Halloween is creeping closer to scary decorations, pumpkin patches, candy, trick-or-treat decor, and a night when people come together as anyone or anything they want. But there is one Halloween tradition that stands out among all the others: pumpkin carving.
“I’m a sucker for the classics,” said Addison Moss, Marshfield High School student. “You know, the triangle eyes.”
She believes in family togetherness and happy traditions, like gathering together to carve the pumpkins, and roast pumpkin seeds when it’s all done. It’s an activity that only happens once a year, so Moss likes to cling to the heritage of Halloween.
“We all carved pumpkins outside listening to creepy music,” she said. “It’s fun because it’s all about family.”
Senior Jacella Corsaletti also likes to make pumpkin carving into a family outing. They venture to the local pumpkin patch, choose the biggest pumpkin, then bring it home to carve. Like Moss, she loves roasting the seeds, but she strays from the traditional pumpkin carving.
“I’ve done a bunch of video game characters to animals, but I like them all,” she said. “My favorite part of pumpkin carving is the end result, seeing it light up.”
MHS junior Bryce Wilson likes to absorb all the spookiness of October. He prefers to carve pumpkins with a frightening theme.
“I like to make something truly scary,” he said.
He thinks that the spookiness of Halloween can bring families and communities closer. As everyone gets prepared for this night, no one truly knows what will happen.
MHS art teacher Heidi Ositis carves pumpkins each year with her two kids. When she was younger, she used to carve with her family, and then she and her cousins would go trick-or-treating together.
“Pumpkin carving can be very messy,” said Ositis, “but I really like cooking the pumpkin seeds.”
Regardless of how pumpkins are brought into fall, they are definitely a presence–many other fall activities and crafts involve pumpkins. From plastic pumpkins to tiny gourds, the orange fruit take the main stage. Foods such as pumpkin pie come into the scene in the fall, and pumpkin spice flavor takes over all, from donuts to drinks, and everything in between.
“In ceramics class, we make mini pumpkins for Halloween or the fall festivities,” said Ositis. “It is a project that is near and dear to my heart.”
In Tualatin, Ore., there is even a pumpkin regatta, where people hollow out huge pumpkins and ride in them like a kayak. Whoever paddles the fastest and makes it to the end of the course first wins.
Anyone wanting to carve a pumpkin and enter a contest should start planning their carving soon, as there are many opportunities at a prize. Community organizations like to get everyone engaged in their creative side, showing off their beautiful carvings at their businesses. The end result is a unique, one-of-a-kind decoration to enjoy until the season ends–or the pumpkin gets fuzzy.
“If you’re in a secluded area, then no one will see it,” said Corsaletti. “But I think if you live in a neighborhood where a bunch of people will see the pumpkin, then it’s totally worth it.”