, 2006, when 30,128 jack-o'-lanterns were simultaneously lit on Boston Common in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. Highwood, Illinois, tried to set the record on October 31, 2011, with an unofficial count of 30,919 but did not follow the Guinness regulations, so the achievement did not count.
On October 19, 2013, Keene, New Hampshire, broke the Boston record and reclaimed the world record for most lit jack-o'-lanterns on display — 30,581. Keene has now broken the record eight times since the original attempt.
How to Win Pumpkin Carving Contests
According to Sandra Grauschopf’s Aug. 31, 2019 article “How to Win Pumpkin Carving Contests for Halloween: Bring the Wow Factor to Your Jack-o-Lantern Carving” at liveabout.com, pumpkin carving contests are a fun way to win money, fame and prizes every time fall rolls around. Not only do many local communities hold these contests, but you can often find online contests as well. If you'd like to sharpen your pumpkin carving skills and get the winning edge this Halloween, here are nine steps to help you out.
1. Read the Rules. The first step in winning pumpkin-carving contests is to read the rules. Before you think about what kind of pumpkin you'd like to carve, check the rules to find out whether there are any restrictions on the size of your pumpkin, the theme of your carving or other factors to enter.
It's also a good idea to find out what the judges are looking for when they review the entries. Most contests will list their judging criteria, so you know what you need to do to catch their attention. Tailoring your entry to fit these criteria can give you a big boost over the competition.
2. Come Up with a Concept for Your Pumpkin-Carving. The key to winning a pumpkin carving contest is coming up with a creative idea. You need your pumpkin to stand out from the pack, so try to think beyond the typical eyes, nose and grimace that the judges will probably see a million times.
Here are some ways to get inspiration for your pumpkin carving contest entry:
Google “pumpkin contest winners.”
Check out hundreds of free pumpkin-carving templates at https://www.pumpkinlady.com.
Get inspired by 150 creative carving and no-carving pumpkin ideas at https://www.thedatingdivas.com/150-pumpkin-decorating-ideas.
Look at over 1,000 creative pumpkins at
https://www.pinterest.de/magicseasons/creative-pumpkins.
3. Pick the Right Pumpkin for Your Design. Why should you come up with your pattern before you even look for your pumpkin? So that you can be sure to pick out the pumpkin that suits your design. Some carving ideas look best with a tall, narrow pumpkin; others cry out for a fat, round one or one with a nearly flat face. By looking carefully, you can pick the pumpkin to make your carving shine.
It's also important to make sure that your pumpkin will survive until the contest has been entered. You should look for a pumpkin without any soft spots or cuts. You should also pull the stem firmly to make sure it's not loose. Some tips for making your pumpkin last longer can be found at https://www.thekitchn.com/ 5-ways-to-make-your-halloween-pumpkin-last-longer-211180.
And don't forget to consider an unusual pumpkin, like a white pumpkin, if the contest rules allow for one. Color is something that could make your entry stand out from a sea of orange gourds.
4. Prepare Your Pumpkin for Carving. Now that you have your pumpkin, it's time to get ready to carve it. There are a few steps that you should take before you reach for your carving knife.
Start by washing and drying your pumpkin to remove dirt and debris.
Then look for the perfect side of the pumpkin to carve. Avoid blemishes or strange shapes, unless they fit into your pattern.
Finally, trace your pattern onto the pumpkin using a marker or a pencil. The advantage of a marker is that you can see your tracing better. On the other hand, the pencil is less likely to distract from your image, if any of it is left on the pumpkin after you're done.
5. Get the Right Carving Tools. You don't need to buy anything special to carve a great pumpkin but ensuring that you have good tools on hand will save you time and frustration. Some useful carving implements include:
An ice cream scoop or a large, sturdy spoon for removing the seeds.
A large, sharp knife for the rough carving work, like cutting the lid off the pumpkin.
Smaller, sharp knives for detail carving. A boning knife, a paring knife or a keyhole saw are good choices.
A linoleum cutter will help you make precision cuts and beautiful patterns.
If you want to take your pumpkin carving to the next level, check out this list of professional pumpkin-carving tools at https://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/1016021/15-unique-pumpkin-carving-tools-and-how-to-use-them.
6. Remove the Seeds and Pulp from the Pumpkin. First, cut a large hole in the pumpkin. Remember that there are more options than simply cutting around the stem available to you; your design might be better served by a hole in the bottom or the back of the pumpkin.
Wherever you make your opening, be sure to angle your knife slightly inwards toward the stem so that the lid won't fall through the pumpkin when you replace it. It's also a good idea to cut a notch into the opening so that you can easily see which way the lid should be replaced.
After you've cut out the lid, scoop out the pulp and seeds with your ice cream scoop or spoon. Remember that the more pulp you remove, the more light will shine through the jack-o-lantern's shell, making your pumpkin more luminescent. This could make a better picture for your contest entry.
7. Carve Your Pattern. Once your pumpkin has been cleaned, you can use your smaller knives or a keyhole saw to cut out the pattern you've traced onto your pumpkin. Remember to cut on the outside of your lines and be very careful with small pieces, so that they don't break off.
8. Preserve Your Jack-o-Lantern. You don't want your pumpkin to rot before it has the chance to be judged, do you? After you are done with your carving, take the additional step of submerging your pumpkin in a mixture of three gallons of water to a teaspoon of bleach.
This will help kill any bacteria on the gourd's surface, slowing down decay. Let the pumpkin air-dry thoroughly. When you're done, rub cooking oil on all exposed edges to prevent browning.
9. Take Great Pictures of Your Carved Pumpkins. So now you've carved a perfect pumpkin, but you're not quite done yet. Many pumpkin-carving contests will ask you to enter by sending in a picture of your carving, and it's important to get just the right picture to wow the judges.
Here are some tips to capture your jack-o-lantern on film:
Try to shoot your photo on the same level as your pumpkin. Taking a picture while you're standing above it will skew how your carving looks.
Pay close attention to the background of your carving. Use a solid backdrop or pick an appropriate background like an old door, a hay bale or a fence post.
Make your pumpkin look as large as possible. Let your pumpkin fill the frame so that the judges can enjoy your details.
Get the lighting right. Some jack-o-lanterns will look best lit up at night. Others call for a dramatically cloudy daytime sky or even full sunshine. Experiment to see what looks best for you. MacWorld has some good tips on how to photograph your carved pumpkin at https://www.macworld.com/article/226696/pumpkin-photos-2.html.
Tip: Don’t Throw Away the Pumpkin Seeds. Pumpkin seeds are delicious when they are toasted, and good for you as well. So, don't throw them away after you've finished carving. If you're not sure what to do with them, here are 12 things to do with pumpkin seeds at https://www.the kitchn.com/12-things-to-do-with-pumpkin-s-131061.
Pumpkin Carving with Kids. Kids love carving pumpkins, but you need to be careful to be age-appropriate with the sharp implements. Younger children can have fun scooping out seeds and tracing stencils while you do the actual cutting. If the contest's rules allow, you can also choose a no-carve entry to work on together with your children. See 54 pumpkin painting ideas at
https://www.womansday.com/home/decorating/g1902/painted-pumpkins-ideas.
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