I’m very ashamed to admit that, for the past…er, eight years, pumpkin carving duty was often performed by my Chinese in-laws.

But this year, we decided to tackle the chore.

Cut me some slack, okay? Back in the days, October 31 was just a regular day in France—no pumpkin, no sugar-high kids, no candies.

So, here is how it works.

Take one massive pumpkin.

Knives.

Determination.

And… ta-da!

Step One: Beheading
Carving
Don’t Ever Give Me A Knife…
That Will Do, No?

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28 Comments

  1. Wilson Pc October 30, 2011 at 5:37 pm

    Très magnifiques vos photos!

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 31, 2011 at 9:40 am

      Merci!

      Reply
  2. Landru October 30, 2011 at 7:17 pm

    Ça doit être très salissant non ?
    Quoiqu’il en soit je vais essayer.

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 30, 2011 at 10:02 pm

      C’est pas si terrible en fait! Mais l’intérieur de la citrouille est vraiment “goey” 😆

      Putain, je viens de m’apercevoir que ce n’est pas M. Landru qui me parle, mais mon père. Toutes mes confuses. Je suis sûre que maman sera tout à fait d’accord pour que tu commence une série artistique “citrouille”.

      Reply
  3. shionge October 30, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    Good Job there Zhu 😉 You know we have this mini version of pumpkin during Chinese New Year? After that, just for fun we attempted to carve it for fun too.

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 30, 2011 at 10:03 pm

      I didn’t know! We have mini-pumpkins too, usually people paint them.

      Reply
  4. Jeruen October 30, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    You know, when you titled this as pumpkin massacre, the first thing I thought about are those pictures of vomiting pumpkins. Google them and you will know what I am talking about!

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 31, 2011 at 9:40 am

      I had to Google it because I had never heard of it. Funky indeed! I excepted something really gross but I can take that 😆

      Reply
  5. kyh October 31, 2011 at 12:59 am

    must be a pain to empty the pumpkin flesh. i’ve never really seen big pumpkins like these here.

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 31, 2011 at 9:41 am

      Well, it’s not that bad actually. The inside is really goey but it’s mostly seed. Not even close to be as dense as a watermelon for instance, pumpkins are already almost hollowed.

      Reply
  6. Gabriel October 31, 2011 at 1:59 am

    It looks pretty good, Zhu!!! There is no way I can get a pumpkin to look half decent. Luckily, I have a really good artist at home!!! 🙂

    Happy Hallowe’en!!! I will be trick or treating at a hotel in Rapid City, South Dakota. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 31, 2011 at 9:42 am

      Okay, so if I hear a report of a man being arrested for trick-or-treating in Rapid City…. I know it’s you!

      Reply
  7. barbara October 31, 2011 at 3:21 am

    Hi Zhu,

    Very nice pumpkin!!

    I remember fondly years back (before Haloween became “chic” with the kids in France), D & I went to a “pumpkin festival in the Loiret department. We came back with a few small pumpkins, for making soup and one for carving.

    Because my in-laws had NEVER seen a real jack-o-lantern carved up and with a candle. I carved up a simple one and put a candle in it to show them what we do on the 31 October. Because as you say, that is just an average day in France.

    Are you going to hand out candy ? Have fun!

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 31, 2011 at 9:43 am

      We are definitely going to hand out candies. Our area is very residential so tons of kids come by every year.

      I had never seen a real jack-o-lanterm before I came to Canada!

      Reply
  8. Katherina October 31, 2011 at 4:37 am

    Haha I love it!!!! I want to do that toooo…

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 31, 2011 at 9:43 am

      Well, you could definitely start the trend in London!

      Reply
  9. Cynthia October 31, 2011 at 6:03 am

    I miss pumpkins and pumpkins soup and pumpkin pie and pumpkin seeds!

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 31, 2011 at 9:43 am

      Pumpkin soup is great, I had some the other night. Pumpkin pie… not so much. Give me chocolate any day instead!

      Reply
  10. Nisha October 31, 2011 at 10:28 am

    That’s a lovely attempt, Zhu ! I could not have done even half of that. Somehow, this festival has not come to India but my guess is that it’ll come in next 3-4 years.

    Happy Hallowe’en!!! I am missing it. 🙁

    Reply
    1. Zhu November 2, 2011 at 10:02 am

      Halloween didn’t exist either in France when I lived there. Which kind of make sense, I mean, it’s a North American tradition!

      Reply
  11. Elisabeth Stewart October 31, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    As good as any pumpkin I’ve ever carved!
    Unfortunately, that’s not saying much! 😉

    Reply
    1. Zhu November 2, 2011 at 10:02 am

      It’s easier than it seems in the way because the inside is so hollow. Maybe next year I’ll attempt some art!

      Reply
  12. ristinw November 1, 2011 at 1:12 am

    “Ouchhh! It hurts!”, Pumpkin says. 😀

    Reply
    1. Zhu November 2, 2011 at 10:19 am

      I swear I was gentle!

      Reply
  13. Laurel November 1, 2011 at 7:54 am

    Yeah! I’m impressed! Hope you had a good Halloween!

    Reply
    1. Zhu November 2, 2011 at 10:21 am

      For a first try it didn’t turn out that bad 🙂

      Reply
  14. !Can November 2, 2011 at 6:11 am

    Halloween is pumpkin holocaust day 🙁

    Reply
    1. Zhu November 2, 2011 at 10:33 am

      Poor them! 😆

      Reply

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