 The
carved turnip head is essential for the creation
of a proper
Celtic atmosphere for Samhain-Halloween
-October 31.
Now I do hope you did first things first and made a Parshal to put on your
door to keep the evil spirits away. If not, then best
go make one here! The turnip is not a turnip at all (well,that
is,for Americans!)
We call them rutabagas (Swedes after the proper name: Swedish Turnip for
those of the British Isles!) . Once they are
carved and lit up with a candle they glow with an eerie
yellow-ivory -you might say skull like quality! When
they are suspended
they look just like skulls floating in
the night! Their shape is much more scull like than
any pumpkin could
ever be! (The ancient Celts had no Pumpkins!) Once you have this
ready find
out what else you need to do to get ready for Samhain.
Go
here.
Materials:
1.large rutabaga
(turnip or Swede). I try to
find one with
the proper scull
shape-(slightly tapered toward the
chin) the larger the better.
2.One sharp
knife and teaspoon.
3.Newspaper
4.Container
for the turnip shavings.
5.Candle
6. Sturdy
wire- about 12 inches
Instructions:
1 .Cut the
top off the turnip- not too far down.
2. Using the
knife carve out a hole into the top of the
turnip. Once there is enough room use the teaspoon
to hollow out the turnip so that the turnip is
translucent- that is when you hold it up to the light
you can see it glow.
3.Using a
sharp knife carve a Celtic face into the turnip
shell. Remember! this is not a pumpkin so no pumpkin
gap tooth smile select a good Celtic face!
4.Flatten
ot the inside of the base making a slight
depression
to hold the candle.
5.Light candle
and drip wax into depression in the
center. Stick candle upright in the wax.
6.Pierce a
hole in each side of the top of the turnip
Insert the wire for a handle.
7.Use the
resulting grated turnip for dinner! Very Healthy
Actually......You can even squeeze it and make
turnip juice!
How
did you do? Let me know!
Now
you are ready to bring the Celtic Spirit
to
your celebrations and hauntings-
A
line of people with lit turnip heads walking up a field at night
is quite scary!
Now all you
need
are some good Irish Stories to go with it!
Try
the Irish Studies Pages!
Back
to the Irish Crafts Pages
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1. Find a big one!
2.Flatten its head!
And scoop it out!
3.You must have a good
Celtic Face
Try This one!
Be Sure to cut out the Eyes!
and put on the handle!
(Just don't let this face be
Yours after eating turnips-
they are good for you!) |
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