Home and Garden

Pumpkin Carving

October has always been a favorite month for many East Bank residents. There is, at last, long awaited relief from the heat and humidity of the South Louisiana summer. As the season changes, it's easy to let your imagination wander a bit. And what better holiday to celebrate a wandering imagination than Halloween. Jefferson Parish is home to many legendary ghouls, from the green monster of Bayou Coquille to the ghost of Jean Lafitte. For those looking for a good scare, South Louisiana is rich in frightening folklore. Almost every plantation has its restless spirits, and New Orleans abounds in tales of the supernatural.

Ghost stories and jack-o-lanterns are the mainstays of the Halloween season. The warm, orange glow of the jack-o-lantern is both inviting and sinister at the same time. Over the past several years a number of companies have begun to manufacture plastic and styrofoam pumpkins which are a reasonable facsimile of the real thing. But there's nothing as eerie as glow of a real candle in a real pumpkin, so for those who are willing to put in a little time and effort, we've put together some pumpkin carving tips.

Selecting A Pumpkin

There are certain qualities you should look for in a carving pumpkin. Perhaps your first consideration should be size. Think of where you will display your jack-o-lantern when determining the correct size. Keep in mind that very small specimens will be difficult to hallow out and may get too hot and deteriorate rapidly if you add a light source. Pumpkins which are too large may not hold their shape well once hallow, may be subject to fractures, and may not look as good as those which are more modestly sized.

Select a pumpkin which is reasonably symmetrical and free of surface defects. Since most pumpkins grow lying on one side, looking for a perfect specimen may be a waste of time. The ground side of the pumpkin will be flattened and may show various other irregularities. The ground side is simply used as the back of the jack-o-lantern. In most seasons you can, however, find pumpkins with a symmetrical "good side" which is free of scaring, bumps and other unwanted details.

You should also consider beforehand the general shape of the pumpkin. Usually, they fall into one of two categories. There are the fat round type and the tall, elongated type.

A poor growing season may make good specimens hard to find. Look around a bit to get an idea of what quality of pumpkins are available. Judging by quality, availability and price 1997 appears to have been a very good year for pumpkin growers. Looking for pumpkins can be a big part of the fun of Halloween. A drive down country roads in mid October will often turn up a pumpkin sale or two. Local groceries can also be a great source of pumpkins. This year Delchamps had a great selection of large pumpkins for $2.99 each, a hard price to beat.

Carving Techniques

The first step in carving a pumpkin is careful planning. You'll need to take into consideration the shape of the pumpkin when deciding what you will carve into it. Most pumpkins have several possible personalities which can be brought out. Look carefully at the shape of the pumpkin and use your imagination.

You will also need to decide what technique you will use for carving. Among the most popular are the following.

A freehand style can be used by those with skilled hands and more experience. Beginners are advised to use one of the following methods.
A pattern can be sketched on the pumpkin using a grease marker or charcoal. It is then a simple matter to carefully follow your drawing with a carving tool.
A pattern can be transferred from a drawing on paper by pushing a narrow gauge poker of some sort through the paper along the design. This is the method of choice for more complex patterns.

Once you have decided on a pattern and get it onto your pumpkin, you're ready to start carving. The first step is to cut out the cap. Use a zig zag pattern a few inches out from the stem. The cuts should be made in such a way that the cap will rest on the pumpkin and not fall inside. The best tool for cutting the cap is a paring knife or other sharp blade about three inches in length.

The next step is to remove the seeds a pulp. This is messy work, so it's a good idea to work on newspaper. A large gently rounded spoon makes a good scoop. A melon baller can be used for more precise work. The pulp and seeds should be completely removed.

Once you have a hallow pumpkin, you can make the cuts for the eyes, nose, mouth and any other features. A paring knife, or other short, sharp blade works well for this. Make the cuts at such an angle that the opening is a little wider on the inside of the pumpkin than on the outside. A common mistake, which can be easily corrected, is making the cuts at such an angle that the openings narrow toward the inside of the pumpkin. A little careful paring will make a correction.

If you're going to use a candle to light your jack-o-lantern, some basic safety guidelines should apply. Use caution when lighting the candle not to burn yourself or set your sleeve on fire. Extra long wooden matches come in handy for this procedure. Never burn a candle while the lid is on the pumpkin, since this may cause smoking and will definitely shorten the life of the jack-o-lantern.

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