50 Epic Pumpkins That Won Halloween (New Pics)

To learn more about current trends, we contacted Ryan Lisson, the owner and master carver at Pumpkin King Creations, a business specializing in unique and artistic pumpkin carvings.

"From a general Halloween perspective, it seems like Beetlejuice is very popular with the movie coming out this year," he told Bored Panda.

"I've also seen a lot more vintage Halloween decorations and themes popping up, which is cool."

Of course, as with any creative endeavor, you need to push yourself and step out of your comfort zone if you want to get better at it.

"For me, the most challenging part of pumpkin carving is knowing when to stop!" Lisson said.

"I can always find one more detail to add or something to edit slightly, but at some point, you just get lost in details. It helps to step away, take a break, and come back to it with fresh eyes."

So it's important to progress at a moderate pace and don't overwhelm yourself too much.

"I always tell beginners to start with simpler patterns and get used to a variety of tools (I use mostly clay sculpting tools)," Lisson explained. "As you get more comfortable, you can take on more advanced patterns and styles."

"As with anything, it just takes practice, patience, and a bit of grace. If you're not making mistakes, you're probably not advancing your skills either!"

Sadly, Halloween pumpkins are also synonymous with waste. For example, a 2020 poll of 3,000 adults in the UK, carried out by the food charity Hubbub, revealed that of the 24 million pumpkins bought, around 12.76 million are carved without the flesh being used.

Hubbub has warned this adds to the country's mountain of avoidable food waste and is urging consumers to experiment with new recipes.

“Pumpkins are a valuable source of food and are not just for decoration,” said Tessa Tricks, the head of food programmes at Hubbub.

“Even if it’s labelled a carving pumpkin, you can still eat it and it will taste delicious with spices like chilli, ginger or cumin."

Pumpkins possess a lot of nutritional and medicinal benefits.

Rich in various essential nutrients and relatively easy to grow, this hardy, drought-tolerant crop is often underrated.

It contains antioxidants that help prevent various cancers. Nutrient-dense but with a low calorie count, this water-rich fruit is a great source of vitamin A. The fruit is also rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, and folate, all of which strengthen our immune systems.

Pumpkin seeds have a high magnesium content, and they also contain tryptophan, an amino acid needed for growth in infants, and maintenance of the body's muscles and proteins.

The aforementioned research from Hubbub also suggested that after Halloween, 2 million of the discarded pumpkins in the UK will end up in general household bins. Therefore, people who can't find any use for theirs are advised to compost their carved pumpkins, put them out for birds, or dispose of them in the food waste collection.

Halloween is big. In 2024, American consumers are expected to spend around 11.6 billion U.S. dollars on the occasion, including nearly 4 billion on costumes and outfits alone. While it feels nice to give pumpkins a spooky makeover, let's try to remember to put them to good use afterward!