What to Look For:

1. Choose a pumpkin that has no soft spots, bruises, or discoloration on the skin.

2. Any size pumpkin will do, but the bigger, the better! Carving patterns can be enlarged easily, but shrinking them makes the detail work harder, if not impossible.

3. Look for a pumpkin that has a firmly attached stem attached. This is the sign of a healthy pumpkin. NEVER lift the pumpkin by its stem! Not only could you lose the handle for your lid, but you can damage the pumpkin and make it age quicker.

4. Select a pumpkin with a flat bottom (or side, depending on your design), as this will make it easier to display your masterpiece without having it roll away.

5. Check the bottom of your pumpkin for damage or soft spots. This can be the thinnest part of the pumpkin. If you pick it up, and it feels particularly heavy and the weight shifts when you tilt it …put it back. You don’t want to know what can grow inside a rotting pumpkin.

Once you get your pumpkin home, you need to prepare it. These steps are important if you want to keep Jack smiling for a while:

1. Choose your opening. If you are cutting a “lid”, then your first cut will be an angled cut, so that you lift out a cone shaped wedge around the stem. Angling the lid cut will keep the lid from falling into the pumpkin. Make your cut big enough to give you room to do the scooping and scraping you will need to do in a few minutes. You may choose, instead, to remove the bottom of the pumpkin and set it down over the light source you choose. If using a candle, you will still need to cut a vent in the top, and the top will scorch.
***NOTE: this should be the ONLY angled cut you make on your carving. All other cuts should be made perpendicular to the surface.

2. Once the pumpkin is open, remove the “brains” or “guts” with a sturdy scoop. While scooping, remember that the front edge, or design side of the pumpkin needs to be thinned to 1/2 to 1 inch thick, to make the more intricate cuts easier.

3. DON’T SKIP THIS STEP!!! Before you begin carving your design, fill a tub with cold water. It should be deep enough to submerge your pumpkin. Let it float and fill with water, so that it settles gently toward the bottom of the tub. Let it soak overnight. The pumpkin will absorb the water and become very firm, making your carving much easier. If you add a little bleach to the water, it will retard mold that might form on your Jack O’Lantern.

4. Once carved, coat all cut edges with petroleum jelly to prevent shrivelling.

5. If you are serious about keeping your pumpkin fresh for a long time, bring it in from the porch every night, and moisten it, using a plant mister, put it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Remember that you must dry all surfaces before putting it out for display, to prevent mold from growing.

For adults and children over the age of 10, I would recommend some classics:

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. Still vibrant and scary, this short story was written by Irving in 1820, and survives as one of the earliest examples of truly American fiction. The story tells of a superstitious young school master, Ichabod Crane, whose courtship of the young Katrina Van Tassel, sets off a competition with the town bully. The hapless Crane also runs afoul of the local ghost of a headless Hessian soldier, with a penchant for midnight rides. If you haven’t read this story since you were required to for school, it’s time to pull it down from the shelf and read it again!

“The Halloween Tree” by Ray Bradbury. One of the undisputed deans of American science fiction and fantasy, Mr. Bradbury has given us some of the creepiest and most readable stories for the season. In this book, we meet 8 young boys who are all meeting to go trick or treating together. On the way to their meeting place, young Pip is whisked away by a great, dark Something. The boys meet the mysterious Mr. Moundshroud, who takes them on a journey through time and space to save their friend. From a funeral procession in ancient Egypt, Druidic rites, witch trials in Medieval Europe, and the catacombs of Mexico on the Day of the Dead, the boys learn about the origins of Halloween and how attitudes about death have been influenced it, while trying to save their friend.

“Something Wicked This Way Comes”, also by Ray Bradbury. This novel introduces us to two 13 year-old boys in a small midwestern town, who are conflicted about their upcoming 14th birthdays. On October 23, various townspeople tell the boys that they can feel that something is about to happen. The boys are delighted to learn that a carnival has set up just outside of town and are determined to be among the first to attend. The carnival, a sinister group, led by Mr. Dark, promises that a visit to Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show can make all one’s deepest desires come true. And wishes do come true, but always at a heavy price. In the case of this story, I will also heartily recommend the movie, for which I have linked the trailer here. It has brilliant performances by Jonathon Pryce and Jason Robards, and character actor, Royal Dano, and stays true to the feeling of the novel.

Just for fun, you may want to add the book “Halloween”, by Jerry Seinfeld. This picture book is based on Jerry’s own holiday experiences as a child. From pajama costumes to the quality of treats, he makes us smile remembering our own youth. This is a perfect book to share with younger children, aged 4 and up.

Halloween music takes hold of us when we’re young and becomes a part of every year’s celebration. Surely some of you remember from pre-school and kindergarten, singing this little ditty:

“Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said, “oh my it’s getting late.”
The second one said, “there are witches in the air.”
The third one said, “but we don’t care!”
The fourth one said, “let’s run and run and run.”
The fifth one said, “I’m ready for some fun!”
OOOhh OOOhh went the wind
and out went the lights
and the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.”

If your party has more of a dance theme, then there have been spooky, creepy and Halloween themed songs on the charts for many years. Here is a list I have compiled of some the top rated Halloween party songs of all time. Add your own favorites for a rockin’ good Halloween bash!

Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett
Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr.
Purple People Eater – Sheb Wooley
Werewolves of London – Warren Zevon
Boris the Spider – The Who
Wooly Boolly – Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
Nightmare on My Street – DJ Dazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Thriller – Michael Jackson
Tubular Bells (theme song from the Exorcist) – Mike Oldfield
I’m Your Boogieman – original by KC and the Sunshine Band, but try the White Zombie cover for a real Halloween treat!
Time Warp – from Rocky Horror Picture Show
Welcome to my Nightmare – Alice Cooper
Don’t Fear the Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
This is Halloween – Danny Elfman, from Nightmare before Christmas
Witchy Woman – the Eagles
Black Magic Woman – Santana
Somebody’s Watchin’ Me – Rockwell
The Legend of Woolly Swamp – The Charlie Daniels Band
Season of the Witch – Donovan

1. Unless your pet is the most calm and social, all dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room, a quiet safe place, away from the front door during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Constant doorbell ringing and too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets. Even normally friendly pets may become overly aggressive, fearful or territorial around guests in costumes.

2. It is safest to keep pets indoors on Halloween night, to avoid accidental bites, but also to protect your animals from strangers taunting, harming or stealing them. Cats are often the targets of cruelty on this holiday. Walk your dog well before the trick or treating hours begin to avoid meeting scary characters on the street.

3. Anything within range of a wagging tail or a curious kitten can be a potential hazard. Keep decorations out of the reach of pets. This is particularly true of candles and candle-lit Jack O’Lanterns. Some decorations can be lethal to pets if ingested, or if they become tangled in them. Keep electrical cords out of the reach of your fur friends.

4. When answering the door for trick or treaters, pets may dart outside. Consider putting a pet gate or baby gate across the doorway as extra insurance against escape. Make sure your pet is wearing up to date ID, just in case.

5. Halloween treats are for people, not pets! Keep all treats up out of their reach. Take charge of your children’s Halloween loot as soon as they return from Trick or Treating. Remind them not to leave candy or wrappers on the floor. Chocolate can be deadly to pets, and the darker the chocolate, the less it takes for a toxic dose. Candy with artificial sweetener is very toxic to animals, even in the smallest amounts. Be safe and make sure adults supervise the consumption of treats.

6. It might be hard to resist putting your pet in a costume for Halloween, but, most pets don’t enjoy it. If your pet is one who does, then choose the costume carefully. Loose parts and small, dangling accessories invite chewing and present a choking hazard. Make sure that the costume does not restrict the pet’s vision or movement. Consider a festive bandana or reflective collar or harness as an alternative. If you take your pets out onto the street in costume, make sure that you keep them on a leash.

Keeping these tips in mind can make for a fun and happy Halloween for you and your pets!

22% of Americans believe that they have seen or felt the presence of a ghost.

The next full moon on Halloween Night will occur in 2020.

The first Jack O’Lanterns were hollowed out turnips, and originated in Ireland.

Believe it or not, experts say that chocolate is better for your teeth than hard candy.

“Trick or Treat for UNICEF” began in Philadelphia in 1950, when a group of trick or treaters and their pastor collected $17 for needy children overseas.

At least one third of all adults in the U.S. dress up for Halloween.

The most filmed movie character of all time is Dracula.

Albert Einstein ate six bags of candy corn per day!

90% of parents admit to sneaking goodies from their kids’ Halloween trick-or-treat bags.

Wearing costumes on Halloween night originated during the Celtic celebration of Samhain. Costumes were worn to keep the spirits of the dead from recognizing the living.

Pumpkins are native to Central America, where natives used them as food, dried the skins for weaving into mats, and snacked on pumpkin seeds.

Early American settlers believed pumpkin seeds to be a cure for freckles.

To meet a witch, put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards on Halloween night.

The correct spelling of Halloween is Hallowe’en.

Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.

Of all the pumpkins marketed in the U.S. each year, 99% are used as Jack O’Lanterns.

In the movie “Halloween” the mask worn by Michael Meyers is actually the mask of William Shatner painted white

Things to do BEFORE HALLOWEEN:

1. Prepare home for trick-or-treaters by clearing porches, lawns, and sidewalks and by placing jack-o-lanterns away from doorways and landings.

2. Place lighted pumpkins away from curtains and other flammable objects, and do not leave lighted pumpkins unattended.

3. Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.

4. Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.

5. Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost. Remind them that 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any phone.

6. Review with your children the principle of “Stop-Drop-Roll”, should their clothes catch on fire.

7. Check around your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.

8. This is also a great time to buy fresh batteries for your home Smoke Alarms.

9. Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords with costumes. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.

10. Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.

* About 27% of Americans believe that they have seen a ghost or felt the presence of one.

* One in five people believe that witchcraft and spells are real.

* According to Hallmark, about 35 million Halloween cards are sold each year. Most of these are sent from grandparent to grandchild.

* The earliest Halloween cards in the U.S. are from around 1908.

* According to U.S. census information, there are approximately 36 million potential trick or treaters between the ages of 5 and 13.

* The world’s record for the largest pumpkin was set in 2009 by Christy Harp from Ohio, with a pumpkin that weighed 1,725 pounds (roughly the same weight as a 1967 VW Beetle).

* The average American consumes 24.5 pounds of candy per year, much of it during the Halloween season.

* The fear that trick or treaters will receive candy tainted with poison, needles or razor blades is based on an urban legend, and not on fact. Researchers have been unable to verify a single case of contaminated candy that killed or made a trick or treater seriously ill.

* The fear that black cats are in danger of being sacrificed by a satanic cult on Halloween is also unfounded. Satanic cults are more frequent in fiction than in fact, and the few documented cases of abuse can be attributed to disturbed individuals, usually loners.

ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS:

Wash pumpkin seeds in cold water until all pumpkin pulp has been removed. Soak for 30 minutes (to overnight) in a brine made with 1 cup Kosher salt (or any plain salt) and 2 cups water. Place on a baking sheet brushed with light olive oil in a single layer and roast for 90 minutes at 250°F or until dry.

SPICED PUMPKIN SEEDS

1 1/2 tablespoons margarine, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds
Directions
Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
Combine the margarine, salt, garlic salt, Worcestershire sauce and pumpkin seeds. Mix thoroughly and place in shallow baking dish.
Bake for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

PUMPKIN MUFFINS WITH PUMPKIN SEEDS

2 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. powdered ginger
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
Dash ground nutmeg
1 c. canned pumpkin
1/3 c. melted butter, cooled
2 lg. eggs, room temp.
1/4 c. buttermilk, room temp.
2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. + 2 tbsp. pumpkin seeds

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease muffin pan. In a bowl mix flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg. In another bowl mix pumpkin, butter, eggs, buttermilk and vanilla. Make a well in dry ingredient mixture, add milk mixture and stir well. Add 1 cup of pumpkin seeds. Fill muffin tin with mixture and sprinkle tops with remaining pumpkin seeds. Bake 15 to 20 minutes.

PUMPKIN SEED SNACK MIX

1 c. roasted pumpkin seeds
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 c. coconut
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix all together for a healthy, “trail mix” kind of snack. Don’t be afraid to experiment! Add roasted nuts, candy coated chocolates, candy corn, dried fruits, or pretzels, to make your own special version of this treat!