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9 amazing pumpkin carving ideas from around the world

From a terrifying Trumpkin to a ‘Gourd of Thrones’

beth-teutschmann-154958 Unsplash Unsplash

AS A COUNTRY that is supposed to contain some of the most haunted sites in the world and one of the first in the world to start celebrating Halloween (in the form of Samhain) – we definitely tend to embrace the spooky season with open arms.

And for a lot of people, the fun of carving a pumpkin is the first sign that Halloween is upon us – and that you probably need to start thinking of costume that isn’t some lazy reference to a Snapchat filter.

Whether it’s with your little ones (they can hold the spoon only), your flatmates or your other half, picking a face to go on your personal pumpkin can be one of the most enjoyable parts of Halloween.

Here’s a few ideas to get you thinking about a petrifying pumpkin for 2017.

1. This terrifying Trumpkin

30189475691_fc1e9e7a16_o (1) Flickr Flickr

He’s captured thousands of headlines this year and now that it’s October, one of the most scary options for your porch might just be the controversial US president Donald Trump. As there’s no room to display his tiny hands, make sure you get his toupe right.

2. This spooky owl

5129315729_5e01da23d3_o Flickr Flickr

One that’s a little more likely to resonate with the pint-sized members of your family, this spooky owl is a fun, cartoonish option for your pumpkin this year – and pretty easy to achieve too. Go on, you’ll have a hoot.

3. This gruesome Gremlin

6287337054_e66d5245b5_o Flickr Flickr

Although a Gremlin will only put the fear of God in only one or two generations, this pumpkin inspired by the 1984 fantasy film is the perfect excuse to show kids of any generation what is a pretty iconic movie, that you can watch now or at Christmas.

4. This friendly beast

4062909968_6a5ff840eb_o Flickr Flickr

One that is friendly enough for toddlers and kids alike, this Where The Wild Things Are-inspired pumpkin will create the perfect excuse to re-read the classic (or watch the Spike Jonze-directed adaptation).

5. This ravenous zombie

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Flickr / Eric Frommer Flickr / Eric Frommer / Eric Frommer

There is nothing more terrifying than the idea that somewhere lurking in the dark out there are brain-eating zombies. And what better way to articulate and spread that fear than to depict it through a pumpkin? It’ll be like your very own 28 Days Later on your door step.

6. This grimacing ghoul

2962913583_fe49476544_o Photographer: Jeff Vier Photographer: Jeff Vier

“You did remember the tickets right?” – then, out of nowhere, this little guy pops up on your phone screen. There is nothing more scary in modern life than a well-timed grimacing face, a fact that this seemingly harmless pumpkin pays homage to.

7. This ‘Gourd of Thrones’

8114770063_8aac6a0000_o Dov Harrington / Flickr Dov Harrington / Flickr / Flickr

Pay your respects to one of the world’s most celebrated TV shows with this HBO-inspired pumpkin. You might even give people a fright by tricking them into thinking that the new series is starting – a terrifying thing to miss.

8. This chilling vampire pumpkin

2992206923_f4d3542792_o Flickr Flickr

Pay respect to Clontarf native Bram Stoker with this Dracula-inspired pumpkin and give people a fright with an unexpected vampire peering out in the darkness. The pointed teeth and ears are essential.

9. This alarming abstract pumpkin

10561279646_566f27f1a4_o Flickr Flickr

Although this one is a lot tricker than all the others to achieve, maybe let the artist in your life let loose on your pumpkin with an abstract design like this. Combine jagged teeth with stars and swirls for nightmarish creepiness.

Inspired to do a little Halloween decorating of your own this October? Lidl have everything you need to celebrate this year – from tasty treats to spooky decorations to costumes for your little ones, along with a host of pumpkin carving ideas, a variety of 100% Irish pumpkins and the right tools to make your mark on them.

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    Mute Sinead Fleming
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    Oct 27th 2017, 10:44 AM

    Gotta try and make a Trumpkin

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    Mute Fred Conlan
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    Oct 27th 2017, 8:17 AM

    What is it with this pumpkin rubbish? This is not a tradition in this country, Holloween has been hijacked by US consumerism.

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    Mute Michael Geraghty
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    Oct 27th 2017, 8:40 AM

    @Fred Conlan: it’s for the kids you miserable man. Santa is Finnish tradition. You ate probably against him too. Miser

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    Mute Shayno O'Donnchadha
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    Oct 27th 2017, 8:54 AM

    @Fred Conlan: pumpkin carving evolved from the old Irish Jack-o-Lantern turnip cravings to ward off evil spirits.

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    Mute Shayno O'Donnchadha
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    Oct 27th 2017, 8:55 AM

    @Shayno O’Donnchadha: *Carvings

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    Mute Christopher Doyle
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    Oct 27th 2017, 8:57 AM

    @Fred Conlan: in Ireland we use to carve turnip as we didn’t have pumpkins in Ireland at the time also we brought Hollaween to the USA

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    Mute Larry Doyle
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    Oct 27th 2017, 9:43 AM

    @Christopher Doyle: Turnips are more correctly called swedes, I wonder where they came from…………

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    Mute The Viking
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    Oct 27th 2017, 9:57 AM

    @Fred Conlan: SAMHAIN .. A festival over 1500 yrs old were Irish Celts honored the dead and to ward off evil spirits. Abolished by the Catholic church and turned into all saints day to try and stop an ancient Irish tradition.

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    Mute Chad Rockett
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    Oct 27th 2017, 10:08 AM

    @Larry Doyle: Middle and Eastern Asia.

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    Mute Chad Rockett
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    Oct 27th 2017, 10:10 AM
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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Oct 27th 2017, 10:22 AM

    @Fred Conlan: my oul fella always used to carve turnips (not Swedes :p) when we were young, granted he was useless at it but was always a bit of craic. If you want to support traditions from this land Halloween is the one it’s Samhain and been celebrated here long before most countries existed never mind the US or its consumerism. I’d say either lighten up or at least do a little more research on cynical rants

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    Mute Lian McGuire
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    Oct 27th 2017, 11:51 AM

    @The Viking: All Saints Day is Nov1st. All Hallows’. All Souls is Oct31st. All Hallows’ Eve or Halloween.

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    Mute Remy
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    Oct 27th 2017, 1:38 PM

    @Fred Conlan:

    It’s Samhain.

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Oct 27th 2017, 2:28 PM

    @Fred Conlan: It’s always been a tradition to leave a light on outside for visitors.

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    Mute Gareth Cooney
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    Oct 27th 2017, 2:57 PM

    @Larry Doyle: Turnip Townsend

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    Mute Abe Brennan
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    Oct 27th 2017, 7:58 PM

    @Larry Doyle: Germany

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    Mute Conor Sheehan
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    Oct 27th 2017, 9:44 PM

    @Michael Geraghty: Finland just claim that he lives there. Santa Claus is a Europe-wide tradition, and Saint Nicholas even came from Turkey.

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    Mute Gulliver Foyle
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    Oct 28th 2017, 2:38 AM

    @Conor Sheehan: the American santa that Irish kids get to deliver Chinese toys is based on the Dutch legend of the Turkish saint who traveled to Spain. Probably the most global thing you could dream up. And all the while the original Dutch kids just get a rubbish cookie on December 6th and accusations of racism as santa keeps a black slave to do his bidding.

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    Mute Maximilian Cope
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    Oct 28th 2017, 10:31 AM

    @Gulliver Foyle: traveled to Bari (Italy), not to Spain.

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    Mute Tony O'C
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    Oct 27th 2017, 8:45 AM

    Where’s #5?

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    Mute Brown Boots
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    Oct 27th 2017, 9:01 AM

    @Tony O’C: I’ll be dammed if I recognise 5 either… What that band did had nothing to do with counting or music, they should never have been allowed out.

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    Mute George Oscar Bluth
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    Oct 27th 2017, 8:07 PM

    Between 4 and 6.

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    Mute Saurabh Dhavale
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    May 5th 2023, 8:46 AM

    I am absolutely fascinated by the amazing pumpkin carving ideas from around the world featured on this website! The creativity and skill of these pumpkin carvers is truly inspiring, and I am blown away by the intricate designs and attention to detail in each carving. From spooky skeletons to adorable animals, there is no limit to the incredible designs that can be achieved with pumpkins. This website has opened my eyes to the possibilities of pumpkin carving as an art form, and I am excited to try out some of these techniques and ideas myself. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful collection of pumpkin carving inspiration with the world!

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