Whack-o-Lantern: A Unique Approach To Pumpkin Carving - Kids Activities | Wondertime

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jack-o-lantern

Whack-o'-Lantern

Some few hundred years ago, the Celts called Halloween Samhain (summer's end) and carved jack-o'-lanterns not out of pumpkins (they're native to America) but turnips, which are depressingly puny, un-orange, and hard to cut. Luckily we live in the land of plenty pumpkins — and you don't even need a knife to create a good look. A kid produced this polka-dotty version by pounding in golf tees. A technique that would've pleased the Scots, undoubtedly.

Use the mallet to pound golf tees into the pumpkin at random or, if you want to get ambitious, use the grease pencil to draw a pattern (a flower, a face, a bat) and poke holes every inch or so. Remove and reuse the tees as you go. (An adult may have to help.)

When you're done with poking fun, cut an opening around the stem with the carving knife (a job for an adult), remove the lid, and clean out the goop from inside.

Wipe off any remaining grease pencil lines with a paper towel.

Place a candle inside the pumpkin and get your glow on.

Rubber mallet ($4, widgetsupply.com) or hammer

Several gof tees (bulk tees, $7 for 100, golfballs.com)

Medium pumpkin

Grease pencil or china marker ($1, dickblick.com)

Carving knife

Paper towels

Candle to fit inside the pumpkin

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