31 Days of Halloween with The Kelly Society Day 25 - Finn & Ronan
31 Days of Halloween with
The Kelly Society
Day 25
The Art of Pumpkin Carving
Hello, all. It’s Finn & Ronan here from Clon! That’s Clonakilty, Ireland. We’re part of Vivien’s Celtic clan of warriors, and we want to talk about the subject of pumpkin carving.
Finn: "Each October Ronan and I enter the pumpkin carving contest held in Clon. We’ve held the title for three years running, but last year we took second place."
Ronan: "Aye! This year we’re getting our title back!"
FIST PUMP!
Finn: "Aye!"
Ronan & Finn: "Okay, now for the pumpkin carving tips and advice." (and yes, we are talking over each other)
Always make sure your pumpkin has a stem. There are some without, or with a very short stub. A good stem will help you keep the top in place and it keeps that classic look of a pumpkin.
Don’t look for the perfectly rounded pumpkin. Oddly shaped ones can give you even more creative ideas. Work with it.
Always know what you are about to draw ahead of time. Sketch it out on paper, or do it on your computer and print it out. Have it all planned out, or you’ll be after scribbling a mess onto your money bought pumpkin!
Make sure all the innards are out! If you leave any goop inside the pumpkin, it will mold and then spread to the walls of the pumpkin. That will shorten its life and look ugly.
Carve with a water spray bottle. A lot of people don’t do this, but a pumpkin will lose moisture rapidly. Even in one day sitting on a counter will change the structure of the pumpkin. So, even while your carving, give it a spray of water now and again.
Wear rubber gloves! Sure’n there’s no need to explain this one. ; )
Use LED lights inside your pumpkin. They are very bright and won’t heat up the inside. A pumpkin has to stay as cool as possible to prolong its life.
When not on display, put your pumpkin in the fridge. This will not add weeks to your display time, but it will add a few days. It’s best to wrap it in plastic and place in a cold place, preferably your refrigerator.
Go beyond the standard carving kit. You can get creative with your tools. We’ve used potato peelers, zesters, and even a circular apple slicer! You’ll be surprised at the shapes and images you’ll create.
And, for those of you who don’t want to carve:
Sure’ n there’s an alternative to carving if that’s not what you want to do. As you can see, some people are after drawing faces onto pumpkins. That’s grand too!
Have a grand Samhain everyone!
Ronan & Finn
for TKS