In the UK, as far as I know, Halloween has only been a BIG thing for about the last 10 years or so. Previously, Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night, or remember, remember the 5th November ( call it what you will ) was THE biggest thing happening in the Autumn. Now, however, it’s a different story. Now we have another reason to decorate our houses and gardens, in ever more scary ways, with huge spiders webs, skeletons, and ghost-like figures, the more ghoulish the better.
As soon as, ( if not before) the children go back to school in September, our shops are full of all things, ‘Halloween’. The supermarkets are full of tat, garish masks, and sugar-enhanced sweets, all in readiness for the Trick and Treat extravaganza. It’s just one more way we are encouraged to part with our hard-earned cash.
There seems to be a newly created ‘code’ of practice about trick or treating. And one which has bought the previously virtually ignored Pumpkin, into the full glare of the public eye, and it’s also great for Pumpkin growers everywhere!
If you leave a carved-out Pumpkin outside on your driveway, or near your front door, normally with a nice glowy candle inside, then this indicates you are happy for children to knock, and to ask the inevitable question, trick, or treat. Pumpkins are not just grown now for soup and pies it seems. Yes, folks, their status has improved dramatically. Even if it is for one night only!
But living in a high-rise flat and trying to take part in the trick and treating fun, by carving out a Halloween Pumpkin seemed to be a little futile. So instead, I got my carving ‘fix’ by a completely different method, and let me tell you, it was less messy, and far more fun!
Ideal for those with a suppressed creative side, and also great for anyone who wants to include the whole family in Halloween Happiness by designing their very own (virtual) Pumpkin. Although of course, the design could easily be a template for the real thing.
The ‘make a pumpkin game’ gives you step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow, and you can make your virtual pumpkin as unique as you like. You can change eyes, noses, add hats, and other bits and bobs. It’s accessible to all ages, including very young children and seniors. Just tap on your choices, and then move on to the next stage, it couldn’t be simpler, BUT, at the same time it’s engaging, and just the thing to keep you occupied if a real, almost live Pumpkin is not viable for you.
I kid you not, there is an online game for every genre, every celebration, even every vegetable. Who knew? And once you get started, the possibilities are endless. There is something for everyone, and all ages, no matter how cool and trendy you are, everyone loves a bit of downtime, and virtual Pumpkin carving might be just the thing to see you through it.
No matter if you missed it during 2020, Halloween and Pumpkins will be around for years to come, remember, remember it for next year, it’s always on the last day of October. Don’t say I didn’t tell you!