Why Do We Carve Pumpkins at Halloween?

Then, scrape the inside of the pumpkin with your spoon to remove any soft tissue and prevent rotting. Now, cut out your design with the knife using an up and down motion along each line you drew. Finally, set a candle or light inside of your carved pumpkin and put the top back on.

Don't just dive in there and start hacking away with a knife. Exposure to oxygen and loss of moisture into dry air also contribute to the breakdown. There are a few things you can do so your carved pumpkin stays reasonably firm and attractive for as long as possible.

Get a taste of Italy via these seasoned pumpkin seeds which are coated in fennel seed, dried oregano, and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Looking for a few delicious roasted pumpkin seed recipes? Roast the pumpkin seeds in the oven for up to 45 minutes. Samhain was celebrated on Nov. 1 in ancient Britain and Ireland, marking the end of summer and the beginning of the new year.

Draw the proposed cut on the skin with a felt tip marker. I recommend drawing the opening on the bottom of the pumpkin. First clean the seeds you collected by Crazy removing all the large bits of pulp with your fingers. In hot weather, storing your jack-o’-lantern in the refrigerator when not displaying it is a great way to extend its life, if you have room. A pumpkin with an intact skin will stay fresh and good for many months.

Now, have one of the children start separating the seeds from the glop. Scoop out the stringy pulp and seeds with your hands or a long-handled spoon, placing the seeds in one bowl and the pulp in another one for the chickens or the compost pile. You may need to gently pry it out by inserting your sturdy knife (or a sturdy butter knife, if you’ve been cutting with a small saw) under one edge.