Jack-O-Lantern carving is one of the most popular Halloween traditions today. Dressing up in costumes and creating your own spooky work of art is an easy, inexpensive, and fun way to celebrate the holiday.
Pumpkin carving has a long and interesting history. The Celts started the custom for their holiday Samhain, or “summer’s end”. It was believed that on this night the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead was the most transparent, so people would pay tribute to deceased loved ones by carving small gourds or turnips and lighting them from within to welcome their return. The tradition evolved over the years, and after the Americas were discovered and colonized, the native pumpkin replaced smaller gourds and vegetables because it was larger and much easier to carve.
It's easy to start caving your own Jack-O-Lanterns. Just pick out a few pumpkins from the local farm and join in the tradition. All you’ll need is a carving tool and some of the stencils and templates listed below. The stencils will make it much easier to carve complex designs and create a professional work of pumpkin art, even for beginners. The designs below range from the traditional to the eclectic. Put on your favorite Halloween costumes and try your hand at carving some of these fun designs. Have fun and Happy Halloween!
Ghosts and Goblins
Skeleton in a graveyard
Spooked squash
Skeleton
Black Cats, Bats, and Halloween Animals
Jumping Spider
Raven
Monsters
Gargoyle
Mummy
Other Fun Patterns
Dorothy and Toto
The Joker from Batman
Pumpkin Pirate
Article written by Janice D. McDonald