This is 'Samhain' by Jess at Olann, and if I've time today I shall wind the skein and cast on, as Samhain starts at sunset.
In the Isle of Man, where I grew up, Samhain 'crosses' with Hop-tu-naa, and never mind the Johnny-come-lately pumpkin, it was turnips we made into lanterns on this day.
If the Culture Vannin website (from where that video comes) is anything to go by, the old ways are being kept alive, though I do admit that pumpkins are easier to carve and don't have the distinctive aroma of the turnip when the candle flame scorches the flesh ....
My childhood in the SE of England rarely had any Halloween celebrations other than apple bobbing at Brownies. My older sister's attended Scottish dancing classes; a treasured photo shows them dressed as bats ( my mother had done amazing things with dyed sheets) holding turnip lanterns carved by my father. i don't think I saw a real pumpkin until I was in the USA in the early '80's. Now we are awash with them!
Posted by: Fran H-B | 02 November 2017 at 05:56 AM
We used to use turnips too, definitely harder to carve but they now seem more 'authentic'. I didn't see a pumpkin for many years. Halloween was a big event for us as children, but when we went round the houses we mostly got apples and nuts and, very rarely, sweets.
Posted by: Helen | 02 November 2017 at 05:29 PM
Lovely wool! Yes, it was turnips for me, too - though I'm sure we only did one as they were so hard to carve. And a Halloween cake - a barm back with a wedding ring inside. I was convinced the ring was real gold!
Posted by: Mary | 03 November 2017 at 01:51 PM
Sorry, barm brack! Spellcheck has clearly never encountered traditional cake!
Posted by: Mary | 03 November 2017 at 01:53 PM
Ah, the tumshie heid of beloved memory! The yarn looks beautiful - look forward to seeing the finished object.
Posted by: fifiquilter | 04 November 2017 at 10:40 PM