CARVED TURNIPS STORIES & LORE
(excerpts from posts)
(If you want to retell any of the stories listed below, be sure to obtain permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain)

A few years ago, I believe it was John Row, sent a URL for a photo of children holding carved turnip heads. Did anyone keep it? If so, or if you know where to find any other such photos (I've done a google search and come up with nothing), please share the URL with me.

1) There's no photo, but there are drawings and carving suggestions at Conrad's site. I knew he'd have something there.
http://www.bcpl.net/~hutmanpr/turnip.html

2) My husband used to do this (carving turnips and putting candles in them) when he was wee. The other day he was waxing lyrical about it and I said to him, "Why don't we get a couple of turnips this year and carve them instead of a pumpkin?" He looked at me and snorted. "Nah," he said. "They were murder to do." Ah for the golden years.

3) It isn't of photos but check out
http://www.pumpkinnook.com/facts/jack.htm
for some history (and stories) behind carved turnips There's a single photo of a carved turnip on
http://susiesplace.virtualave.net/hween/hween.html
or
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/cutpaste/craft/turniplite/
or
http://www.rampantscotland.com/let021026.htm
and
http://www.jsonline.com/enter/gen/oct02/91851.asp
brings the following illustration:

4) No photos, but the children at the "Historical Haunting" on Saturday were carving some, using spoons to hollow them out. It was pretty interesting. I was too frozen after my set (outdoors under an open tent) to want to try it, though.

(This web page updated 10/28/03)