October 30
Punky Light
Around Hinton St. George, Somerset, just before Halloween, comes Punky Night. A punky-derived from pumpkin-is a hollowed out mangold-wurzel, with shapes cut through the sides of a lighted candle place inside of it to form a lanter. The local children paraded the streets with their punky lights and collect money as they chanted:
It’s Punky Night tonight.
It’s Punky Night tonight.
Give us a candle, give us a light,
It’s Punky Night tonight.
The parade ends at the Victory Hall for the judging of the best pumpkin. After the best design has been picked, the Punky King and Queen are choosen–usually the two who have collected the most money for charity.
It seems that long ago, the menfolk of the village went to the Chiselborough Fair, where they got drunk off cider and could not find their way home. So their wives made punkies and set off together to gather them home. Since then, Punky night has been an annual event.
Witches Of The Craft® 