Jack o'lanterns have been a part of Halloween celebrations for centuries, and each year on October 31, doorsteps and windows across the United States are still illuminated with glowing carved pumpkins. Pumpkin carving designs can range from simple to intricate and from silly to spooky, and even historical. Check out the patterns below for some haunting Halloween fun from HISTORY.
Pumpkin Carving Patterns
Ready to take your Halloween pumpkin to the next level? Download printable pumpkin carving patterns featuring bats, ghosts, the American flag, historical figures like George Washington and much more.
Interactives (3)
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Halloween By the Numbers
Halloween By the NumbersInteractive
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Pumpkin Carving Patterns
Pumpkin Carving PatternsInteractive
Videos (22)
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Haunted History of Halloween
Haunted History of HalloweenVideo Clip (2:46)
Video Clip (2:46)
Halloween was originally called Samhain and marked the end of the harvest season for Celtic farmers.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Halloween
Bet You Didn't Know: HalloweenVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
It's one of America's favorite holidays, but what's the real story behind the tricks and treats of Halloween?
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All About the Pumpkin
All About the PumpkinVideo Clip (1:28)
Video Clip (1:28)
Everything you ever wanted to know about the pumpkin, but were afraid to ask.
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Halloween's Origins
Halloween's OriginsVideo Clip (1:12)
Video Clip (1:12)
Timothy Dickinson gives his take on one of our most popular holidays.
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Halloween: The Face of Fear
Halloween: The Face of FearVideo Clip (1:51)
Video Clip (1:51)
Primal Fear suggests two functions of the facial expression of fear.
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Primal Fear: Controlling Fear
Primal Fear: Controlling FearVideo Clip (1:33)
Video Clip (1:33)
Primal Fear suggests three ways on how to control your emotions during an intense situation.
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Holidays: The Village Halloween Parade
Holidays: The Village Halloween ParadeVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
In this History Channel video clip we learn about the New York Village Halloween Parade. Much preparation goes into making all the costumes for the parade through the work of volunteers.
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Primal Fear: Fear and Memory
Primal Fear: Fear and MemoryVideo Clip (2:01)
Video Clip (2:01)
Primal Fear looks into how memory affects your emotional state.
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Candy Corn
Candy CornVideo Clip (2:19)
Video Clip (2:19)
Modern Marvels gets a firsthand look at how Halloween's iconic candy corn is made.
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Primal Fear: Fear and the Brain
Primal Fear: Fear and the BrainVideo Clip (1:57)
Video Clip (1:57)
Primal Fear explains how the brain works in reaction to fear.
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Halloween: Primal Fear: Why We Like To Be Scared
Halloween: Primal Fear: Why We Like To Be ScaredVideo Clip (1:59)
Video Clip (1:59)
Primal Fear suggsts why people like to be scared.
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The Bonanza Hotel
The Bonanza HotelVideo Clip (3:12)
Video Clip (3:12)
Virginia City, Montana's Bonanza Hotel was many things: A court house, a nunnery, a hotel for tourists. Now its the residence for the ghosts of a nun, a cowboy, and two small children.
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Vampire Myths
Vampire MythsVideo Clip (3:06)
Video Clip (3:06)
Vampire legends have permeated many cultures but is there any truth to the blood sucking un-dead?
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Medieval Witchcraft
Medieval WitchcraftVideo Clip (3:09)
Video Clip (3:09)
In medieval society sorcery was condemned and often resulted in being burned at the stake.
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Ghost House
Ghost HouseVideo Clip (3:19)
Video Clip (3:19)
Ghost Stories tells us the haunted history of the Merchant House Museum, New York's oldest and most haunted house.
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Pumpkin Carving: George Washington
Pumpkin Carving: George WashingtonVideo Clip (1:40)
Video Clip (1:40)
Pumpkin carver Steve Clarke carves the bust of George Washington into a Pumpkin.
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Pumpkin Carving: Alan Shepard on the Moon
Pumpkin Carving: Alan Shepard on the MoonVideo Clip (1:50)
Video Clip (1:50)
Pumpkin carver Steve Clarke carves Alan Shepard's moon landing into a pumpkin.
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Pumpkin Carving: Ben Franklin
Pumpkin Carving: Ben FranklinVideo Clip (1:55)
Video Clip (1:55)
Pumpkin carver Steve Clarke takes us through some of his more intricate carvings.
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Pumpkin Carving: Mount Rushmore
Pumpkin Carving: Mount RushmoreVideo Clip (1:17)
Video Clip (1:17)
Pumpkin carver Steve Clarke shows us how to carve Mount Rushmore.
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Mothman
MothmanVideo Clip (4:25)
Video Clip (4:25)
In this Weird US video clip, we learn about Mothman. He is a mix between a moth and a man and has been sited in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. He was first seen by Linda Scarberry.
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Halloween Goes Commercial
Halloween Goes CommercialVideo Clip (2:07)
Video Clip (2:07)
Halloween's commercialization in the United States began in the early 20th century.
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Halloween Traditions
Halloween TraditionsVideo Clip (3:07)
Video Clip (3:07)
In this Holiday Foods video clip we learn about Halloween and the tradition of giving away candy. David Rosengarten goes to a candy store to learn about how candy is made and also to talk about different Halloween traditions.
Photo Galleries (1)
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Halloween
Halloween(14 Photos)
14 Photos
Halloween is celebrated on October 31st. See images from this colorful and creepy holiday.
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