The best pumpkin carving I've ever seen made its way around the Internet several years ago. It was a jack-o-lantern of expert, but unexceptional carving. How could it be a simple wide open mouth and 2 eyes and a nose.
The thing that made this design great was, the carver took the inside gook of the pumpkin and arranged it so that it looked like the pumpkin was throwing up. Some times too much punch from a holiday party can make one feel this way. It cracks me up every time I think about it.
Another of the best pumpkin carving ideas I can remember is in the same vein. Carve a fierce looking jack-o-lantern. He should have pointed fangs in his large mouth, to go with angry slim eyes.,. Next your carve a small pumpkin with a very frightened look and stick it in the large pumpkins mouth. Done properly this should look like the larger jack-o-lantern is eating the smaller one, a bit of malicious delight on All Hallow's Eve.
For centuries the jack-o-lanterns have been a large part of the Halloween tradition. According to wikipedia, the origin of the jack-o-lantern is as follows:
Another version of the myth says that Jack was getting chased by some villagers from whom he had stolen, when he met the Devil, who claimed it was time for him to die. However, the thief stalled his death by tempting the Devil with a chance to bedevil the church-going villagers chasing him. Jack told the Devil to turn into a coin with which he would pay for the stolen goods (the Devil could take on any shape he wanted); later, when the coin/Devil disappeared, the Christian villagers would fight over who had stolen it. This seemed like a good plan to the Devil. The devil changed into a coin of silver and leaped into Jacks open wallet. It happened so fast he did not see the cross also in the wallet. Jack had closed the wallet tight, and the cross stripped the Devil of his powers; and so he was trapped. In both myths, Jack only lets the Devil go when he agrees never to take his soul. After a while the thief died, as all living things do. No big surprise, Jack's life had been too sinful to go to heaven; but the Mr D. said he would not to take his soul, and so he could not go to hell either. With no home, where was Jack to go. From the flames of hell, the Devil gave Jack an ever glowing ember to light his way. The burning ember was placed in a large turnip Jack carved out. He then wandered the Earth looking for a final resting place. From then on he was known as Jack-o'-Lantern - Jack of the Lantern.
So don't forget that when looking for the best pumpkin carving ideas, either!
ken henry check out my utube sick jack o lantern at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc4N4GbsY_w