he tradition of carving Halloween jack-o'-lanterns began centuries ago in Ireland — though back then they were carved from turnips. Today, All Hallows' Eve wouldn't be complete without a hand-carved jack-o'-lantern. Follow these tips to get more life (and more use) out of yours this fall. Clean the outside of the pumpkin with a diluted bleach solution to remove decay-causing microbes. Cut a large hole in the bottom rather than the top; this will help the gourd last longer, add stability, and hide the cuts. Sketch out your design on paper first. Draw your jack-o'-lantern face to size, tape it to the front of the pumpkin, and use a fork and toothpicks to poke holes along the lines you want to carve. Sprinkle cinnamon inside on the top. When the candle is lit, the jack-o'-lantern will smell like pumpkin pie. When you scoop out the pumpkin's slimy innards, place them in large bowl of water and stir; the pulp will sink and many of
