Thread: Jack and his Irish Name

Tweet

So who is Sean na Gealai?

Better yet, how do you say "Sean na Gealai"?
Well, this is close enough for government work - Shawn na Gwallee. All the 'a's are long, 'ah', as in squall or all.

The name Sean is Irish for John, and of course Jack is another variant of John.

'Gealach' is Irish for moon, whereas 'gealai' is half, waning or small moon, a word also used to indicate lanterns.

So when the Irish of about three centuries ago told tales of a wicked trickster so depraved he wasn't even welcome in Hell, a man so feared his face kept the forces of darkness at bay, they called him Sean.
His full title is Sean na Gealai, "John of the little moon/Jack of the Lantern"

And when they carved his face and lit it with a coal or candle, they used turnips - but not just any turnips.
The Irish used a large turnip called a Swede, or Swedish Turnip...


also known as a rutabaga.

This explains my unearthly fear of rutabaga's. Gives me the shivers just thinking about them.

Yeah, but I gotta admit, it would be cool to see carved rutabaga Jacks, hanging from porches old-world style.

I thought it would be a cool alternative for those looking for something more traditional.

I may have to make one this year.

I LOVED this! Thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by Spats

Yeah, but I gotta admit, it would be cool to see carved rutabaga Jacks, hanging from porches old-world style.

I thought it would be a cool alternative for those looking for something more traditional.

I may have to make one this year.

That really would be cool.

Thank you!

Yeah, if I carve a rutabaga Jack, I'll post pics.

I hope others give it a shot as well. After all, we ARE the Halloween Forum; higher standard and all that jazz.

Thank you, Spats, that's very cool. I have an old Martha Stewart Halloween magazine where she shows how to carve a turnip. They look really cute with their little root end hanging down.

Originally Posted by GhostMagnet

Thank you, Spats, that's very cool. I have an old Martha Stewart Halloween magazine where she shows how to carve a turnip. They look really cute with their little root end hanging down.

Is there some sort of a method? I mean, turnips are hard inside...right? (...she asked stupidly) How do you dig in there?

Originally Posted by Spats

Thank you!

Yeah, if I carve a rutabaga Jack, I'll post pics.

I hope others give it a shot as well. After all, we ARE the Halloween Forum; higher standard and all that jazz.

I think we should!!! I think we should have the Halloween Forum Carve a Rutabaga or Turnip Challenge this year. EVERYONE has to carve at least one or the other.

Do we get some sort of clearance from Larry, or another Mod?

Or do we just decide we wanna see carved rutabagas?

BTW, you carve them with small knives, files, melon ballers, keyhole saws - whatever you can manage.
And doing so, you will quickly appreciate why the pumpkin became the prefered produce for Jacks, even in Ireland.