Some traditionalists even still make turnip lanterns in the autumn.ĭr Joan Allen, senior lecturer in Modern British History at Newcastle University, said: "Basically, this is a 'tradition' adopted from the US where Halloween was always a bigger and more commercial event. (Image: NCJ Media)īut - in the north of England and Scotland at least - many still stuck to the trusty neep until very recently. The group from Whitley Bay were taking part in a Spectro Arts workshop and were busy working on their turnip lanterns, painting scary masks and creating a model dragon. Youngsters preparing for a Halloween parade were snapped by a Chronicle photographer in October 1974. The new method eventually found its way back over the Atlantic.Ĭhildren in Whitley Bay pictured with their Halloween turnips, October 1974 Lib - Remember when column. However, the immigrants found the pumpkin - which is native to the USA - was much easier to carve than a rock-hard turnip or swede. It's Europeans who took the tradition to America, English Heritage says, thanks to emigration in the 19th century. The only light he was allowed was burning coal placed inside a carved turnip.Īcross Britain and Ireland, many used turnips to make their own lanterns in a bid to scare away evil spirits. Jack was cursed to spending his entire existence roaming about in the dark. Read more: Gateshead house of horrors lit up for Halloween Why we made Halloween lanterns out of turnipsĪccording to English Heritage, the Jack O'Lantern tradition originated from an Irish folk tale about a man named Jack. If you've ever tried carving an intricate pattern with a flimsy knife into a raw turnip, you'll know the dangers can be more frightening than any Halloween costume could ever be. But carving a Halloween lantern has certainly got a lot easier since we started growing more American pumpkins in the UK.īecause before that, it was the humble turnip Geordie families used to make Jack O'Lanterns. Whether that is a good or a bad thing is up to you. Halloween nowadays is a much bigger deal and a lot more Americanised than it used to be.
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