Turnips, not pumpkins - Back to my roots

As a kid, growing up with Scots for parents, we carved turnips at Halloween. Perhaps it was Hamish’s Law (which states that “the further you get from the glens the more Scottish you become”) that led to this choice of carvage, for it certainly wasn’t ease. This is an activity to do with kids. Even older ones, and you, may well struggle to carve out a ‘neepy candle’.

You will need
a turnip or two - as the first will go hideously wrong
a really big cleaver
strong spoons - grapefruit serrated ones are helpful
a power drill
a candle
a post-it note or two
night-light candle

Whilst you set about the ‘neep with the cleaver; give the children the post-its to design the face. It’s possible to score the ‘neep to do a more complex design with whirls and stars and things. Chop the top and bottom off the turnip, keeping the top to replace later. Now team work commences as you all start to dig out the centre to make a tube. This may take some time, and may have to be done in shifts… an quite probably finished by a growed-up later on. Get your drill and select a 12mm ish bit. Follow the kids design and drill some eyes and chubby cheeks. Carefully, using your own discression if kids are allowed, join the cheeks together with a gob. Sticking with my Campaign for Happy Jack O’ Lanterns, I’ll be helping out carving some smilers.

Tomorrow I’ll be dropping a night-light down on the ground, lighting, then covering with the turnip tube. I’m not sure about the lid… you know how memory of smell stays with you, I’ve a very strong recollection of singed turnip hat. Perhaps I’ll get a chance to talk with the kids about All Hallows Eve and Shamhna whilst I’m at it… once an RE teacher always an RE teacher I’m afraid.

Enjoy

Play Test
Use your strongest or most disposable spoons to dig out the middle, I’ve just had to straighten out one that looked like it’d been mugged by Uri Geller.

tag... play for today, 5up, 8up, makes