We think people should ditch the pumpkin this Halloween and go traditional with a Scottish lantern made using the humble tumshie. For centuries, Halloween in Scotland the turnip was used until the much more popular American version came along.
Most Scots of a certain age will recall how sore their arms were and of course, the distinctive smell, that came from carving a neep at Halloween.
A far more robust, rewarding and terrifying lantern for children at this time of year, the turnip is the ideal alternative to the new-fangled turnip fad that's been sweeping the UK over the past decade.
Used to contain the flame that would be used to ward off evil spirits at this spookiest time of year, the turnip is also usually in more plentiful supply for those who have maybe left it late too.
The tradition is said to have begun with the festival of Samhain, which was regarded as a liminal time between the plains by the highly superstitious Celts.
They saw this time of the year as a weakening of the boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead, and a time when those from the latter could cross into the former.
Fire was used as a way to stave off evil spirits with terrifying lanterns carved using vegetables like turnips to increase the effect.
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What you'll need to carve your Halloween Turnip
To carve your turnip you'll need hardier tools than those used for the softer pumpkins.
You'll need:
- a turnip (In England, this is a Swede and in the US, you want a rutabaga)
- a knife
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a smaller craft knife
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a large spoon (apparently melon ballers are the best)
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a chopping board
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a pencil or marker to mark your design.
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You'll also probably need your candle or tea light (these can be electronic or LED if you want to be extra safe.
How to carve
1. First you need to cut a thin slice off the base with your knife to make it more flat and stable.
2. Then you need to cut a thicker slice off the top to make your lantern top.
3. Then you need to decide on your favourite side, the rougher and more bashed the vegetable is the better the results.
4. Then use your knife to help soften up the inside by scoring down through the inner flesh, then use the sturdy spoon to scoop the insides out until a wall that's about half a cm thick is left. Be careful if it's the children who want to do this part, you may want to supervise or help them out.
(This is the hard bit.)
5. Next use your pencil or marker to create the design then use your craft knife to cut out your design, either poking holes fully or scoring to create a shaded effect.
6. Finally, add your candle or tealight (normal, LED or electric) for the full effect of the lantern.
7. For an extra terrifying effect, keep your turnips somewhere cool and dry to display next year when they'll be dried out even further.
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