Picking and carving the perfect pumpkin

What's Halloween without a traditional jack-o-lantern?

According to History.com , pumpkin carving is a popular part of modern America's Halloween celebration. We've been making jack-o-lanterns at Halloween for centuries.

The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack."

According to tradition, the Devil was upset by a trick Jack had played on him and would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with it ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern."

The University of Illinois has a few tips on how to pick the perfect pumpkin for your jack-o-lantern:

• Choose a pumpkin with a stem and never carry it by the stem. Pumpkins without a stem will not last long.
• Select a pumpkin with a flat bottom, so it will stand upright.
• Avoid pumpkins with holes, cuts or soft spots. These areas will rot.
• Light colored pumpkins are easier to carve because the skin is not as hard as darker orange colored ones, but they will not keep as well.
• Wash the pumpkin with warm water and let it dry before carving.
• To make the pumpkin last longer, keep it in a cool place until ready to carve. After carving, coat the cuts with petroleum jelly.

Whether you're just carving a pumpkin to sit by the front door at Halloween or holding a pumpkin carving party, the age-old tradition is a main event for adults and children.

Pumpkin Carving 101 offers everything you need to know about creating your personal jack-o-lantern.

They suggest starting with the right tools, including knives, a poker tool, spoons to clean out the pumpkin, a grease pencil for drawing your design, or patterns created on your computer, downloaded from the Internet or purchasing them during the Halloween season in booklets.

Begin by cutting off the top of the pumpkin, making sure the hole is large enough to scoop out the guts and seeds inside with a large spoon.

Scrape the inside walls of the pumpkin clean with the spoon then draw or use a stencil to create your pumpkin's features.

Use a knife to carefully cut out the marked sections, carefully pushing out the pieces.

Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pumpkin flat so a candle placed inside will rest securely. They recommend using a votive candle for safety.

There are stencil patterns you can download on your computer to create a personalized pumpkin. You can make a political statement, or a more traditional one. Check out these websites for ideas:

Campaign-o-lanterns

Ultimate Pumpkin Stencils

Better Homes and Gardens

The Pumpkin Lady