Punkie Night
We all know about Halloween on the 31st October and Guy Fawkes’ on the 5th November but did you know about the other English custom for late October? Those from Somerset will know what we are referring to when we say Punkie Night.
Celebrated on the last Thursday of October, this year’s Punkie Night will fall on 25th. On that night children led by the Punkie King and Queen will march around with jack o’lanterns carved from pumpkins and sing the Punkie Night song:
It’s Punkie Night tonight
It’s Punkie Night tonight
Adam and Eve would not believe
It’s Punkie Night tonight
As with all traditions, several variations of the song have evolved. Some of the alternative endings include “Give me a candle, give me a light, if you don’t you’ll get a fright” and “Give me a candle, give me a light, if you haven’t a candle a penny’s alright.”
The exact origins of the festival are not known although it is generally accepted to be linked to Halloween. The word Punkie is an old-English word for lantern, referring to the jack o’lanterns carried by the participating children. Various stories relating to Punkie Night refer to an old tradition where farmers hung Punkies on their fences to ward off evil Halloween spirits or to women making lanterns to guide their husband home from the fair, which used to be held in Chiselborough in late October.
While Punkie Night is celebrated in several parts of Somerset, the tradition is most firmly established in Hinton St George.
cushion the impact provides award winning personal and virtual assistance and customised lifestyle management for hard working and hard living individuals and small business owners. We know there aren’t enough hours in the day, so let us help you live an organised, efficient, & fulfilling life. Take a deep breath & call us today. Your personal service awaits!
