Celebrate Halloween with your own handmade pumpkin lantern

Many people wonder when Halloween 2024 is. This holiday is celebrated every year on October 31st, rooted in Celtic traditions related to spirits. It’s a time full of fun, where people dress up in costumes reminiscent of horror characters, go from house to house collecting candy, and participate in spooky parties. They decorate their homes and wear costumes to feel the mysterious atmosphere. For many, it’s a fun break from everyday worries. One of the most popular decorations is a pumpkin lantern. The designs of lanterns vary greatly, and their final shape depends only on our imagination.

The first step in creating a beautiful lantern is selecting the right pumpkin. This is a crucial stage, so it’s worth paying some attention to it. Medium-sized pumpkins with smooth skin work best. Large pumpkins can be difficult to hollow out, especially for children, and those that are too small may not fit a candle or LED light.

While shopping, pay attention to a few important aspects. The pumpkins should be heavy and healthy, without soft spots, signs of mould, or visible damage. An intensely orange-coloured skin indicates the ripeness of the vegetable. It’s also important that the pumpkin has a flat bottom, which will ensure its stability after cutting the lantern.

Once you have the perfect pumpkin, it’s time to prepare your workspace. First, wash the pumpkin under running water to remove any dirt from its surface. Then dry it thoroughly. It’s important that the workspace is well-organized and safe, especially if children are helping you with the cutting.

Start preparing the lantern by cutting off the top part of the pumpkin in a shape resembling a lid. Try to do it evenly and precisely, so that the cut-off piece fits and can easily be placed back on the pumpkin later. The hollowing-out process starts by making an incision on the top to create a lid.

Once the lid is cut off, the pumpkin is ready to have its flesh scooped out. You can do this with an ice cream scoop or a regular spoon. Do it thoroughly—remove all the seeds and pulp. It may require some strength. The inside of the lantern should be well-cleaned. It's worth scraping the inside of the pumpkin until the walls become smooth. Wondering what to do with the pumpkin pulp? You can make pumpkin cream soup, puree, pancakes, muffins, and even jam!

Now we move on to the most important part of the process—cutting patterns. Before starting, it’s worth planning the pattern you want to cut. You can go for classic monster grimaces or smiling faces that work great for Halloween. You can also come up with your own design that will make your pumpkin lantern stand out. To draw the pattern on the pumpkin, you can use a washable marker or pencil, which will help maintain precision during cutting. It’s worth cutting patterns at an angle to give them an attractive, three-dimensional effect.

Then, using a sharp knife or a special carving tool, begin cutting. It’s worth making small cuts, gradually going deeper into the pumpkin’s skin. This will help avoid cracks and ragged edges.

After finishing the carving, it’s a good idea to rub the inside and the cut edges with oil. This will prevent the pumpkin from wrinkling quickly and help it maintain a nice appearance longer.

Once your pumpkin lantern is carved, you can start decorating it. The simplest way is by painting the pumpkin with acrylic paints or markers. You can also use glue and glitter to sparkle the lantern. Feel free to use your imagination and the available materials, such as fabric scraps, beads, or faux fur. These can help give your lantern a unique character.

An interesting idea is also to use tinted film, which can be applied to the cut openings, creating an interesting light effect. This is a great opportunity to involve children and create beautiful, unique decorations together.

A pumpkin lantern can be lit in several ways. The traditional method is using tealight candles, which fit well in a hollowed-out pumpkin. However, a safer alternative is LED lights, which don’t heat up and eliminate the fire risk. Regardless of the choice, place the light source inside the pumpkin, close the lid, and enjoy the beautiful lantern.