The Art of Carving Halloween Pumpkins
Halloween is a Catholic festival celebrated as a day to witness the eternal cycle of reincarnation. It is a day when the sun is at its lowest and marks the beginning of chilling winters. The day was earlier celebrated on May 13 but later after a century this day was celebrated on November 1. The change of date was because Pope Gregory III discovered the sun to be at the lowest on November 1st. This day was celebrated as New Year by modern pagans and Wiccans.
The festival honoring the saints marks the end of hot summers, a day when the good spirits move on earth craving of warmth and cheers whereas evil and malevolence spirits roam craving for victims and preys.
The day eventually turned out to be a day of fun, entertainment and joys in many countries of the world. It is also known as a day of witches, pranks and mischief. There are groups of people who knock every door asking for foods, gifts and other useful articles. These groups gather various different articles for the evening festivities. They harass people and play pranks on them in the name of Muck Olla or St. Columb Cille. Muck Olla is an early Druid deity and St. Columb Cille is an Ireland worker of the 6th century.
Halloween customs, celebrations and pranks brought into picture the art of carving pumpkins. These mark the start of Halloween season and are considered to be the symbol of Halloween.
Pumpkins are most popularly used to make Halloween crafts and decorations. These antique and beautiful craft pieces are designed exclusively to enlighten the festival and add on to the festive mood.
Pumpkin carving is a fairly simple method of decorating your homes. Carved art pieces characterized with simple or detailed designs, patterns and colors are also used as favors for the festival. Essentials for pumpkin carvings are pumpkin, small nail or pumpkin poker, printer and paper, spoon or pumpkin scoop and serrate knife or pumpkin saw.
The key fundamental for creating beautiful pumpkin craft pieces is the art of selecting the right pumpkin. Your selection of pumpkin greatly depends on what you want to carve on the pumpkin. Based on your design, pattern and tool used for carving, select the pumpkin with the right shape and size. If, using a knife for carving the pumpkin, then a tall and narrow pumpkin works the best and is using a carving stencil then a large gouge free pumpkin is the best fit. Ripe pumpkins with no scratches and bruises are most easy to carve.
Once, the right pumpkin is selected, select the right tool for carving and transferring designs or patterns. There are many sharp, flexible and sturdy tools like knife, saw, poker tool, grease pencil, scraper, hand saw, drill bits and power tools to make stunning patterns. The best pumpkin carving tool is the knife because it requires less force as compared to saw for carving detailed areas. Poker tools help in easy transfer of designs and grease pencils are used for highlighting the outlines. Scrapers help in easy removal of seeds and pulp from the interior. An array of power tools and drill bits are used for effortless carving.
After selecting the right tools for carving, take stencils and printed paper to carve patterns and designs. This makes exhilarating and fascinating pumpkin carving patterns.
NFE/1.0 pumpkin - Google News en news-feedback@google.com ©2008 Google Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:24:14 GMT Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:24:14 GMT pumpkin - Google News http://news.google.com/intl/en_us/images/news_res.gif A little tweaking goes a long way - Chicago Daily Herald tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=hN6xKpkPcSsJ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:36:09 GMT <table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7><tr><td valign=top class=j><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class=lh><a href="http://news.google.ru/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-0&fd=R&url=http://www.dailyherald.com/story/%3Fid%3D228351&cid=0&ei=7gysSPK8K47I8ASQmfTFBg&usg=AFQjCNFJLnZ3OxdW2-CIam1_zBwFgTrVtA">A little tweaking goes a long way</a><br><font size=-1><font color=#6f6f6f>Chicago Daily Herald, IL -</font> <nobr>6 hours ago</nobr></font><br><font size=-1>I make my muffins with canned <b>pumpkin</b> and no fat at all. Applesauce, plum paste or <b>pumpkin</b> work well. The <b>pumpkin</b> doesn't taste like much: Apparently, <b>...</b></font></div></font></td></tr></table> Writer-artist never short on creativity - Fort Wayne Journal Gazette tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=-sKIdi0bAowJ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:03:36 GMT <table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7><tr><td valign=top class=j><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class=lh><a href="http://news.google.ru/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/1-0&fd=R&url=http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20080820/FEAT0107/808200301&cid=0&ei=7gysSPK8K47I8ASQmfTFBg&usg=AFQjCNF2qqRrUCQ9AmzDwbvJDEGLDrPmgw">Writer-artist never short on creativity</a><br><font size=-1><font color=#6f6f6f>Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN -</font> <nobr>2 hours ago</nobr></font><br><font size=-1>While he doesn’t claim to be a great cook, Sexton says he’s been making <b>pumpkin</b> pies, using store-bought crusts, for years. The difference between his pies <b>...</b></font></div></font></td></tr></table> Murph Was Self Assured, Until Election Night - Cape May County Herald tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=TouRB0Ba_pgJ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:10:24 GMT <table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7><tr><td valign=top class=j><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class=lh><a href="http://news.google.ru/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/2-0&fd=R&url=http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/article/33726-murph-was-self-assured-until-election-night&cid=0&ei=7gysSPK8K47I8ASQmfTFBg&usg=AFQjCNFEAM3TVLgOfFMZD652DhCOMRJx-A">Murph Was Self Assured, Until Election Night</a><br><font size=-1><font color=#6f6f6f>Cape May County Herald, United States -</font> <nobr>1 hour ago</nobr></font><br><font size=-1>Even the chairman of the <b>Pumpkin</b> Grower's Party, Murph's opposing political faction whispered, behind the security of closed doors upstairs at Tudwiler's <b>...</b></font></div></font></td></tr></table> 11th annual largest tomato contest winners announced - The Courier News tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=9DdE8GZ6-lEJ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:21:04 GMT <table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7><tr><td valign=top class=j><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class=lh><a href="http://news.google.ru/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/3-0&fd=R&url=http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/lifestyles/1115245,3_5_EL20_TOMATO_S1.article&cid=0&ei=7gysSPK8K47I8ASQmfTFBg&usg=AFQjCNFRqrhoIWMHUbBL8VNs-gNmL_BBBw">11th annual largest tomato contest winners announced</a><br><font size=-1><font color=#6f6f6f>The Courier News, IL -</font> <nobr>3 hours ago</nobr></font><br><font size=-1>The Visitor's Center will host its Great <b>Pumpkin</b> contest the last Saturday in October, with prizes for heaviest <b>pumpkin</b> and best decorated <b>pumpkin</b>.</font></div></font></td></tr></table> Lentils vs split peas - Trinidad News tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=I52lvdpEKTMJ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:55:35 GMT <table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7><tr><td valign=top class=j><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class=lh><a href="http://news.google.ru/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/4-0&fd=R&url=http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,84745.html&cid=0&ei=7gysSPK8K47I8ASQmfTFBg&usg=AFQjCNFjufebA_fl991mwU3um7c0X1wgAg">Lentils vs split peas</a><br><font size=-1><font color=#6f6f6f>Trinidad News, Trinidad and Tobago -</font> <nobr>3 hours ago</nobr></font><br><font size=-1>I wish, now, I’d followed my own advice when I came across an economical recipe for dhal and <b>pumpkin</b> soup — but I didn’t and, naturally, ended up with <b>...</b></font></div></font></td></tr></table> Snell leads Pirates to victory over Cardinals - Rotoworld.com tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=96IquU_RBjAJ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:58:21 GMT <table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7><tr><td valign=top class=j><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class=lh><a href="http://news.google.ru/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/5-0&fd=R&url=http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp%3Fsport%3DMLB%26id%3D3949%26line%3D247437%26spln%3D1&cid=1238285984&ei=7gysSPK8K47I8ASQmfTFBg&usg=AFQjCNFyXyhXVjVgeDD5qAlDuqI-wlzdzA">Snell leads Pirates to victory over Cardinals</a><br><font size=-1><font color=#6f6f6f>Rotoworld.com -</font> <nobr>8 hours ago</nobr></font><br><font size=-1>It's the only time this year he's held an opponent scoreless. Look for him to turn back into a <b>pumpkin</b> in his next start against the Cubs. Aug. <b>...</b></font></div></font></td></tr></table> Simply succulent - Altoona Mirror tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=d6Sx4gfAAbIJ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:01:21 GMT <table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7><tr><td width=80 align=center valign=top><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://news.google.ru/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/6i-0&fd=R&url=http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/510196.html%3Fnav%3D738&cid=0&ei=7gysSPK8K47I8ASQmfTFBg&usg=AFQjCNFPPGv23OgvLjEYEYsbIqXlLdq-EA"><img src=http://news.google.ru/news?imgefp=YH2yFgY-RrcJ&imgurl=www.altoonamirror.com/photos/news/sm/510196_2.jpg width=75 height=69 alt="" border=1><br><font size=-2>Altoona Mirror</font></a></font></td><td valign=top class=j><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class=lh><a href="http://news.google.ru/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/6-0&fd=R&url=http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/510196.html%3Fnav%3D738&cid=0&ei=7gysSPK8K47I8ASQmfTFBg&usg=AFQjCNFPPGv23OgvLjEYEYsbIqXlLdq-EA">Simply succulent</a><br><font size=-1><font color=#6f6f6f>Altoona Mirror, PA -</font> <nobr>8 hours ago</nobr></font><br><font size=-1>For the first time ever, there was a tie, as judges couldn't choose between Asian <b>Pumpkin</b> Soup and Squash and Citrus Slaw. The following recipes were chosen <b>...</b></font></div></font></td></tr></table> Board approves traffic restrictions for event - SunJournal.com tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=ezNu4wagPTQJ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:05:22 GMT <table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7><tr><td valign=top class=j><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class=lh><a href="http://news.google.ru/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/7-0&fd=R&url=http://www.sunjournal.com/story/279335-3/Franklin/Board_approves_traffic_restrictions_for_event/&cid=0&ei=7gysSPK8K47I8ASQmfTFBg&usg=AFQjCNGq2j0itcc4IJLv5D3Z4twOkdGEaA">Board approves traffic restrictions for event</a><br><font size=-1><font color=#6f6f6f>SunJournal.com, ME -</font> <nobr>3 hours ago</nobr></font><br><font size=-1>Selectmen voted to approve the request from the Apple-<b>Pumpkin</b> Festival Committee to improve traffic flow, parking and handicapped accessibility to the <b>...</b></font></div></font></td></tr></table> Milton City Council meets tonight - Huntington Herald Dispatch tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=iJrhhG4dSd0J Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:29:06 GMT <table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7><tr><td valign=top class=j><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class=lh><a href="http://news.google.ru/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/8-0&fd=R&url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/homepage/x1846890924/Milton-City-Council-meets-tonight&cid=0&ei=7gysSPK8K47I8ASQmfTFBg&usg=AFQjCNFd9P8850pcXxy7rwudmaB1x8tzPw">Milton City Council meets tonight</a><br><font size=-1><font color=#6f6f6f>Huntington Herald Dispatch, WV -</font> <nobr>23 hours ago</nobr></font><br><font size=-1>They are city sponsorship of the 5k <b>Pumpkin</b> Festival Run/Walk, a “Pig Roast & Family Fun Day” at April Dawn Park and a block party request. <b>...</b></font></div></font></td></tr></table> Enjoying a 'different' menu in China - Canton Repository (subscription) tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=MTWvbnRhMBkJ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:10:03 GMT <table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7><tr><td valign=top class=j><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class=lh><a href="http://news.google.ru/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/9-0&fd=R&url=http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php%3FID%3D426713%26Category%3D8%26subCategoryID%3D&cid=1238129280&ei=7gysSPK8K47I8ASQmfTFBg&usg=AFQjCNEmJCXBL9xFogKMLsIVqP78K6JTkw">Enjoying a 'different' menu in China</a><br><font size=-1><font color=#6f6f6f>Canton Repository (subscription), OH -</font> <nobr>8 hours ago</nobr></font><br><font size=-1>Everyone loved the fried <b>pumpkin</b>, which resembled french fries. Of course, there was never a shortage of rice, steamed to perfection. <b>...</b></font></div></font></td></tr></table> pumpkin - Google News Keywords:
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