Happy Halloween

As I mentioned yesterday, I carved a pumpkin lantern so here it is. Growing up in Aberdeenshire, the custom was to carve neeps (turnips) into lanterns. Pumpkins were just not available in the shops. Of course, turnips are extremely hard and solid, unlike soft pumpkins. So my sister and I would scrape away for a bit until parents had to take over. Guising was the tradition, children would go round the houses performing songs or telling jokes to gain treats instead of 'Trick or Treat'. Now, the universal global culture has pretty much swept it away. Pumpkins can be bought as easily in Aberdeenshire and the kids trick or treat if they can tear themselves away from the T.V. or video games.