72 Seasons
28 October – 1 November: The Pumpkins are Carved
The tradition of carving faces into vegetables dates back to the Celts. As part of their autumnal celebration, they wanted to light the way to their homes for the good spirits, so they carved faces into vegetables such as turnips and squash. Or it could be from the tale of Stingy Jack, who is a character from Irish folk tales. Jack was said to be a blacksmith who tricked the Devil for his own financial gain. After Jack died, God didn’t allow him into heaven, and the Devil didn’t let him into hell. Instead, Jack was sentenced to roam the earth for eternity. The people of Ireland would carve demonic faces out of turnips to frighten away Jack’s wandering soul.
Whichever way it came about, take the time to enjoy carved pumpkins all around you.
72 Seasons is a creative project, which can encourage a deeper connection to nature and improve wellbeing at the same time.
In addition to the seasons profiled each month in Parish News, you can find out more about the project in detail at www.72seasons.co.uk, or follow along on social media and explore the rest of the 72 Seasons: Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.