Pumpkin Carving By Ray Villafane

A jack-o'-lantern (formerly also known as a Jack o' the lantern) is typically a carved pumpkin. It is associated chiefly with the holiday Halloween, and was named after the phenomenon strange light flickering over peat bogs, called ignis fatuus or jack-o'-lantern. In a jack-o'-lantern, typically the top is cut f, and the inside flesh then scooped out; an image, usually a monstrous face, is carved onto the outside surface, and the lid replaced. At night, a light is placed inside to illuminate the effect.
Sections the pumpkin are cut out to make a hole ten depicting a face, usually menacing like a demon or devil. A variety tools may be used to carve and hollow out the gourd, ranging from simple knives and spoons to specialized instruments, typically sold in holiday sections grocery stores. Printed stencils can be used as a guide for increasingly complex designs. After carving, a light source (traditionally a candle) is placed inside the pumpkin and the top is put back into place. The light illuminates the design from the inside. Sometimes a chimney is carved in. It is possible to create surprisingly artistic designs, be they simple or intricate in nature. But towards the end the 20th century, artists began expressing every kind idea they could imagine on pumpkins. Today, it is common to see portraits political candidates, celebrities and cartoon characters. Pumpkin painting is also common, especially for children whose parents don't want them handling the sharp tools involved in carving.
Carving gourds into elaborately decorated lanterns dates back thousands years to Africa. They were intentionally brought to the New World via the prehistoric migration through Asia. A toxic variety squash is nicknamed 'pot death' from the Bible passage II Kings 4:39- 41. A gourd is featured in Renaissance religious paintings next to a symbolic apple. Folk traditions using gourds in supernatural contexts is ancient and continuous.