It’s obvious that Halloween is getting nearer when Halloween pumpkins start showing up in front gardens and in seasonal decorations.

All Hallows Eve may only come once a year but the ritual of pumpkin carving and making jack-o’-lanterns — as well as all the ghostly decor that Halloween is so well known for — make this special time of year a rival only to Christmas as an opportunity for domestic decoration.

Lucky for us that Halloween takes place in the fall with all its gorgeous rich autumnal color that comes from the marvelous spectacle of the turning of the trees. Pumpkins have their role to play in this colorful show with their deep orange shades that go with the seasonal palette so well. A lot of people choose to carve larger pumpkins, but let’s not forget the smaller varieties that are sometimes used in cooking: this is a time of year that benefits from tempting pumpkin recipes. We’re in the habit of enjoying pumpkin pie at the time of Thanksgiving, but there a lot of other dishes that put to good use the pumpkin flesh that’s left behind after our carving efforts, such as soup, cakes and bread.

If you’re hoping to put your hand to carving your pumpkins yourself, there are special implements on the market to make all sorts of shapes and help you scoop out the fleshy pulp inside the fruits. Take care when you’re using sharp tools, of course — and let only the grown-ups do all the cutting. Then the kids can entertain themselves decorating the pumpkins later on.

Pumpkins may seem resilient and hard wearing when new, but unfortunately they will decay, especially when placed outside. To make sure that your ghoulish gourds have as long a display life as possible, don’t start carving them too early in case they start going stale or rotting. It helps also to put them somewhere cool and shady.

Are you pumpkin carving for the first time? If so, start simple at first and don’t try a pattern that’s too ambitious. You’ll see that the ghostly glimmer of a classic pumpkin is quite impressive even with an easy pattern. If you’re more experienced or feel like trying at something more original, you can print your pattern on paper and transfer the shape onto the pumpkin’s face with a marker or score around an outline.

Finally, don’t feel obliged to carve your pumpkin at all if you don’t want to. There are loads of fun looks you can achieve simply by decorating its surface. You can make impressive designs with stickers and paint that will make your jack-o’-lanterns wonderfully memorable.

Are you planning to decorate your house for a Halloween party this year

? Don’t forget to check out this great selection of Halloween games online.