Every Halloween, we expect certain things to come. Without these things, Halloween is incomplete. Of course, we are talking about Jack-o'-lanterns. They constitute a significant part of Halloween parties, and you must take advantage of them, chance!
Giant pumpkins with triangular eyes and toothy grins have always been considered the symbol of Halloween, which has now become a part of tradition but let us tell you that the tradition of carving Jack-o'-lanterns from vegetables came from Ireland and Scotland, where turnips, beets, bitter gourds, and potatoes were used for carving ghoulish faces.
These carved vegetables were placed on doorsteps and windows to scare away evil spirits. However, when some Scottish and Irish people migrated to North America, they brought the tradition with them. Later, they discovered that pumpkins were perfect for carving scary faces.
Halloween is around the corner, and it's time to carve out some scariest faces on vegetables and fruits, sending shivers down everyone's spine. So let's dive into some of the spookiest Jack-o'-lantern ideas this Halloween.
Pineapple Jack-o'-Lanterns
Besides pumpkins, pineapples are one of the best options for carving the creepiest faces for Halloween. For pineapple jack-o'-lantern, all you need is pineapple, extra strong plastic knives, and spoons. First, cut off the top of the pineapple with a knife. Next, cut off the pineapple from the inside, ensuring you reach only a little. Finally, scoop out any remaining pineapple from the bottom.
Carve out the eyes, nose, and spooky grin using a thin, flexible knife. Then, place a tea light candle inside to illuminate it and decorate it on the windows or in doorways. Rather than using candle lights, LED lights are better for jack-o'-lanterns since they last a lot longer than candles.
Turnip Jack-o'-Lanterns
As told earlier, jack-o'-lanterns were made from turnips because pumpkins don't grow in Ireland. Turning turnips into ghoulish grins was more frequent in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Turnips resemble shrunken heads, and that is why they look dreadful. So this Halloween, do something different, and instead of a pumpkin, create a turnip jack-o'-lantern that is a little bit more frightening.
We can create a zombie-like face with turnips as it has wrinkles similar to that of a zombie, and its color also reminds us of the zombie's skin. Next, cut off the turnip's top with strong plastic serving knives to create a turnip jack-o'-lantern. It should be wide enough to easily reach in and slice away the interior flesh.
Most people use spoons to chip away slowly at the center, which can take a very long time. Instead, you can use an electric drill by attaching spade bits to it to take out its inner flesh.
After this, carve out your favorite spooky designs using your heavy-duty plastic cutlery. In the end, place your favorite lights inside the turnip to create a spooktacular look!
Watermelon Jack-o'-Lanterns
Who says you can only carve pumpkins for Halloween? Watermelons can be the perfect jack-o'-lanterns as they are a great alternative to pumpkins.
Start by slicing off a little portion from the bottom of the watermelon so it can sit straight without rolling. As a watermelon is taller than a pumpkin, you can also lay it on its side. Watermelon has a smooth shell, making it easier to hollow it out and make your favorite designs.
You can carve out a watermelon with fangs. For this, you need a marker and durable plastic serving cutlery. Use markers to draw the eyes and mouth of your choice. Then hollow out its pink pulp with a big spoon. Finally, carefully cut out the eyes and mouth using a sharp knife.
To make fangs, we can utilize the same piece of watermelon we cut to make its mouth, or you can also make its teeth by cutting it in a zigzag pattern. Finally, you can clean off any last remnants of watermelon by scratching them off.
Use your heavy-duty plastic knife to slice shapes of fangs in different sizes. Using a cocktail stick, push it into the fangs and fix it into the mouth of the watermelon all the way across the mouth, including the top and bottom.
For eyes, you can choose triangle or square shapes. Finally, your scariest jack-o'-lantern is ready. If you want to make it look creepier, you should leave some of its leftover fuchsia portion inside so that when you light it with candles or LED lights, it gives a scary deep reddish-orange glow.
Pumpkin Jack-o'-Lanterns
Pumpkins are one of the scariest and most widely used jack-o'-lanterns. They are associated with Halloween more than any other fruit or vegetable. Pumpkins are to Halloween as Christmas trees are to Christmas. There are hundreds of ways to carve out a pumpkin, and sometimes we need clarification in picking the best one for our Halloween night.
After cutting a pumpkin and removing its insides with a disposable knife and plastic cutlery, lay it on the table. Then, to make one of the scariest pumpkin jack-o'-lanterns, make its eyes and mouth stick some toothpicks in its smile. These toothpicks will look like sharp and pointed teeth.
When it gets dark and the pumpkin is lit, it looks so horrible that it will make anyone's hair stand on end. If you want to try something different, you can also carve a pumpkin into a bat since bats are linked closely with Halloween.
Butternut Squash Jack-o'-Lantern
Butternut squash belongs to the same family as pumpkins, and they can be turned into terrifying jack-o'-lanterns by cutting the lid off and scooping out their flesh. Butternut squash can be carved out using the same technique as pumpkins. You can choose your favorite spookiest look and go with it to thrill your neighbors and guests.
Apple Jack-o'-Lanterns
Halloween and fall come hand in hand, and apples are abundant in fall. So this Halloween, let's use apples to make jack-o'-lanterns and freak out everyone. Besides, the apple's red color enhances its spookiness since it reminds us of blood.
Scary faces on apples look creepier. To carve apples, you need to cut off the extra part. Don't throw this part away, as you might want to use it later. Instead, make eyes and pointed teeth using a sharp knife.
Apples are small, so you cannot place an LED light inside them. However, you can fix a small candle inside it to give it a deep red glow.
In the end, you can also cover its top with the exact piece you cut in the beginning so that the light doesn't look too bright. Then, your perfect apple jack-o'-lantern is ready.