Pumpkin Carving a Popular Tradition
The Daily Reveille - Baton Rouge, LA
By Julie Chance
October 28, 2004
Ghoulish Gourd: Jolie Duhon, a photography sophomore, blow dries her pumpkin before entering it into the Union pumpkin decorating contest on Tuesday.
photo by Anson Trahan
While Baton Rouge might not be getting the leaf-changing, air-crisping effects of the Halloween season, it is certainly getting its share of sugar binges, hidden identities and most importantly, cool pumpkins.
According to the History Channel, jack-o-lanterns sprung from an Irish myth about "Stingy Jack," a man who was not allowed into either heaven or hell after he died, but was banished into the dark with nothing but a burning coal in a carved-out turnip. People in Ireland and Scotland made their own turnip or potato jack-o-lanterns to scare away evil spirits. Pumpkin jack-o-lanterns started when immigrants brought the tradition to America.
The tradition lives on today, according to Ryan Wickstrand, creator of zombiepumpkins.com.
"While I appreciate and respect the history of jack-o-lanterns, I also like to think that, just maybe, I've helped reinvent the tradition," Wickstrand said.
Wickstrand said zombiepumpkins.com has provided pumpkin carving stencils over the past two years, including patterns of Freddy Krueger, Marilyn Manson and SpongeBob SquarePants for "tens of thousands" of people.
Wickstrand said his favorite stencil this year "has to be 'Eye of the Beholder' - a creepy old man with stringy hair, whose plucked-out eyeball is looking back at him."
Wickstrand said "anyone can create these wild jack-o-lanterns" with the "right tools and a little patience." He said "if you haven't carved a pumpkin using a stencil before, just give it a shot and you'll be hooked."
Pumpkin painting is an alternative for those who are knife-wary. The Union hosted its fourth annual pumpkin decorating event Tuesday.
Julie Ruckstuhl, chair of the Union marketing committee, said that about 35 pumpkins compete every year. She said this year, Union vendors donated prizes, including a suitcase from STA travel and $10 Paw Points gift certificates from Dining Services.
Students spread political messages and expressed themselves at the competition, though Alesi Ngemi, an animal science junior, said he made his two-sided pumpkin "just to kill time, just for fun."
Scott Scribner, a geography senior, painted a bipartisan pumpkin encouraging people to vote Nov. 2.
Rachel All, a psychology senior, hoped to expose the dangers of unprotected sex with "Syphilberry," her syphilis-infected strawberry-pumpkin.
Wickstrand said pumpkins are great for decorating.
"When you put these carved monstrosities on your porch, you're guaranteed to be the hit of your block. It's hard to not love pumpkin carving when your entire neighborhood is showering your doorstep with 'Oohs' and 'Aahs.'"
Wickstrand said anyone can carve a pumpkin.
"Even if you think you don't have the talent, even if the idea of reaching your hand into pumpkin guts appalls you, just give it a chance. When you light up that final product, you'll be so impressed with what you were able to do yourself."
To get a pumpkin stencil or to learn more about pumpkin decorating, go to Wickstrand's website at www.zombiepumpkins.com.
