This jack-o-lantern shows off the three stars of the Tennessee flag.

Jack-o-lanterns 101

Our modern symbol of Halloween, the jack-o-lantern, is actually an ancient Celtic tradition. Jack-o-lanterns were first carved from turnips or gourds and lit by lumps of coal. Early settlers in America found the native pumpkin (a fruit, not a vegetable, by the way) to be the perfect vehicle for a great jack-o-lantern.

The name “Jack-o-lantern” comes from an Irish legend about a mean old farmer named Jack, who trapped the Devil in a tree in order to bargain with him. In retaliation, the Devil forced Jack to wander the earth at night, his only light a candle in a hollow turnip.

With Halloween just around the corner, here are a few tips for lighting up the night with your own jack-o-lantern.

Pumpkin Bit #1
Look for a pumpkin with a sturdy stem and no cracks or bruises that would cause it to age faster. Carrying the uncarved pumpkin by the stem can damage it and make it age faster. Look for a pumpkin that can rest flat on a surface. If your pumpkin won't sit up straight, cut out the bottom instead of the top. This works for carved watermelons, too.

Pumpkin Bit #2
Always make the top opening cone shaped, to keep the lid from falling inside. The hole should be about two-thirds the diameter of the pumpkin to allow for easy scooping and cleaning. If your pumpkin loses its stem, just make a bottom opening instead.

Pumpkin Bit #3
Want to make your own pattern? Print or draw the design using heavy black lines on white paper. Tape it to the face of the pumpkin, and use push pins to make a perforated outline along the edges of the pattern. Remove the paper and carve by sawing along the perforated lines. Rubbing a little flour over the dots can make them easier to see when you begin carving. Another option is to draw the design directly onto the pumpkin with a washable marker.

Pumpkin Bit #4
Remember that the jack-o-lantern uses “negative space.” What's black on your design will be cut away and lighted by the candle. To create two-tone shading in your design, cut away some areas of the skin to expose the white flesh underneath.

Pumpkin Bit #5
For easier carving, start at the center of your design and work your way outward.

Pumpkin Bit #6
If you use a candle, make a chimney in the lid. After carving, anchor the candle, light it and pop the lid back on for a few seconds. Wherever the smoke blackens the inside of the lid, cut a small hole to allow heat and smoke to escape.

Pumpkin Bit #7
A white candle in a glass container is a great way to show off your design, but there are other options. Battery-powered tea lights, LED lights, 40-watt bulbs, black lights and glow sticks are safe alternatives. Use them in combination with tissue or wax paper behind the carving or with foil on the back wall for extra interest (don't use candles with paper!). Use markers, paints or food coloring to add additional detail.

Pumpkin Bit #8
Keep your jack-o-lantern moist. Soaking it in water overnight will restore moisture lost in scraping and make it easier to carve. Add a very small amount of bleach to the water to prevent mold. After carving, coat the cut surfaces of the pumpkin with petroleum jelly to hold in moisture or use a commercially available preservative.

Pumpkin Bit #9
If you need to carve your pumpkin a few days in advance, store it in a cool, shady place during the day to protect it from heat.

Pumpkin Bit #10
When scraping your pumpkin, aim for a front wall no more than an inch thick, to make carving easier. Make sure the back wall is especially smooth. This area reflects the most light.

Pumpkin Bit #11
When carving your design, saw, don't cut. Go slowly for better detail. Be gentle to avoid damage.

Pumpkin Bit #12
Don't want to bother with carving? Vegetables and flowers, secured with toothpicks, can create colorful characters, with kale for curls, cut or sliced veggies for facial features. Craft foam, pipe cleaners, or wire hangers can make great appendages (how about wings?), and there's no end to the scary fun you can add with bolts, nails, jewelry or plastic pieces.

Pumpkin Bit #13
Don't throw away the seeds! Clean and toast them for a tasty (and healthy) snack. Unless you're a pumpkin purist, try adding garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce or seasoning salt for a spicier snack, or substitute cinnamon, brown sugar or pumpkin pie spices for something sweeter.