shullie Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Does anyone else remember carving Swedes @ Halloween ? On another forum, someone is trying to find out if this was just a Scottish thing, I told them that I remember doing it in the 60's and 70 - before all the imported American stuff and Pumpkins arrived. So the question is was it just us (my family) or was it a well known thing to do down here too???. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nagel Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Yes, turnip lanterns were normal when I was growing up in the Sixties and pumpkins were unheard of. They were something Americans did. I seem to remember my kids having turnips for at least their first few Halloweens in the Eighties. Then pumpkins were promoted by the supermarkets as obviously a pumpkin can be sold for a lot more profit than a turnip. They also removed turnips from sale in the run up to Halloween to force the transition to pumpkins. We'd never heard of Samhain either. I'm presuming it's hippie-halloween? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Mid 70s: I can remember the smell of charred Halloween turnip now . I would have been more likely to see a witch flying on her broomstick over Hyde Park than have a candle-lit pumpkin as a nipper in my 70s Sheffield. Pumpkins were impossibly exotic back then, at least in my neck of the woods; I can't recall even seeing them for sale in those pre-supermarket days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shullie Posted October 14, 2011 Author Share Posted October 14, 2011 Phew Glad it's not me who remembers, thought I was having a senior moment ... Samhain- Celtic name - but you could call it All Hallows Eve too and Hop-Tu-Naa if you from Isle of Man ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodgepodge Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Yes, turnips in 1970's midlands too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shullie Posted October 14, 2011 Author Share Posted October 14, 2011 I can't remember seeing pumpkins either Hecate... and we had a shop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shullie Posted October 14, 2011 Author Share Posted October 14, 2011 Okay, so many people did, - 2nd question I have been asked to ask for those of you who remember making Swede Lanterns is do you have Scottish or Irish roots/heritage...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legs 49 Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Yes I had a turnip in the 1950's as my children did in the 1970's, pumpkins are an American tradition, one of many traditions that are starting to creep into our way of life. No Scottish or Irish roots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I can't remember seeing pumpkins either Hecate... and we had a shop! Now I come to think of it, I do recall having a pumpkin for one Halloween before leaving Sheffield, and that must have been in the mid-80s. I've got a vague recollection of making some sort of pumpkin scones and pumpkin jam-type stuff with the scoopings that turned out to be... less than lovely. But certainly Halloweens of the mid and late 70s were decidedly pumpkin-free. No connection to Scotland here, at least back then, nor Ireland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodgepodge Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I do have vague scottish roots, but everyone used turnips.....everyone . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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