Thread: Turnip Lanterns - the original Jack

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It looks like this tradition is not only reviving, but it is starting to gain popularity here in the US, so I thought I'd write this up;

Long before the Irish came to the shores of America, they were warding off evil on Halloween with the Sean na gealai (pronounced shawn -nu-gollee), which meant "Sean/shawn of the Lantern/little moon"...

Sean being Irish for John, or Jack, and you get the original name of the Jack O' Lantern.

However, the American pumpkin wasn't used. Instead they used large turnips or "swedes", what we call rutabagas. In Scotland they made lanterns the same way, though they call rutabaga turnips Neeps. Even in the Isle of Man they make them for Hop Tu Naa, the old pre-halloween festival. To this day many citizens of Ireland, Scotland and Man carve turnip lanterns for the last night of October. For many, the smell of turnip being burned with a candle flame is THE smell of Halloween.

The tradition is slowly reviving...
Ever tried it?
I did once, and I'm going for it again.

Pumpkins are easier, as rutabagas are solid, like hollowing out a giant potato. But with a melon baller or a clay loop used in pottery, you can hollow one out in decent time.

Find one about the size of a softball or larger.
Wash it off and cut the lid off with a large kitchen knife, straight across, horizontal.
Hollow it out until the walls are about 1/2 inch thick.
Use modern miniature pumpkin saws to finish a face, or a small paring knife.
Either cut a flat bottom for it to sit upright, or hang it with cord via holes in the sides. Hanging lanterns look cool with the root left dangling, but are hard to put down if carried about. Leave the lid off or put it back on (with a small chimney in the center if you use a real candle).

They last about three days indoors, five or six outside if the weather is cool and dry.

Pop in a light and bingo, the Sean na gealai, ancestor to the modern pumpkin Jack.

I will be making them for the second time in my life this Halloween, and I encourage all my fellow Forum fiends to try them as well. What better place online for turnip lanterns to find a home than this nightmarish nook of the net?

GREAT idea! My wife is a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH), and Irish/American organization, and is the historian. What a great project to share!

Ol' Stingy Jack's legend will continue! Spats I have been debating making a prop of the devil caught in a tree with Stingy Jack carving a cross in the tree surrounded by carved turnips

Please post pics of your carve when you are done.

Yay!!! someone else that wants to carve a turnip this year!!!! lets do it

I forgot to post last years pics - here is hoping I'll get some posted this year.

Carve a turnip and post it, inspire us all.

This is an EXCELLENT idea. If I try this, I'll post pics.

Largest spade bit you can find. Extension bit so you don't turn your drill into a rutabaga-mâché project. Extra rutabagas for when you accidentally drill straight through the first one.

What a coincidence, as I was just reading about this very topic today elsewhere and had decided to make my own turnip lanterns this year for the first time. I was going for a very basic, natural, woodsy, back to the roots of halloween look this year with my decorating and I think this will help alot. Let's start a movement!

OK, I'm in. Pumpkins are expensive this year and I bet I can get a couple neeps for the price of a single pumpkin. I have an idea for a holder that I want to work on this weekend--I'll post a photo and maybe a tutorial if i can make it work.

I would like to do this also, I have often thought of doing some along with my pumpkins, just to keep part of the original traditions alive. I just have to find a good place to get one now.