How to Make a Jack-o'-lantern

Thursday, November 7, 2013

How to Make a Jack-o'-lantern

Our jack-o'-lanterns in 2013

Halloween in Japan has been getting more popular than before, and many pastry shops sell sweets which made of pumpkin during Halloween season. Nonetheless, most people in Japan don't dress up in costume, and there is almost no trick-or-treat. Unlike U.S., it is not easy to get orange pumpkin for pumpkin carving in Japan. My husband and I had never made a jack-o'-lantern before moving to U.S. However, carving pumpkin has become our staple of Halloween in the U.S.

Our jack-o'-lanterns in 2011

Our jack-o'-lanterns in 2012

On October 31, we made our jack-o'-lantern for our third time. I'm going share with you how to make a jack-o'-lantern.

First, prepare things you need to carve your pumpkin.

A fresh pumpkin
A pumpkin carving saw
A scoop or a tablespoon
A needle tool or a fork
A knife
Candles
A candle lighter
A copy of carving stencil pattern

Cut a hole on the top of your pumpkin with a carving saw. Make sure the hole will be large enough for your hand to reach through. Then, dig out all of the guts and seeds with a large tablespoon.

Tape the stencil pattern onto your pumpkin. Then, poke holes to outline the pattern with the smallest fork. Remove the pattern and tape from your pumpkin. Then, cut on the dots starting from the smallest area.