Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble! It’s Halloween again; the year’s scariest and spookiest night! Halloween is filled with ghosts, ghouls, witches, wizardy, spells, secrets and……pumpkins!

Yes that’s right, Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without the humble pumpkin. But how on earth did this short, round orange vegetable become part of the spooky Halloween tradition?

The link can be traced back to America, where pumpkins originally come from and are plentiful. They were first associated with the harvest season, and were carved into pretty designs to put candles in to celebrate the Autumn harvest festivities. But the story of a carved scary Jack-o’-lantern face dates back to an Irish folk story about a stingy, mean, drunk old man called Jack who was punished by God and denied entry to Heaven for his mean ways and for cohorting with the devil. Jack was given a small ember to put inside a hollowed out turnip to light his way….

In Britain and Ireland, Halloween lanterns were traditionally made by hollowing out turnips or small swedes, but American tradition for using pumpkins has swept across the seas, and it’s become a firm part of tradition here in the UK too.

But, if you think carving a brilliantly spooky Halloween pumpkin is tricky, then think again! Follow our handy tips for the ultimate spooky faced pumpkin!

• Choose a large and firm pumpkin.
• Hold it steady and slice the top off, leaving about an inch from the stem.
• Use a big spoon to scoop out the seeds and fibrous parts, and some of the flesh (don’t throw the flesh away, it makes a delicious soup or pumpkin cake!).
• Use a marker pen to draw your design onto the outside of the pumpkin. If you search online you can find some great templates to use that vary from the brilliantly simple to the wildly extravagant!
• Use a small serrated knife to cut around the lines you’ve made (remember to cut away from you!)
• Light a tea-candle and pop it inside and voila, Halloween pumpkin complete!

Happy Halloween!