The scariest night of the year and you don’t even know how to carve a pumpkin for one of those good ol’ jack-o-lanterns. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Don’t fret. Carving a pumpkin is easy provided that you’re not too clumsy with a paring knife.

1. Place a flat-bottomed pumpkin on the counter. Firm pumpkins are the best ones for the job. Mushy ones may just give at your carving.
2. Using a crayon mark the eyes, nose and mouth of the lantern. You might want to place the mouth a bit higher so that the candle won’t be visible from the outside.
3. Now, using a sharp paring knife (and with much care), carve a lid from the top of your pumpkin. Position your 45-degree angle and rotate the pumpkin. Make sure the opening is large enough for you to insert the candle later.
4. Scoop out all the seeds and the mushy stuff inside the pumpkin.
5. Carve the pattern. It is easier to use cut as if you’re sawing through the pumpkin flesh. Don’t try to cut using one swift stroke. Some pumpkins may have tougher flesh. One trick is just to saw through your outline and just poke the parts out from within the pumpkin.
6. After you’ve carved the pattern, place a candle in a glass holder and place it inside the pumpkin.

A word of warning though. Never leave the jack-o-lantern unattended or leave kids with it without supervision.