Comments on: Why We Carve Pumpkins at Halloween

By: Roisin de Buitlear

Roisin de Buitlear — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 09:20:55 +0000

Thank you for sharing this information about the origins of pumpkin carving, in fact we never had pumpkins growing in Ireland until quite recently, and people used to carve turnips. Here is one from the national museum collection. We have a whole lot of food associated with Halloween here too, and Barm brack (Bairin Breac) Speckled Loaf of fruit packed bread made with tea and colcannon a mixture of mashed potato and Kurly Kale is still eaten by us on that night. We hide coins wrapped in aluminium foil in the potato.. its a great way to get kids to eat cabbage! The cake was also for divining the future and has a ring, and other items hidden in it. Each items means something different. At this time of year all over Ireland you can buy commercial cakes with rings hidden in them, but nothing is as good as your own.

By: margie

margie — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:44:14 +0000

What if you have never carved a pumpkin and want to try it? Any suggestions/instructions? Are there good kits to buy?

By: Vicky from VickyandJen.com

Vicky from VickyandJen.com — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:55:12 +0000

I’m also a non-carver! Here’s what I did with my son last year and it was a huge hit: Gave him washable markers & a damp sponge and let me decorate his pumpkin over and over. I let him use golf tees and a toy hammer / wooden mallet to pound into another pumpkin. It lasted about 2 weeks then it was time to say goodbye to poor mushy pumpkin! – Vicky from VickyandJen.com