Neep lanterns were once a common sight in Ireland, Sutherland in Scotland and Somerset in the south west of England. Also known as Spunkies, Mangel-Wurzels, Tomshees, Tattie Bogles and Punkies (named after the balls of ignited gas found on the Somerset Levels) these carved turnips were the precursor of the more well known Jack o’Lanterns. The term Jack o’Lantern comes from Irish folklore and the tale goes something like this. There was once a notorious drunkard and trickster named Jack who succeeded in persuading the Devil to climb a tree and trapped him there by carving a cross on its trunk. The Devil and Jack both made a deal whereby the Devil promised to never tempt Jack again. After Jack died, his troubled life prevented him from going to Heaven and the Devil got his revenge by refusing Jack entry to Purgatory. However, the Devil did give Jack a hollowed out turnip with a small ember inside so that he could light his way through the never ending darkness.
People used to carve faces onto hollowed out turnips and placing a candle inside attached them to gate posts or trees to keep witches and evil spirits away. Some turnip lanterns were left in stables and barns to protect the animals sheltered within. There is no Jack o’ Lantern folklore in England before the 20th century where Hallowe’en was a very subdued tradition.
Hollowing out turnips is not at all easy and I would suggest that it be done by an adult and not a child. I myself cut into the centre of the turnip by slicing small pieces away with a knife and scooping out what I could with a teaspoon. Some people swear that a melon baller does the trick. However you decide, please be careful and finding a turnip that is on the softer side does make the job easier.
The custom of Souling, on either All Saints’ Day or All Souls’ Day entailed begging for Soul Cakes, sweets or money in return for saying a prayer for the deceased loved ones of each household and singing Souling songs. This tradition was widely practised from the Middle Ages onwards. Originally, Soul Cakes were given to friends and family who had lost loved ones, but as time went on Soul Cakes or small round loaves called Soul Bread were handed out to visiting Soulers or anyone else who came to the house at Hallowe’en. A Soul cake was a flat round biscuit that was marked with a cross. Traditionally it was the young men and elders of the community who went knocking on people’s doors, not children. In Ireland, beggars would be given food to feast on in honour of St Columbus at this time.
“Soul, soul, for a soul cake! I pray, good missis, for a soul cake! An apple or pear, a plum or a cherry. Any good thing to make us merry. One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all. Up with the kettle and down with the pan, give us good alms and we’ll be gone.”
In other soul songs there were requests for ale, beer or silver coins and they usually contained verses that thanked the donor, wishing them good health and a long life to their family, workmen and livestock. Called Dirge Cakes in Aberdeenshire, they were given to every caller whether they came begging or not. They were believed to bring good luck and many families would keep them for years, even decades. In Carmarthenshire, they were called Dole Cakes and in Yorkshire their Soulmas Cake was a small fruit cake. In Northamptonshire, they made theirs with caraway seeds. In other regions it was just simply a small round loaf of wheat or barley with one being kept aside for luck during the coming year.
In the counties of Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Lancashire where the tradition of Souling was at its most popular, the Soulers were accompanied by the Hodening Horse; a man dressed in a white sheet or blanket and a horse’s head with hinged jaws that snapped. With an interesting mixture of Medieval Christian and pagan elements, the Hodening Horse’s exact origins are unknown. Some believe that the custom has its roots with the Norse god Odin or perhaps an ancient sacrificial horse rite. Others believe there to be a connection with Robin Hood who was seen as a bringer of good fortune. The custom of the Hodening Horse died out in the 19th century.
When Irish immigrants settled in America they continued the tradition of begging for sweets and cake which over time became an activity solely for children. Halloween events were organised making it safer for children and the phrase “trick or treat” was coined for the first time in 1939. Soon enough the original reason for handing out cakes and money was forgotten and all that remains is a shadow of a custom that is devoid of any true meaning and importance. Here is a recipe to make your own Soul Cakes.
Soul Cake Recipe -
6 oz (175g) butter 6 oz (175g) caster sugar 3 egg yolks 1 lb (400g) plain flour 1 tsp mixed spice 4 oz (100g) currants Some milk
Sift the flour into a bowl and add the mixed spice. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar then beat in one egg yolk at a time before adding the flour mixture, currants and a little milk. Mix to form a soft dough, using your hands helps, then roll out onto a floured surface to about half an inch thick. Use a cookie cutter or jar lid (we used coffee jar lid) to cut out the cakes. Prick each one with a fork and mark a cross with a blunt knife. Place on a greased baking tray or sheet and bake in a moderate pre-heated oven (350F/180c/Gas Mark 5) for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. There are many more recipes on line that have been slightly tweaked. This one is from the book ‘A Chronicle of Folk Customs by Brian Day.
Crafting a Parshell Cross from wheat straw is an ancient Irish custom and for it to be effective must only be done on All Hallows’ Eve. Once made, the cross is hung up inside above the front door, with the intention of warding off misfortune, sickness, evil spirits and witchcraft during the next twelve months. The cross is replaced with a new one on All Hallows’ Eve, with the previous year’s cross being moved to another part of the house or placed in an outbuilding such as a barn or stable. When removing the old cross the word ‘Fonstarensheehy’ is spoken out loud, but no one actually knows what this means anymore. It is so old that the meaning has been lost to us.
To make a Parshell Cross without wheat straw, tie two twigs (rowan wood is the most frequently used for protection) that are seven inches long together to make a cross shape. With twine, raffia, wool or any other natural cordage begin weaving under and over each twig turning it clockwise as you go. After a while you will need to go in the opposite direction so that all the sides are roughly equal. While weaving, ask that the cross protect your home and all who live in it. If you need to tie pieces of cordage together to continue your weaving, you can take advantage of this by placing specific intentions into each knot. When you are happy with it, make a loop so that you can hang it up more easily. It will look rustic and that is just fine. It is not supposed to look perfect. The magic is in the crafting, not in the aesthetics! For my Parshell Cross I doubled up on the twigs which were from a red oak and willow tree. I actually found it easier to tuck the cordage in-between the twigs when I was changing the direction of my weaving.
Please remember to use what you already have on hand when making traditional charms. Adapt and make them your own if you feel called to because our ancestors would have done exactly the same to get the job done (e.g for fertility, protection or health). Do not believe one minute that they worried about a charm not working because it was not crafted in exactly the same way as their grandmother had done it. They BELIEVED that it would work and that was good enough for them. Our ancestors innovated more often than you think. Traditions continually evolve, and that is perfectly fine as long as it is done respectfully and meaningfully. Have fun!
If you do partake in any of these crafts then please tag me on Instagram or Substack as I would love to see them.
Wishing you a blessed Hallowtide,
Elissa
I just adored this essay, Elissa. I'll have to tag you on my turnip lantern post! ♡