How to Carve a Pumpkin for Halloween: Making the Jack-O'-Lantern at Home

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Halloween is coming, and it's time to learn how to carve a pumpkin. Kids and Adults love Halloween and always wait for this festive day to come every year. Besides wearing your favorite costume and going on trick or treat around the neighborhood, there's one thing that you should never skip on Halloween: decorating your home with the famous Jack-o'-Lantern.

Jack-o'-Lantern is the icon the Halloween. And, many people have been waiting for the time to carve a pumpkin and make their own Jack-o'-Lantern at home. After all, it's a really fun way to celebrate Halloween night, and it's really simple.

If you have never made a Jack-o'-Lantern at home, don't worry. In this article, we will learn how to carve a pumpkin so you can make one at home. We will also talk about how long the pumpkin will last and the history behind this popular Halloween tradition. We gathered this information from various sources, Friday (3/10/2025).

Here's how to carve a pumpkin and make Jack-o'-Lantern at home:

What You'll Need

- A pumpkin

- A sharp knife

- A large spoon

- A marker

- A bowl

- A candle or battery-powered light

- Optional: pumpkin carving kit

Step 1: Cut the Top

Use your marker to draw a circle around the stem at the top of the pumpkin. Make the circle big enough so your hand can fit inside. Cut along this line with your knife. Always cut at an angle pointing toward the center. This angle creates a lid that will not fall inside the pumpkin. Remove the top and set it aside.

Step 2: Remove the Inside

Reach inside the pumpkin and pull out the seeds and stringy parts. Use your large spoon to scrape the inside walls. Make the walls smooth and clean. You want the walls to be about one inch thick. This thickness makes carving easier. Save the seeds if you want to roast them later as a snack.

Step 3: Draw Your Design

Use your marker to draw a face or design on the outside of your pumpkin. Start with simple shapes like triangles for eyes and a curved line for a smile. You can find design ideas online or create your own. Keep your design simple if this is your first time carving.

Step 4: Carve the Design

Follow your marker lines and carefully cut out your design. Push the cut pieces into the pumpkin, then pull them out from the inside. Work slowly and be patient. If you make a mistake, you can change your design to work around it.

Step 5: Add Light

Put a candle or battery-powered light inside your pumpkin. Place the lid back on top. Your carved pumpkin is now ready to display. Turn off the lights and watch your pumpkin glow.

After learning how to carve a pumpkin, you may wonder how long it will stay fresh. Many people notice that their pumpkin starts to look soft or moldy after a few days. This can be disappointing, especially if you made a detailed design.

The truth is, carved pumpkins usually last between 3 to 7 days. The exact time depends on the weather and where you keep it. If it is warm outside, the pumpkin will rot faster. If the temperature is cooler, it may last a little longer. Direct sunlight can also make it go bad more quickly.

To make your carved pumpkin last longer, keep it in a cool, dry place. Some people spray water mixed with vinegar on the inside to slow down mold. You can also bring the pumpkin indoors when it is not on display. These small steps help you enjoy your creation for more days.

The jack-o'-lantern has an interesting story that goes back hundreds of years. According to Irish legend, there was a man named Stingy Jack who liked to trick people. Legend says that Stingy Jack was a clever, yet mischievous man. With his cleverness, Jack has tricked the devil multiple times. But in the end, he can't trick the devil anymore. Jack was sentenced to roam on earth for eternity, with only an ember given by the devil to light his way.

Irish people began carving scary faces into turnips and potatoes to remember this story. They believed these carved vegetables would keep away Stingy Jack and other bad spirits. When Irish people moved to America in the 1800s, they found pumpkins growing everywhere. Pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve than turnips. They quickly became the new choice for making jack-o'-lanterns. American families loved this tradition and started doing it every fall.