THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 30, 1994 TAG: 9410290032
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY PATRICIA HUANG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 172 lines
THE TRADITION OF carving jack-o'-lanterns began long ago in England and Ireland when people carved out beets, potatoes or turnips to use as lanterns on Halloween. Pumpkin lanterns became popular after the custom reached America.
Irish legend has it that jack-o'-lanterns were named after a man named Jack, who could not enter heaven because he was a miser. Jack couldn't enter hell either because he was known to have played jokes on the devil. As a result, he had to walk the Earth with his lantern till Judgment Day.
To Dennis Roberts, owner of Old World Florist & Farms in Great Bridge, carving jack-o'-lanterns is a dying art form.
``When I was a kid, everyone had one,'' Roberts said. ``People just don't have the time now. They can go out and buy one at the store that looks so real you almost can't tell.''
The plastic renditions last longer than the real thing, ``but it has a tendency to stifle creativity,'' he said. ``And I'm always a big supporter of creativity.''
This holiday season, in an effort to revive the art of jack-o'-lantern carving, Roberts taught a one-hour class on the subject at Chesapeake's Central Library.
The 40 parents and children in the class were impressed as Roberts unveiled samples of jack-o'-lanterns he had prepared in advance. The display included an elaborate dragon-faced jack-o'-lantern, a goofy one with blinking battery-operated eyes and one without a face but a friendly message of ``Happy Halloween.''
``Because you can't always get the prettiest pumpkin of the patch, I used the duds and the rejects,'' Roberts said. Looking up from his presentation, he scanned the class of parents and children, standing ready with knives and pumpkins. He paused, finding his point almost moot. ``But it looks like everyone here got a perfect pumpkin,'' he said.
Roberts commenced the class by suggesting alternatives to the classic jack-o'-lantern design, with triangle eyes and nose and gap-toothed grin.
Rather than using candles for illumination, he explained, safety-conscious parents can light their pumpkins with glow sticks or blinking plastic battery-operated eyes. For a more dramatic effect, he suggested placing a smoke bomb in the pumpkin to emit white smoke through the holes of the pumpkin. Smoke bombs, sold in packs of 12, cost about $2 and emit a sulfur-based smoke for about a minute, he said.
Dry ice produces the same effect, Roberts explained. The ice can be purchased at fire-extinguisher companies in 5-pound blocks for about $20. The vapor lasts for a few hours and can lend a mysterious effect to your pumpkin. But Roberts warned that the ice must be handled with caution. Use gloves and tongs and contain the ice in a special metal box. Never touch the ice with bare hands and inform children of the danger.
``Because my pumpkin sits funny, I'm going to turn it upside down and carve the bottom out of it,'' Roberts said. He began the incision on the lopsided pumpkin, reminding the class that they are not limited to carving faces or using conventional styles.
The members of the class began sawing away at their pumpkins.
Russell Hill, 10, was pulling out the slimy orange guts of his pumpkin when he said he had ``something mean'' in mind for a design. Something resembling the movie monster Freddie Kreuger.
James Blaylock, 10, was busy creating his ``Cyclops in a bad mood'' and 7-year-old Brett Alston was determined to make a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger.
``They say, `We need dinosaur power!' '' she yelled.
Her father translated: ``It's a show where these characters morph into different . . . what are they?'' he asked, conferring with the expert.
``Dinosaurs!'' she exclaimed. ``Each one has a different dinosaur!''
Roberts weaved his way around to assist. ``Try using moss in your pumpkins, too. You can have it overflowing out of the top or something . . . or use a dill pickle for the nose,'' he said, tossing out different ideas for parents to take home.
In the back of the room, 4-year-old Kimberly Grassano was begging her mom to let her use the knife.
With a black marker, her mother, Teresa Grassano, drew a triangle for an eye. ``Are we allowed to write on it?'' Kimberly asked.
As her mother watched closely, Kimberly began to trace the line with her knife.
``Wow, you stayed right on the line, Kim!'' her mom exclaimed. ``You might make a surgeon one day. That was a pretty steady hand.''
For younger children, Roberts advised, keep the designs simple. ``(Some children) get all uptight, and it's really a shame. This is a fun thing.''
Typically, jack-o'-lanterns last only about a week. Roberts suggested soaking them in cold water after carving and wiping the outside of the pumpkin with floor wax to help preserve it. Leaving a wet towel over the pumpkin when it's not on display or placing it in the refrigerator can help, too.
When the class ended and the pumpkin pulp was cleaned up, parents and children proudly lugged their jack-o'-lanterns home. Filled with new ideas, they dispersed to carry on a tradition that is centuries old. [The following side bar appeared with this article.] SAFETY TIPS FOR TRICK-OR-TREATERS
DON'T LET YOUR Halloween turn into a real-life horror. Common sense and a few safety rules can keep trick-or-treating fun, safe and legal.
In Chesapeake, the law permits only children under the age of 12 to trick-or-treat. Anyone over that age who goes trick-or-treating on Halloween night can be charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor, which carries a fine of between $25 and $100 or up to six months in jail.
The city's regular curfew prohibits youngsters under age 16 from being out of their homes after 11 p.m., but on Halloween all minors are expected to return home by 8 p.m.
This year, the city's police department will be connected to a federal Halloween Candy Hotline. The hotline is not accessible to the public, but officials urge residents to call the police if they discover signs tampering.
The National Confectioners Association and the Chocolate Manufacturers Association have established the following safety tips for a safe Halloween:
Wear light-colored clothing that's short enough to prevent tripping and add reflective tape.
Make sure children can see well through face masks, or use make-up instead of a mask.
Adults should accompany young children.
Watch for traffic.
Go in daylight, but carry a flashlight in case of delay.
Stay within the neighborhood, only visit homes you know and only give or accept wrapped or packaged candy.
Examine all candy before allowing children to eat it.
Keep costumed children away from pets. The pet may not recognize the child and become frightened.
Avoid hard plastic or wood props such as daggers or swords. Substitute with foam rubber. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
Color on the Cover
Jennifer Grassano concentrates on carving her jack-o'-lantern.
Zenta Hill laughs as her son Russell reaches inside his pumpkin to
clean it.
Dennis Roberts brought some examples of jack-o'-lanterns to the
class at Central Library.
These two finished products belong to Jennifer Grassano and Christie
Sheats.
JACK-O'-LANTERN CARVING TIPS
Carve out the top of the pumpkin, cutting a circle of about 4
inches in diameter with the stem in the middle. Remove the top but
save it to use as a plug for the hole later. The top should fit like
a cork.
Use a spoon or scraper to pull out all the stringy pulp inside
the pumpkin. Clean the pumpkin thoroughly. You may want to blot the
insides with paper towels.
Draw your design on the outside of the pumpkin with a marker. For
younger children, try to keep the design simple.
Trace the lines with a knife and cut out your shapes. Remember,
you can also etch some designs into the sides without cutting
through.
If you use a candle, be sure to scrape out a flat surface inside
the pumpkin for the candle to rest on. Be sure you have enough holes
in the pumpkin to let air circulate. If there is not enough air the
candle will produce black smoke and may even go out. In lieu of a
candle, glow sticks, battery-powered blinking eyes, smoke bombs or
dry ice can be used for startling effects.
When you finish carving your pumpkin, soak it in cold water or
refrigerate it. If your pumpkin dries out, it will start to sag. Try
rubbing floor wax on the outside to help preserve it.
Jack-o'-lanterns usually last five to 10 days but can be preserved
longer if you refrigerate them or cover with wet towels when not
displaying.
Be creative. Try overflowing the pumpkin with ivy or moss or
decorate it with chili peppers.
by CNB