This is the time of the years that most children and many adults find themselves searching for that one great pumpkin.

Unlike Linus and the Great Pumpkin debacle, your Halloween can be a hit, if you just follow a few simple directions and use some of the free templates I have found on the web.

The traditional carved scary Jack-o-lanterns are not in vogue; the more obscure the better. Some people have carved Ted Kennedy's face, a saying such as HOPE, Barack Obama's face, a carved spiderweb or an American flag.

It is thought that the Druids started the celebration around 700 BC to scare away the evil spirits. Irish children carved out turnips, rutabagas, potatoes and put a candle inside.

The tradition started in America when the Irish immigrated to America in the 1870's during the potato famine. The pumpkins were introduced used due to its' size, and ease of carving.

Materials Needed

• serrated knife
• dremel
• large spoon or ladle
• painters tape
• printers paper
• marker
• large round pumpkin
  

You may use a serrated knife to cut through the top, a dremel to carve the face, a large spoon or ladle to scoop out the guts and seeds. Painters tape and printers paper are also needed. Naturally you will need a printer of your own or someone else's to copy and print out the template.

The most important part needed is a good, solid, round, orange colored pumpkin. If you cannot get to a pumpkin farm or farm stand and the next best place is the grocery store.

The grocers near me have the pumpkins displayed in front as you walk in. Other stores have them in the produce section, and why not. They are food after all. I haven't read any stories about the Pilgrims carving pumpkins with the native Americans because this tradition wasn't started until much later.

There are many companies that appear to specialize in stencils, patterns or templates to help you carve a memorable pumpkin. 

I found the following websites on the first page of Google but there are many others.

The first one on my list is DLTK-holidays. They are not just in business at Halloween but all year and are geared towards children. Their website is easy to navigate and offer simple patterns for the children to use. They can be found here.http://www.dltk-holidays.com/halloween/mpatterns.htm

The next one on my list is the Pumpkin Lady,which boasts over 200 patterns ranging from scary cats, Thanksgiving turkeys and Liberty bells. This one is geared for the whole family and have videos, a blog, and projects for every age.You can find more information here.

http://www.pumpkinlady.com/pattern.htm

Zombie Pumpkins is a full service website with it's own blog, patterns, tips,history and contests. It also has a large forum to get customers involved and share their tips,stories and photos.Check their website here

http://www.zombiepumpkins.com/

The last site I'll review is called Spook Master and it has what the others have plus a recipes section. Although some patterns are free, the better and newer ones are subscription based. If you are in the business of carving pumpkins then this may be worth it. Click here for more information

http://www.spookmaster.com/

So Halloween is not the same as when I was a little girl. The traditional Jack-O-Lanterns have given way to political figures, funny slogans, or scenes from a movie.

The best part of printing these patterns to use as a template is that they are free! Some of these sites may want you to register first, and then you can print out your favorite pattern.

If you are really talented with carving,then advertise your skills or cut some pumpkins and sell them in front of your house or on line. have fun this year and think about making your pumpkin carving as unique as you are with a pumpkin carving pattern.