Howkin Neeps
In the interest of preserving traditions and the need to do something with the largest neep in Scotland, I decided to get creative this evening. Not only am I making about seventeen pots of soup, but I revisited my childhood and howked a neep. Neep lanterns, or turnip lanterns for those of you wha dinna ken, are believed to have originated in the North East of Scotland - long before the ubiquitous pumpkin. It has to be said they are harder to create , which is probably why the Asda Masses have taken to pumpkins so willingly. I prefer the gnarly textures, the sense of satisfaction and of course the fact that neeps are purple 
Samhain Blessings to one and all!
![[del.icio.us]](http://taexalia.me/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Facebook]](http://taexalia.me/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Reddit]](http://taexalia.me/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/reddit.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://taexalia.me/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Technorati]](http://taexalia.me/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png)
![[Twitter]](http://taexalia.me/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
Tags: halloween, neep lanterns, neeps, north east, samhain, turnip carving
Posted on October 31, 2007 in Creativity, Scotland.
Women With Altitude
That is awesome!!! I have never heard of carving as turnip. It must be hard to do.
Hi Taexalia,
So glad I found your blogs! I never saw a neep this big–how creative. One of my best friends lives in Glasgow (I’m in Oregon, USA) and I’ve visited Edinburgh several times. I am going to order something from your items of the Celtic Mermaid collection. She is a figure I put on my personal card about 15 years ago–although I think of her as Pictish.
Blessings,
Sharry
I love doing this! I used to live in the north east and at halloween I would always make these!