Halloween Jack O' Lantern

Being of Celtic descent I can recall as a child for many years on all hallows' eve, a carved Turnip or Pumpkin head (Jack O' Lantern) created earlier that day by one of my parents sat on the front door step or porch with a burning candle placed inside to accentuate the face as the night drew darker around it.  I can still vividly recall the smell of these vegetables slowly cooking from the inside out in the cold night air.

I can't quite recall when the ritual stopped for me, but I would guess it would have been around my early teens, you know, when your too old for all that kids stuff!

When I became a father I reinstated this Celtic seasonal tradition, I have each year since my sons were born made Jack O' Lanterns or as we call them in our home "Pumpkin Heads" to pass on a little of my childhood family tradition to them.

Logan as our Jack O' Lantern or Pumpkin Head

Carving a Pumpkin head has always been fun to do, we have had a lot of entertainment with the results.  This year a decision was made not to carve a Pumpkin. The decision came around by a brief but meaningful discussion with my youngest son, Logan, he has several teeth missing at present, and those he does have come with gaps between, and so this year we thought we might just try something a little different!

Have a fun and safe 2009 All Hallows' Eve, whoever you are, wherever you might be, whatever you believe?

http://www.15hrworkweek.com
http://www.livingtodaybychoice.com