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Original poster

The dying art of swede carving

142 replies

MildGreenDairyLiquid · 30/10/2024 12:58

A lot is said about traditional crafts dying out - thatching, stonemasonry, stained glass. But what about swede carving?

I’m pretty sure I didn’t see a pumpkin in this country until I was 35.

Before that it was the humble swede, now cruelly forgotten.

Tastes nicer too.

OP posts:
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7
Toottooot · 30/10/2024 14:23

We have a few neepie lanterns in houses near us.

Arglefraster · 30/10/2024 14:22

Then a screwdriver through the sides for the bastard string!

Clapshot with every meal for days after...

Thevelvelletes · 30/10/2024 14:16

purplebeansprouts · 30/10/2024 13:00

Do you boil it first?

No ,cut of the top keep it for a lid ,scoop out with a spoon and get sair hands,carve out ,eyes,nose , mouth,drip in candle wax , insert stub of a candle,string through the sides ,lid back on .. equals a neepy lantern..Ne Scotland style ala 1970s.

therewasafishinthepercolator · 30/10/2024 14:05

I was well in to adulthood before I saw a pumpkin too.

My kids think it's hilarious we carved turnips.

Thank goodness we don't do that now. I'd probably only have 2 fingers left. All power to my mum and dad.

LunaNorth · 30/10/2024 13:58

Yep, dad used to do me a turnip lantern every Hallowe’en, and I used to like eating the raw turnip.

I can still smell the singed lid, and remember picking the melted wax off my duffel coat after going around the neighbours’ houses saying ‘penny for Hallowe’en’.

It always felt a bit spooky, and if it was windy we used to say witches were flying around the chimney. Loved it.

UnctuousUnicorns · 30/10/2024 13:55

We had swede lanterns too when I was a kid (I'm 54). I think my dad carved them.

Expletive · 30/10/2024 13:51

I used to make them as a child. Up North we called them turnip lanterns.

A huge amount of effort and really stink when you light the candle inside.

Grumpymumma · 30/10/2024 13:49

Wow, I was just telling my husband about this. I thought it was something strange only my family did!

GiddyRobin · 30/10/2024 13:48

We still do it in our house! We've got pumpkins, too, but there will be two very proud turnips with a candle inside on my mantle come Halloween night. 😁 I've managed to teach DH how to do it, too, which is fun. He's come a long way in ten years. 🤣

elgreco · 30/10/2024 13:47

I did it once as a child, it's incredibly hard work. I'd call it a turnip tho.

FinnJuhl · 30/10/2024 13:44

Yes, and only ever one swede, because of a) the sin of excess b) the immense time taken to hack away at them and c) risk to life or limb.**

I have gradually notched up the number of pumpkins I buy each year, while guiltily sensing my dad spinning in his grave.

eddiemairswife · 30/10/2024 13:42

Mashed swede with loads of butter and pepper...yummy! Before tealights we had nightlights-- slighly larger, standing in a saucer of water by my bed at grandma's. No electricity, only gas lighting downstairs.

LushLemonTart · 30/10/2024 13:36

CombatLingerie · 30/10/2024 13:23

Halloween was ‘Narkie Night’ when I was young in the North East. Turnips were narkies we never called them swedes. We used to go narkie picking in the October half term holiday for the local farmers. We used old kitchen knives to carve the insides out, our hands were red raw by the end of it. My Mam helped all three of us siblings carve them sometimes. What a woman! I also loved the smell of the burning turnip from a stub of an old candle. We used to hang them up on the backyard wall still lit up when we went to bed.I think I have posted about this before so apologies if I am repeating myself.

I'm north east and never heard that term?

AChickenPooAndABiscuit · 30/10/2024 13:32

DollopOfFun · 30/10/2024 13:02

We had the small white pillar candles (that toppled over) and yes, the smell of that lovely burning swede.

My mum used to carve FOUR of 'em for us kids- she must have had forearms like Popeye

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Sorry this really made me laugh! I sometimes have trouble mashing swede when it's cooked, let alone carving one raw! 😂

CombatLingerie · 30/10/2024 13:23

Halloween was ‘Narkie Night’ when I was young in the North East. Turnips were narkies we never called them swedes. We used to go narkie picking in the October half term holiday for the local farmers. We used old kitchen knives to carve the insides out, our hands were red raw by the end of it. My Mam helped all three of us siblings carve them sometimes. What a woman! I also loved the smell of the burning turnip from a stub of an old candle. We used to hang them up on the backyard wall still lit up when we went to bed.I think I have posted about this before so apologies if I am repeating myself.

SabbatWheel · 30/10/2024 13:23

We were just talking about this last night!
I remember the first time carving a pumpkin for DD and, being of the swede era, was expecting a fight and wasn’t looking forward to it.

Dear god, the revelation as I took the top off and realised just how PISS EASY this was going to be!!

MonkeyHair · 30/10/2024 13:22

We were talking about this in work yesterday as one of my time was carving them for an event. Apparently a good strong apple corer is what you need these days! 😂

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 30/10/2024 13:20

Oh my goodness you have reminded me just how bloody difficult it as to carve them. Hard enough to cut them to make mash.

Sajacas · 30/10/2024 13:19

Tradition is still going strong where I am. I have to carve one out next week so the child can troop through the village with it. It seems to be obligatory, I have the feeling that if we skip it the 'real' villagers might get out their pitchforks...

ZoeZee · 30/10/2024 13:11

It was swede or an old tin can with holes punched through it in our house, wax candle precariously placed inside 🤣

Songlines · 30/10/2024 13:09

Swede lanterns, now that brings back SO many memories!
I loved the time we spent round the kitchen table, squabbling over who got the spoon with the pointy end. They were much scarier than pumpkins, I think, and I loved the smell as the candles warmed them up
Thanks for the reminder (I'm 66)

RhubarbCrumbs · 30/10/2024 13:09

I’m nearly 40 and have never seen a carved swede!

Original poster
MildGreenDairyLiquid · 30/10/2024 13:09

I’m quite resilient and determined and I put it almost entirely down to early experiences swede carving.

OP posts:
QuestionableMouse · 30/10/2024 13:09

EileenBilton · 30/10/2024 13:05

In our house we used the chisel from my dad's toolbox.

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Same. My dad was a joiner until he retired and used to bring out his big drill too 🤣

Twiggywinkle13 · 30/10/2024 13:08

I actually asked my grandfather about this last night as he made one for my every year when I was a child. He claims he just used a knife to keep cutting bits out but surely he’s misremembering!