carve a pumpkin

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need:

* Pumpkin
* Carving tools
* Candle/glass votif
* Spoon or scoop
* Patience!


Step 1

Use a sharp knife (like a boning knife) to cut a hole for the pumpkin. Usually it is done on the top, but if you flip the pumpkin over and cut the bottom - it is much easier to light the candle. Just make sure when you make the cut you face the knife towards the center of the pumpkin. In the back cut a small notch so you will know how to place the pieces back together later.

Step 2

Know use a large spoon or ice cream scoop to clean out the inside pulp. Save the seeds for a nice snack for later. (Here is a great recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds: http://www.pumpkinmasters.com/recipe_view.asp?recipe_id=6)

Step 3

Now paste on your paper template, molding the paper to the pumpkin. Alternately you can draw the picture directly on the pumpkin using a water washable marker.

Here are a couple of links for free online templates:
a. http://www.dremel.com/en-US/projects-and-community/PumpkinTemplates.htm

b. http://www.pumpkinmasters.com/free_patterns_main.asp

Step 4

Now if you are using a device like a dremel, trace the pattern using the low setting and then the high setting for larger areas. Otherwise you can use a sharp tool to poke little pokes through the paper into the pumpkin so you can see the outline.

I highly recommend getting the dremel as it makes the carving so much easier and it is relatively inexpensive. Here is the information as listed on Amazon.com: Dremel 764-04 Pumpkin Carving Kit includes 6-Volt Minimite Cordless Rotary Tool $19.00.

Step 5

Once you have carved to your heart's content, remove any paper templates, or wash off the marker, soak the pumpkin in a bucket of water to prevent the pumpkin from shriveling. Let it air-dry completely and then rub a small amount of petroleum jelly on the cut areas to keep the edges from drying out.

Step 6

Now insert a light source such as a tea candle in a glass votive.

That's it!

prepare-se para o samhaim

Samhaim (pronuncia-se “sôu-en” ou “sôu-ín”) significa “mês de novembro” em gaélico-irlandês. É celebrado no dia 1º de novembro. As celebrações deste festival duram três dias, começando na véspera (noite de 31 de outubro) e indo até o dia 2 de novembro. Era um tempo de propiciação, adivinhação e comunhão com os mortos, mas também uma festa desinibida onde se comia e se bebia, mostrando a face desafiadora e fértil da vida à própria face da escuridão. Leia mais aqui.

Também conhecido como Halloween, é um dos quatro grandes sabás e é tradicionalmente um acontecimento estranho e cheios de fantasmas, quando os espíritos de todos os tipos saem para caminhar, como se fossem soltos por uma noite do ano para se comunicarem com os mortais.

Veja alguns costumes de Samhaim e a nossa sugestão de ritual para praticantes solitários.