A jack-o'-lantern with a witch hat is a popular Halloween decoration. It combines the classic elements of the jack-o'-lantern with the iconic symbol of a witch. The jack-o'-lantern is traditionally a carved pumpkin with a face or design cut into it and a lit candle placed inside. It is believed to have originated from Irish folklore, where they were used to ward off evil spirits. Adding a witch hat to the jack-o'-lantern helps to create a more spooky and whimsical look. The witch hat is typically black with a wide brim and a pointed top.
The witch hat is typically black with a wide brim and a pointed top. It is associated with witches and their magical powers, making it a fitting addition to the Halloween decoration. Creating a jack-o'-lantern with a witch hat requires some basic pumpkin carving skills.
Magic Wand
15 minutes to reflect and write. You can also combine this across a few days with other purpose practices, such as Talk with Teens about Purpose.
How to Do It
Finding a purpose in life is a process that unfolds over time. It involves reflecting on ourselves, our lives, and the world, as well as exploring different paths and directions. This writing activity offers one way to reflect on your purpose in life, which could reveal some new ideas and opportunities.
To start, think about the world you live in. This includes your home, your community, and the world at large.
Imagine you’ve been given a magic wand, and you can change anything you want to change in the world. What would you want to be different? Why? Describe your ideal world in writing.
Now, reflect on what it would take to change the world in this way. Is there anything you can do to help move the world closer to this ideal? If so, explain how; if not, explain why not.
You can be as creative and imaginative as you want for this exercise. Use whatever writing style you like, and do not worry about spelling or grammar.
This exercise was studied among young adults ages 18 to 30, but it could also be valuable for high school students. You can do this activity yourself, or help facilitate a young person in doing it.
Why You Should Try It
Purpose is an important key to well-being. Purposeful people tend to be more hopeful, optimistic, and satisfied with life. Young people with purpose find schoolwork more meaningful, and they tend to have a greater sense of efficacy at school. In the face of challenges, people with a sense of purpose show more grit and resilience. Purpose may even promote better health and longevity.
But having a purpose is rare: Research suggests that only one-fifth of adolescents and one-third of young adults believe they lead a life of purpose. Activities like the Magic Wand can help in your search for a sharper sense of direction in life.
Why It Works
A purpose has three important qualities to it. It’s long-term—a far-reaching goal that provides us with a sense of direction. That goal must be personally meaningful to us as individuals, and also have the potential to make a difference in the broader world.
Some goals that we pursue are personally meaningful, but not as significant for our communities—like mastering an instrument or finding a long-term partner. Those goals may be valuable, but they may not necessarily bring all the benefits of a full-fledged sense of purpose.
Instead of focusing on our passions or aspirations, this exercise starts from the lens of the world, inviting you to consider problems that need solving. That means that any goal you conjure up will naturally be aimed at improving society, which is crucial to cultivating a genuine purpose.
Evidence That It Works
Bronk, K.C., Baumsteiger, R., Mangan, S., Riches, B., Dubon, V., Benavides, C., & Bono, G. (2019). Fostering purpose among young adults: Effective online interventions. Journal of Character Education 15(2), 21–38.
Some young adults completed a “purpose toolkit” over three days, where they engaged in activities including the Magic Wand, while others worked on memorization exercises. Compared to the people who performed the memory activities, people who completed the Magic Wand and other purpose practices were more succesful at searching for and identifying a purpose in their life.
Sources
Do you have a long-term goal that's meaningful to yourself and the world? Take our Purpose in Life quiz to find out.
Developing treatment goals at the start of therapy can improve client retention, set a direction for future sessions, and help your clients begin to envision their desired outcomes. We've created the Therapy Goals worksheet to help your clients think about, and verbalize, their hopes for therapy.
First, a pumpkin is chosen and cleaned out, removing all the seeds and pulp from the inside. Then a design is drawn onto the pumpkin, which can be a traditional face or a more elaborate design such as a witch or a spooky scene. Next, the design is carefully carved into the pumpkin using a variety of carving tools, such as a pumpkin saw or a small knife. It is important to take caution and be careful while carving to avoid any accidents. Once the design is complete, a candle or a battery-operated light is placed inside the pumpkin to illuminate it from within. This light gives the jack-o'-lantern its glowing effect, making it a spooky and eye-catching decoration. A jack-o'-lantern with a witch hat can be displayed both indoors and outdoors. It can be placed on a porch, in a window, or as part of a Halloween display. It adds a festive and Halloween-themed touch to any home or party. In conclusion, a jack-o'-lantern with a witch hat is a fun and creative Halloween decoration. It combines the classic symbol of the jack-o'-lantern with the witch hat to create a unique and spooky display. Carving a pumpkin into this design requires some skill and patience, but the end result is a festive and eye-catching decoration that adds to the Halloween spirit..
Reviews for "Unique Halloween decorations: Jack o lanterns with witch hats"
- Emily - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Jack o lantern with witch hat". The design was not as cute and whimsical as I was expecting. The colors were dull and the pumpkin looked more sad than spooky. Overall, it just didn't live up to my Halloween expectations.
- David - 1/5 stars - I purchased "Jack o lantern with witch hat" thinking it would be a great addition to my Halloween decorations, but I was sorely mistaken. The quality of the product was extremely poor - the paint was chipping off and the hat was crooked. It looked like something I could have made myself, and for a much cheaper price. I would not recommend this product to anyone.
- Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to receive "Jack o lantern with witch hat" in the mail, but when I opened the package, I was met with disappointment. The pumpkin was much smaller than I had anticipated, and the hat looked ridiculous on it. The whole thing just looked cheap and tacky. I was hoping for something more festive and fun, but this definitely fell short.