Halloween, the night before All Saints' Day, is traditionally celebrated on October 31st. The main symbol of the celebration is a glowing pumpkin with a scary face. According to tradition, jack-o-lanterns were supposed to scare away evil spirits from our homes. Today, pumpkin faces vary from good-natured to bloodthirsty and can feature a wide smile or a malicious grin. Whether the pumpkin looks cool, funny or scary depends on your imagination and the pumpkin face templates you use.
Where does the tradition of making jack-o-lanterns come from on Halloween?
The tradition of making jack-o-lanterns on Halloween originated from a Celtic custom. They were supposed to help souls find their way to purgatory. An interesting centuries-old legend tells of Jack, a greedy blacksmith. He managed to outwit the devil twice and save his soul. But after his death, he was not allowed to go to hell or paradise because of his sinful life.
So the restless Irishman was destined to roam the earth in anticipation of the Last Judgment, lighting his way with a lump of coal in a turnip lantern. Subsequently, the turnip was replaced by a pumpkin because it was cheaper and could be stored for a long time, and the lantern itself was named after its “creator”.
Carve pumpkin faces using a template
Become traditionalCarved pumpkins for Halloween. You can use ready-made stencils for this. Browse through our gallery and discover your favorites - there are more than 30 pumpkin face templates. Print out the image you like, attach it to the pumpkin, and use an awl or other sharp object to make small holes along the stencil outlines.
Step-by-step instructions
We'll give you some helpful tips on how to make the pumpkin facesTemplates for carvingapply correctly.
You need:
pumpkin
Messer
spoon, bowl
Pumpkin face template
Awl (rice tacks or pins)
Instructions
Step 1:Choose the prettiest, round, orange pumpkin. Make a few marks around the stem and poke out your hollow hole.
Step 2:Pull out the lid. Using a spoon, remove the seeds and pulp from the inside of the pumpkin. If you're not afraid of getting your hands dirty, you can remove the rough insides without a spoon - it's pretty quick.
Step 3:Use the finished template or paint a motif yourself on the pumpkin with a marker. Fix the template with adhesive tape and transfer the design to the pumpkin by making small holes along the contour with the awl.
Step 4:Now use a knife to cut out the parts you want to remove. Follow the contour of the dotted holes. It is best to use a sharp knife with a short blade. Do not rush, try to follow the contour as accurately as possible. Use knives of different sizes to cut out different sized designs.
Step 5:To preserve the carved pumpkin, seal the cut edges with petroleum jelly.
After the pumpkin face is finished, you can light up the jack-o-lantern. You can use LED candles and LED fairy lights for this. If you choose a traditional candle, it is best to place it in a glass. Leave the lid open for ventilation.
Think about how you can make the pumpkin face stand out even more. With brushes and acrylic paints, for example, facial features can be wonderfully highlighted. You can also change facial expressions by using different eyebrow shapes. If the eyebrows are close together, the look appears evil and severe.
Also read:Last minute DIY for Halloween: 4 quick pumpkin carving ideas
Looking for new pumpkin carving ideas? Discover our free animal carving templates for a creative Halloween! Click here
