In the US, people turn the spooky holiday into a huge spectacle. The fancier the costumes and decorations, the better. There are also many fans here in Germany. Children especially love to go around the neighborhood on Halloween night and collect sweets. However, the parents have to take care of the stylish decoration of the home. Right at the forefront: carving creepy faces into pumpkins. We'll show you step by step how to conjure up the perfect grimace.

There are numerous types of pumpkins, but the well-known Hokkaido pumpkins are best suited for Halloween. These gourds are a good size and stand stably on the ground. You can usually find Hokkaidos in every supermarket, at pumpkin fields or weekly markets. If you have a pumpkin patch near you, buying the right Halloween pumpkin can make a fun family outing.

Sharp knives or cutters from the craft store are suitable tools. Small children should therefore not carve themselves and older children only under supervision. Note that only coarse grimaces are possible with conventional kitchen knives. If you have no practice or little tact, carving with classic knives can be difficult. So if you'd like to carve more intricate patterns and elaborate grimaces, just use a pumpkin carving kit. This makes the works of art easier and faster.

However, the choice of motif does not end with the classic grimace. There are also stencils that bring witches, mummies or skulls to life (for example in this stencil set). If you are not using a carving set, you will also need a spoon to hollow out the pumpkin.

Only a few steps are necessary to carve the Halloween pumpkin.

Tip: Before you start carving, you can pre-engrave the lines. This makes it easier and more precise to cut the pumpkin afterwards. Such tools are already included in the carving sets. Otherwise, you can use a thumbtack or pin.

You can also set up a Halloween pumpkin before the holiday. After all, the creations make children happy and are a great eye-catcher in the house and garden. The drier the pumpkin is, the less likely it is to mold. After carving, let the pumpkin dry. You can then apply a thin layer of Vaseline to the inside of the pumpkin or rinse it out with vinegar water. Hairspray is a good way to make the pumpkin more durable from the outside.

The eerily beautiful pumpkin face only needs one last detail. The creepy pumpkins are particularly good as a light decoration. The grimace only really comes into its own when candlelight flickers through. It is best to use electric candles so you can safely leave your Halloween creation unattended.

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