Vocabulary

1. Tradition - a belief, activity, or way of doing things that has existed among a particular group for a long time

2. Carve - to cut into a hard material in order to make an object, pattern, etc.

3. Immigrant - a person who has come to live in a country that is not their own

Article: 

The tradition of carving a scary face in a pumpkin is believed to have been started by Irish immigrants in the US — who, when in Ireland, would carve scary faces on turnips.

The idea was that the faces would frighten away spirits.

But how do you carve the perfect pumpkin?

First, get a large, fresh pumpkin with a flat bottom. You can buy it early, but don't carve it until about three days before Halloween.

Start by cutting a big hole in the top with a sharp knife. Cut at an angle, so the cut piece doesn't fall into the pumpkin when you put it back on.

Some people prefer to cut the bottom, saying it's safer to put a pumpkin over a lit candle than to put your hand inside to light it.

Then, use a big spoon to take out the soft inside of the pumpkin. To make it easier to carve, it's best to make the pumpkin wall thinner on one side — Good Housekeeping recommends leaving it about 3 centimeters thick.

You could also use the wall parts to make soup, or cook the seeds for a snack.

Next, draw a face on the pumpkin using a pen, then cut it out with a knife. You could also draw your idea on paper first, then use a fork to make holes in the pumpkin along the lines you want to cut.

Finally, put a light inside — an artificial candle is usually safest.

If your pumpkin starts looking tired before October 31, you can put its face in cold water for a few hours to make it look fresh again.