All Hallows Eve

While Halloween may seem like it’s all about sweets, treats and dressing up there is so much more to the ancient festival, which is heavily reaped in traditions and celebrations that date back to the early 1900s.

Considered the most spooktacular time of year for Westerners on both sides of the Atlantic, All Hallows Eve usually brings with it an excuse to think about other worldly elements such as ghosts, ghouls and monsters at a time which previously saw celebrations of the overlapping boundaries between the living and dead on October 31 by Pagans.

Now more than a century on, the ancient festival has come to symbolise the firm arrival of Autumn and has established many clear traditions, one of which has become common place in most UK households and has continued over time to mark the festival.

Pumpkin carving

Every October pumpkins carved and shaped into spooky, sinister and creative designs peer out on porches, doorsteps and in windows illuminated by candles functioning as a fun family activity for children and adults to collaborate and design together.

Also referred to as Jack O’ Lanterns, this practice of decorating pumpkins and using them as a scary accessory, takes its roots from an ancient Irish fable that has continued throughout the centuries.

The story, telling the tale of a drunken farmer named Stingy Jack originated in Ireland, where turnips and potatoes functioned as an early backdrop.

The sinister tale goes that Jack tricked the devil, but such antics ironically resulted in him being turned away from the gates of heaven and hell following his death, leaving him to wander in purgatory for all eternity. Left in darkness, Jack used a lantern made from a turnip to illuminate in his path and guide his lost soul with a lump of coal chucked out of hell by the devil.

Since then, Celts have used Jack O’ Lanterns as a method of illuminating their streets and roads to guide lost spirits on October 31, replacing them with pumpkins when turnip and potato productions went into decline.

As competition between neighbours, friends and family has evolved, designs have got more elaborate and innovative and with our range of pumpkin carving stencils, you can create a fresh look for your pumpkin lanterns whether you are hosting a Halloween party, looking to illuminate your porch or light up the way for lost spirits this Hallows Eve.

Take a look at some of our designs; choose from comical, symbolic or spooky.

   

Creepy coffee & Cakes

If you’re looking for something a little less traditional this Halloween, but something that will both scare and make a statement at the same time then why not bring a fright to your trick, treats and even coffee mornings.

Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party, looking to bake some extra special treats for your unexpected guests or simply want to add fear factor to coffee breaks, consider out range of coffee and cake dusting stencils, making decoration simple, effective and pretty damn creepy.

Whether it’s hundreds and thousands, edible fake blood or spooky sugar, pick from our range of food-safe and re-usable stencils.

  

For further decorative ideas for other festive occasions visit our website, or contact us for more bespoke stencil designs.