Carved What?!

Turnips aren/t usually considered fancy fare — over the years they’ve served as livestock fodder and occasionally been used to pelt unpopular figures in public. 

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, however, they weren’t just begrudgingly served for dinner, but also used as small lanterns. The durable root crop is often harvested as the weather cools, and in Ireland, that was just in time for the Celtic celebration of Samhain. Because ancient Celts believed that the separation between the living world and spirit realm was at its weakest during autumn, it was thought possible for ghosts and demons to cause mischief.

To protect themselves and their homes, superstitious folk across the British Isles would carve frightening faces into produce — sometimes potatoes or beets, but most commonly turnips — as a way to ward off harm. With a lit candle placed inside, the illuminated faces acted as old-world lanterns that banished the unwanted and guided the way along dark paths.

Isn’t it fun to see how a lot of these traditions came into being?

Happy Halloween!