A jack-o'-lantern is a carved pumpkin with a face cut into it and a candle or light placed inside. The light shines through the cut-out eyes, nose, and mouth, creating an eerie glow that's become a symbol of Halloween.

Making a jack-o'-lantern is a classic autumn tradition. You start by cutting off the top of a pumpkin and scooping out the stringy insides and seeds. Then you carve a face into the thick orange skin: maybe a scary grimace with jagged teeth, a friendly grin, or something creative like a cat or witch. When you put a candle inside and light it, your creation comes alive in the darkness.

People display jack-o'-lanterns on porches and windowsills throughout October, especially on Halloween night, when neighborhoods glow with dozens of flickering carved pumpkins greeting trick-or-treaters.