Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Given that the pumpkin came to us from the North American continent, the carving traditions are evidently to be found there too. Unfortunately no historical source can tell us who started this tradition and when.
I came across information that the fact of carving pumpkins as Halloween decorations was first mentioned in 1866 in the children's magazine "Harper's Young People". Over the years this tradition has grown and spread. By the 1920s and 30s, a carved pumpkin was already an indispensable part of Halloween.
Today we too were inspired, on the eve of Halloween, to treat ourselves to a pumpkin cream soup and carve a pumpkin as decoration for the windowsill. Traditionally, pumpkins are carved with expressive eye, nose, and mouth cutouts, so that the candleflame placed inside creates just the right atmosphere in a dimly lit room.
Take a look at the lovely little pumpkin we managed to carve!
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