It’s a time-honored tradition, being passed down from generation to generation, full of familial history, none other than pumpkin carving! some of us are great at it, some of us should probably pass the carving knife to someone else, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try.
That bright orange gourd will start to become a staple of front porches everywhere, so why not get in the game and carve one yourself? As flooring specialist, we see the dark side of pumpkin carving, pumpkin poo being flung all over the walls, ceiling, and especially the floors. Of course, it’s not actual poo, but it does stain and leave icky gooey spots on floors, and that could worse!
Why Do We Carve?
Jack O’ Lanterns derive from Irish immigrant traditions. Around Halloween the spirit of Stingy Jack would haunt the houses and cause havoc with the neighborhood. to ward him off, the Irish children would carve out turnips and gourds and place a small candle inside,. As the Irish started to immigrate to the United States, they wanted to carry on this tradition. They found that the pumpkins that ripened around the same time of the season were far easier to carve into and had much more space to carve!
Prep Your Station
Carve in the kitchen! If not on a tile floor, do it on laminate flooring that can easily clean. A large flat area is needed to carve. Consider laying down newspaper or a towel to catch flying residue. Make sure your carving knives are sharp enough to cut the precise angles needed.
A few items that might save your bacon with a mess: Large Bowl to place all the pumpkin “poo” into, and large metal Spoon to easily scoop out the “poo.”
After the Carve
If you prepared correctly, the pumpkin guts should not have spread too far, but if they have fallen onto the tile or wood floor, spot clean with a damp cloth or a wet mop to pick up the residue. if it has hit the carpet, use a protein-based stain remover to take care of the spot.
Don’t throw away those seeds just yet! they can be reused and recycled into some awesome treats for yourself and others.
- Oven Roasted Pumpkin Seeds– rinse them in a colander, butter them and season them with the spices you like and roast them in the oven for about 30 minutes at 300 degrees.
- Grow Your Own- Clean and dry the seeds and store them in a dry cool spot until the spring, and plant them after there is no threat of frost.
- Feed the Wild Life- This is can be true for the old seeds or even the husk of the carved pumpkin. toss the seeds and the old Pumpkin into a wooded area and possibly see deer and squirrels munch on the tasty treat all season!
Pumpkin carving is a timeless tradition that adults and children enjoy alike. Pass it on with your family and have a wonderful time in the process.