10-3 journal – Jack-o’-lanterns
　Hey everyone! Do you know what big event is at the end of this month? . . . Halloween! What do you know about Halloween? When did it start? What do people do for Halloween? This month I will tell you more about Halloween and how it is celebrated in America.
　In the weeks before Halloween, many people decorate their houses with things like monsters and spiders to make them look scary, but the most common decorations are jack-o’-lanterns. You can make a jack-o’-lantern by carving a face into a pumpkin and putting a candle inside it. The pumpkins used are usually orange and much bigger than an average Japanese pumpkin.
　Many people spend a lot of time making very detailed jack-o’-lanterns. There are even many pumpkin carving contests every year! I think it is the most fun when you make jack-o’-lanterns with your friends and family.
　In the past, jack-o’-lanterns were believed to keep bad spirits away, but now they are just used for fun and decoration. If you have time, try to make your own. But, be careful and be sure to throw it away before it goes bad!

How to make a jack-o’-lantern
1.Cut the top of the pumpkin off
2.Scoop out the insides with a big spoon (or your hand).
3.Carefully carve a face into the pumpkin.
4.Put a small candle inside the pumpkin.
5.Light the candle and put the top on the pumpkin.