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8 Stunning Watermelon Carving Ideas for a Perfect Holiday Centerpiece

To enhance the beauty and significance of the Lunar New Year feast, people have creatively carved designs onto watermelons. Elevate your festive spread by exploring these eight exquisitely carved watermelon ideas for a truly memorable Tet celebration!

Administrator

16 July, 2024

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Watermelon carving is a popular art form, and with its hard shell, you can sculpt it into various shapes to decorate your home. To save you time searching, here are eight simple yet beautiful watermelon carving ideas.

1 The Significance of Watermelon in the Lunar New Year Feast

While watermelons are typically in season during the summer, agricultural advancements have made it possible to cultivate them year-round, resulting in various watermelon varieties. During the Lunar New Year, families offer different types of fruits as tributes, but one constant across regions is the inclusion of watermelons.

The Significance of Watermelon in the Lunar New Year Feast

The watermelon in the Lunar New Year feast holds several meanings:

It symbolizes self-reliance and resilience, as the fruit is closely associated with .
During the time of Mai An Tiêm, watermelons were offered to the king. Thus, including watermelons in the Lunar New Year tribute is a way of showing respect and reverence to ancestors.
The red watermelon also represents good fortune and prosperity for the host family. Additionally, it symbolizes family reunion and embodies the warmth and love of family in its sweet taste.

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2 Guide to Carving a Watermelon for the Five-Fruit Tray

Prepare a Set of Watermelon Carving Knives

Watermelon Carving Knife Set

Before starting to carve, the first thing you need to do is purchase a set of multi-purpose carving knives from a supermarket or kitchenware store. Only this type of knife can help you cut and carve quickly and easily. Buying a new set of knives is not a waste, as you can keep and reuse them next year.

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Selecting the Right Watermelon for Artistic Carving

Choosing a Watermelon for Artistic Carving

When selecting a watermelon for artistic carving, opt for a round-shaped watermelon with a taut and glossy rind, a green stem, and an intact skin without scratches or cracks. Depending on your preference, you can choose a smooth, dark green watermelon or one with natural markings for carving.

Watermelon Carving Techniques

Step 1 To ensure the carving turns out as intended, sketch your design on paper first and make any necessary adjustments.

Sketch your design on paper and make adjustments as needed

Step 2 Wipe the watermelon’s surface clean and let it air-dry slightly.

Step 3 Use a pencil to gently draw your design on the watermelon’s surface. When drawing, pay attention to the composition to ensure it is balanced and not lopsided. A helpful tip is to draw a plus sign with two equal-length lines as a guide, then start creating your design from there.

Use a pencil to draw on the watermelon

Step 4 Once you’ve finished drawing, review your work and make any necessary adjustments. When you’re happy with the design, start carving carefully along the pencil lines with a sharp knife.

Step 5 After carving along the lines, wipe away any remaining pencil marks and let the watermelon dry.

Wipe away pencil marks and let the watermelon dry

Step 6 Use a sharp knife to remove excess watermelon rind, revealing your carved design.

Use a sharp knife to remove excess rind

Step 7 Continue using the knife to gently scrape the watermelon’s surface to create delicate, natural-looking lines.

Create delicate lines with the knife

Step 8 Use a metallic pen or pencil to outline your design on the watermelon’s surface, depending on your preference.

Outline your design with a metallic pen or pencil

Step 9 After outlining, use the knife to carefully scrape away the green rind along the outline, creating a border around your design.

Scrape away the green rind along the outline

Step 10 Gently peel away the carved border to reveal your design.

Peel away the carved border to reveal your design

3 Eight Beautiful Watermelon Carving Ideas

Carving a Watermelon with the Chinese Character for ‘Longevity’

Cut the watermelon in half, then create a frame by drawing a rectangle and writing the Chinese character for ‘longevity’ or any other character of your choice inside.

Next, use a sharp knife or a small saw to carefully cut along the character you’ve drawn. Once you’ve finished carving the character, continue cutting along the frame, creating two parallel lines for a more polished look.

You can add decorative elements, such as a floral pattern, outside the frame.

To complete the design, use a small saw to remove the green rind from the character, keeping the green frame intact. Finally, sprinkle gold glitter along the frame to make it stand out. Now you have a beautifully carved watermelon to display on your ancestral altar during the Lunar New Year.

Carving a Watermelon in the Shape of a Dog

Choose a round watermelon, then use a fruit carving knife to create the shape of the animal of the year (in this case, a dog). Next, use a knife to remove the green rind from the frame, leaving the green animal shape intact to make it stand out.

To make the watermelon more visually appealing, add a branch of peach blossoms and carve some Lunar New Year greetings in a similar style. Now you have a beautifully carved watermelon that is both decorative and meaningful.

Carving a Watermelon in the Shape of a Mouse

Choose a round watermelon, then use a marker to draw a mouse on it. Use a small saw to carefully cut along the drawn lines, removing the watermelon’s rind.

Continue drawing and carving additional mice, spacing them about 2-3 cm apart. Once you’ve finished carving each mouse, create a frame around the watermelon with decorative patterns of your choice.

Carving a Watermelon with a God of Fortune Design

First, print out an image of the God of Fortune that is proportional to half of the watermelon. Attach the image to the watermelon, then use a small-tipped knife to carefully trace the outline of the image from the outside in. Slowly remove the paper afterward.

Next, use a hook to gently scrape away the green rind, making the God of Fortune image stand out. Now you have a beautifully carved watermelon featuring the God of Fortune to display on your ancestral altar during the Lunar New Year.

Carving a Watermelon in the Shape of a Pig

Choose an oval-shaped watermelon, then print and attach an image of a pig to it. Use a sharp-tipped knife to carefully trace the outline of the pig from the outside in, then slowly remove the paper.

After carving the outline, it’s time to start sculpting the watermelon. Use a carving knife to remove excess rind, making the details of the pig stand out. Finally, add a frame to complete the design.

Carving a Watermelon with a Wallflower Design

After completing the first flower, continue carving the stamen and creating the second

Frequently asked questions

There are several stunning watermelon carving ideas that can serve as a perfect holiday centerpiece. You can try carving a watermelon basket, a flower bouquet, or even a intricate melon lantern. For a more challenging design, attempt the watermelon cake or a intricate melon sculpture. If you’re feeling creative, go for a watermelon fruit bowl or a simple melon boat.

To make a watermelon basket, first cut a thin slice from the bottom of the watermelon so it sits flat. Then, cut a deep circle into one end, creating a bowl shape. Use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh, creating a basket-like appearance. Finally, decorate the basket with carved watermelon balls and other fruits of your choice.

A simple yet eye-catching idea is to create a watermelon boat. Cut the watermelon lengthwise into two equal halves. Then, use a small melon baller to scoop out the flesh, creating a smooth canoe-like shape. You can fill the boat with colorful fruits or even use it as a unique serving dish for a salad.

Watermelon carvings make excellent holiday centerpieces due to their vibrant color and unique designs. You can place your watermelon creation in the center of the table, surrounded by complementary fruits, flowers, or other decorations. For example, a watermelon basket filled with seasonal fruits or a watermelon cake topped with fresh berries would be a stunning and edible centerpiece.

Beginners should start with simpler designs, such as the watermelon boat or basket, and practice their carving skills. It’s important to use a sharp knife and a steady hand. Always cut away from your body and take your time. You can also use a watermelon carving kit, which provides specialized tools to help create intricate designs more easily.