Artifacts and symbols have been an integral part of Halloween celebration since the Medieval Period.
Jack-O'-lanterns are prepared by carving out horror & ghostly faces from the pumpkins (with lanterns inside so that the eyes, nostrils, & mouth are enlightened to a frightening effect).
They are hung or placed on windows to keep the evil spirits at bay.
Now a days, synthetic pumpkins are available with electrical connections, as ready made enlightened centerpieces.
Apart from that easy option, below are some novel ideas.
Table Pumpkin Centerpiece • Things you need: Large vase or bowl made of glass or any transparent material; small pumpkins with diameter at least few mm less than that of the container; paint, glitters; paintbrush; plastic spiders, etc.
• Decoration: Purchase the pumpkins and wash to free them from any scars, dirt, etc.
Paint the pumpkins in contrasting colors to be placed in the same order within the container - try keeping the optimum number as three.
You can also use different colors for the stalk & the body, or various shades to give different views from different angles.
Add some glitters while the paint is still drying.
After that, place the bugs on the pumpkins and the table, around the container.
'Haunted Castle' Pumpkin Centerpiece • Things you need: Large bowl, tray, glue, black paint, paintbrush, artificial spiders, candles, glittering substances, synthetic pumpkins of various sizes (1 large & several small), etc.
• Decoration: Paint the pumpkins in deep (charcoal) black and sprinkle the glittering substances over it.
Let it dry for an hour.
Repeat it for all the pumpkins.
Place the largest pumpkin on the bowl, and surround it with the small ones, creating the 'pumpkin castle' with spiders over them.
The candles are lighted & placed on the stands, around the castle.
To add flavor, a slightly higher table with a horror centerpiece can also be kept in front of the pumpkin castle.
Celebrity Face Pumpkin Centerpiece • Things you need: Large pumpkins, sculpting knife, stencil, rough pencil sketches of celebrities.
• Decoration: Let celebrities decorate your centre table.
Use the stencil to get celebrity face cutouts.
Put these on the front face of the pumpkin.
Select fairly large and stout pumpkins.
Use your sculpting skills to cut out the outline with deep strokes and then make short bruises to carve the prominent face traits & curves.