A photograph of an artistic jack-o-lantern. Pumpkin carving is a popular halloween craft. Jack-o-lanterns are pumpkins that are hollowed-out and carved with scary or funny faces and pictures. Candles are placed inside to light the jack-o-lantern at night.The artistic costumes that are a key part of the Halloween holiday can be traced back to the Celts who lived over 2,000 years ago in what is now Great Britain, France, and Ireland. The Celts observed a holiday that marked the start of winter, the period of death and decay, and eventually involved Human death. Celtic priests built large fires and burned animals and possibly even people as sacrifices to Samhain. People wore costumes made of robes and animal heads.