Halloween is less than a week away and I’m very excited. It’s that time of year I can get dressed up in a spooky outfit and celebrate the scary festivities. In this little round-up I bring you 22 super creative pumpkin carvings or Jack-o-Lanterns to give them their proper name. It is not certain how the custom of making Jack-o’-Lanterns at Halloween came about. However, it is thought to come from the British Isles, where turnips or beets were previously used. Turnip lanterns, sometimes with faces carved into them, were made on the Gaelic festival of Samhain (31 October–1 November) in the 19th century in parts of Ireland England and the Scottish Highlands. Samhain was a time when fairies and spirits were said to be active. The purpose of these lanterns may have been threefold. They may have been used to light one’s way while outside on Samhain night; to represent the spirits and otherworldly beings; and/or to protect oneself and one’s home from them.

In recent year pumpkin carvings have become more and more popular. And how do you do it? Well, sections of the pumpkin are cut out to make holes, often depicting a face, which may be either cheerful, scary, or comical. More complex carvings are becoming more commonly seen. Popular figures, symbols, and logos are some that can now be seen used on pumpkins. A variety of tools can be used to carve and hollow out the gourd, ranging from simple knives and spoons to specialized instruments, typically sold in holiday sections of North American grocery stores