To celebrate Halloween this year, SMU will hold its first Great Pumpkin Search today. This festivity requires attendees to compete to produce the best pumpkin carving.

The original purpose of a jack-o-lantern was to welcome deceased loved ones as well as protect against hostile spirits. However, pumpkins were not used as jack-o-lanterns until the Irish came to America in the 1500s.

When the settlers arrived, they found the native pumpkin to be larger and easier to carve than the turnips and gourds they had been using. Today people use lights to illuminate their pumpkins, a big change from the Europeans who used hot coals.

This year students will meet at 3 p.m. by the Falls at Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports to continue the tradition. Students must bring their own tools and pumpkins to participate.

After three hours of preparation time outside of Dedman, the freshly designed jack-o-lanterns will be judged.

However, many students have started their carving experiences early. Several residence halls have already held Halloween parties, complete with tricks, treats and, of course, pumpkin carving.

To enter a previously carved pumpkin to be considered for one of the top three prizes, students must fill out a registration form at smu.edu/recsports.

“Carving pumpkins is always a lot of fun,” Virginia-Snider resident Jennie Rhodes said. “To get started, a group of us looked through some pictures to decide what would make the best jack-o-lantern.”

Students already submitted pumpkins for judging and many more jack-o-lanterns will be entered tonight.