Making a Jack O Lantern in Minecraft is a fun and easy way to add light to your world. Many players use torches for everything but I believe that Jack O Lanterns are much cooler and more useful. They look great on a porch and they stay lit even when they are underwater. My opinion is that every player should have a pumpkin patch in their garden so they can make as many of these glowing carved pumpkins as they want. It is a simple craft that makes your base look like a cozy home.
I believe that using Jack O Lanterns is a smart move for any builder. They provide a lot of light which keeps scary monsters like creepers and zombies from showing up near your house. In this article I will show you the quick steps to find a pumpkin and turn it into a bright light. It only takes a few seconds and the results are very bright and happy.
Why Jack O Lanterns are Great
I believe that Jack O Lanterns are some of the best lights in the game. Unlike a torch which can be washed away by water a Jack O Lantern is a solid block. This means you can use them to light up a lake or a deep pool of water. In my opinion they are also much prettier than a plain piece of coal on a stick.
Another great thing about them is that you can use them to build things. If you want to make a Snow Golem or an Iron Giant you need a carved pumpkin. By adding a torch to that pumpkin you get a light that never goes out. I think every big project looks better with a few glowing pumpkins tucked into the corners.
What You Need for the Craft
Before you can make your light you need to find two simple things. I believe that exploring your world to find these items is part of the fun. You can find pumpkins growing in many places like forests or plains. You will also need a torch which is very easy to make with a stick and a piece of coal.
I think it is a good idea to bring a pair of shears with you when you go looking for pumpkins. You cannot turn a regular pumpkin into a light until you carve a face into it first. Shears are made from two iron ingots and they are the perfect tool for the job.
| Item Needed | Where to Find It | What it Does |
| Pumpkin | Growing on grass in forests or plains | The main body of the light |
| Shears | Crafted with two iron ingots | Used to carve a face into the pumpkin |
| Torch | Crafted with coal and a stick | Makes the pumpkin glow from the inside |
1 Find and Carve Your Pumpkin
The first step is finding a pumpkin growing on the ground. Once you find one I believe you should use your shears on it before you pick it up. When you use shears on a pumpkin a spooky face will appear on the front. You will also get some pumpkin seeds which you can plant to grow even more pumpkins later.
I think the face on the pumpkin looks very funny and a little bit scary. After you see the face you can use an axe or your hand to break the pumpkin and put it in your bag. In my opinion it is always better to carve the pumpkin while it is still on the ground because it is much easier that way.
- Find a pumpkin in a forest or a field
- Use shears on the pumpkin to carve a face
- Collect the pumpkin seeds to plant a garden
- Break the carved pumpkin to take it with you
2 Craft the Jack O Lantern
Now that you have your carved pumpkin and a torch you are ready to finish the job. I believe that the crafting table is the best place to do this but you can even do it in your small survival inventory. You just need to put the carved pumpkin and the torch together.
I think it is amazing that such a simple recipe creates such a powerful light. Once you combine them you will have a Jack O Lantern that is ready to be placed anywhere. I believe that making a whole stack of them at once is a great way to prepare for a big building project.
- Open your crafting menu
- Place the carved pumpkin in one slot
- Place a torch directly below the pumpkin
- Take your new Jack O Lantern out of the result box
3 Light Up Your World
Now comes the best part which is placing your new lights. I believe that placing a Jack O Lantern under a bush or a leaf block is a secret trick that pro builders use. The light will shine through the leaves but you will not see the pumpkin itself. This makes your garden look magical at night.
I think you should also try putting them at the bottom of a river. It helps you see the fish and the sand clearly when it is dark outside. In my opinion there is no limit to where you can put these glowing blocks. They work on the ceiling on the floor or even as part of a wall.
- Place them underwater to see clearly in the deep
- Hide them under leaves for a glowing garden
- Use them as a path to lead you back to your door
- Put them on your fence posts to keep monsters away
Building Friends with Jack O Lanterns
I believe that Jack O Lanterns are more than just lights. They are also the heads of your robotic friends. If you place two snow blocks on the ground and put a Jack O Lantern on top you will create a Snow Golem. This snowy friend will throw snowballs at monsters to keep you safe.
I think it is very cool that a light can bring a creature to life. You can also do this with iron blocks to make a powerful Iron Golem. In my opinion having a few golems with glowing pumpkin heads around your base is the best way to feel safe during the long Minecraft nights.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I believe the biggest mistake is trying to use a regular pumpkin. If you forget to use the shears first the torch will not go inside. You must see the face on the pumpkin before it can become a light. Another mistake is forgetting to pick up the seeds. I think you should always keep the seeds so you never run out of pumpkins.
I also think you should be careful about where you place them. While they are very strong they can still be broken by a creeper explosion. In my opinion you should place your Jack O Lanterns a few blocks away from where you stand so they stay safe if a monster shows up.
- Always carve the pumpkin with shears first
- Do not forget to collect the seeds for your farm
- Make sure you have enough torches before you start
- Keep them away from explosions so they do not break
My Final Thoughts
In my opinion making Jack O Lanterns is one of the most rewarding simple tasks in Minecraft. It turns a plain orange vegetable into a glowing tool that protects your home and lights up your life. I believe that the time you spend growing and carving pumpkins is well worth it for the beautiful lights you get in return.
I think the best part of Minecraft is taking items from nature and turning them into something new. A Jack O Lantern is a perfect example of this. I hope this guide helps you make your world a brighter and safer place to play. Go out and find a pumpkin patch today and start your glowing collection.
- You need a pumpkin a pair of shears and a torch
- Carved pumpkins can be used underwater
- They are used to build Snow Golems and Iron Golems
- They give off more light than a regular torch
I truly believe that every player should use Jack O Lanterns to decorate their base. They are fun to make and they look better than torches any day of the week. Do not settle for a dark house when you can have a glowing pumpkin palace. Grab your shears and your torches and get to work on your bright new world. Happy crafting and enjoy the glow.