Its June. Not even full blown sweltering summer yet, and I am already getting the October itches. Its early this year. At least holds out till mid-july. Time to start contemplating this years project. Can you remember back to a time as a kid where Halloween was magic. You had just started school again and were hating every minute of it, but your only solace was that within a month, The Season would begin. The season where it gets dark earlier in the day, the air is crisp and and leaves make scratching sounds along the pavement at night. That time of year when things that were brushed off as nonsense, or make believe where now possible. The time when darkness was king. The time where reality bent ever so slightly. The nights where you were sure....something otherworldly was in fact...out there. These nights, and this time of year were, and still are religion to some. The icon, the patron saint, the figure at the altar of that religion..... The Jack-o-lantern.
The Great Pumpkin Project is a movement to bring back the spirit of those nights, and the seasons high holiday, All Hallows' Eve. Every night in the month of October, a lit jack-o- lantern is placed in a spot that looks in need of its presence. On an abandon railroad bridge, at the gates of a cemetery, at the foot of a covered bridge. Anywhere that looks as if it screams Halloween spirit. Jacks can also be placed in highly visible areas, so that the spirit of the high holiday can be felt by anyone who sees it. The project's purpose...to Preserve The Eve Of All Hallows'. To make sure that the feelings we felt as kids in the month of October live on forever. One lit Jack, for 31 nights. Hail The Harvest! Follow @GreatPuumpkinProject on Instagram. Nothing up yet, but things will get a tad wicked in the coming months.
Great Pumpkin Project participant Noah Fentz has placed 13 total jacks. He even made a sight for them. Check it out at thecreepyhousenextdoor.com/pumpkinproject.html
I know I'm a bit late to this, as getting back to reality after a 2 week Halloween vacation has driven me mad. There were so many amazing contributions in this last batch! So glad to see this project make so many people happy and see it spread so far. More of Hazel's incredible pics from Scottland. Awesome sunset pics from Debbie! Jen and Rob from PA, gave their town some Halloween spirit. Ronda from the Old Fashion Halloween blog places a jack sneakily in a quaint park. Check out her blog oldfashionhalloween.blogspot.com Jolie with another placement. One of the more sinister looking jacks I've seen. Love those chompers!
31 pumpkins. 31 locations. 31 garbage bags of pumpkin guts. When I started this project I didn't honestly think it would become what it has. I didn't think it would spread as far as it did. I never expected the amazing contributions people have made.
With the last jack, went back to the location that inspired the whole thing. Last year I placed a single jack on this same doorstep, because I felt it needed it. It brought me such great joy to see it lit in the night. I was left thinking that I wish it wasn't me who put it there and wish I had stumbled upon it. So with that feeling, the project was born. People who love this holiday are extremely passionate about it, and this project proves it. From within the state of NJ, to across the pond, people's love for this great holiday shown in spades, with all the pictures and kind words. I can't thank you all enough for participating. Thanks a million to the Mike and Dave for making drops while I was away. Thanks to Rot and Bean for promoting the hell outta this and keeping me goin. Thank you everyone on the blog, and your kind and encouraging comments. This is now tradition. Hopefully it will grow every year. In an age of trunk or treat, and glitter decorations, this project was made to help preserve the old ways of Halloween, to go back to its roots. If these jacks have put a feeling of nostalgia and the old ways Halloween into the people who have seen them, then it was a success. Thank You All So Much! Till Next Year. Hail The Harvest. Adam |