Punky Night falls on the last Thursday in October and is a Somerset tradition.

Some time in the Middle Ages, all the men of Hinto St George went off to a fair. When they failed to return that evening, the women went looking for them by the light of punkies.

Punky is another name for a pumpkin which has been hollowed out and has a candle standing inside it.

Traditionally on this night, children in the South of England would carve their ‘Punkies’, (pumpkins) into Jack O'Lanterns. Once carved the children would go out in groups and march through the streets, singing traditional ‘punky’ songs, calling in at friendly houses and competing for best lantern with rival groups they meet. The streets would be lit with the light of the Punkies.

Nowadays, on Punky Night in Hinton St George, Somerset, local children join a procession through the village streets, swinging their homemade lanterns and going house to house, singing traditional ‘punky’ songs and sometimes getting a few pennies at the front door.

It's Punky Night, tonight,
It's Punky Night, tonight,
Give us a candle, give us a light.
It's Punky Night, tonight.It's Punky Night, tonight,
It's Punky Night, tonight,
Adam and Eve, wouldn't believe
It's Punky Night, tonight.

Also on this day......

28 October 1886: The Statue of Liberty was dedicated.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the Unitrd States of America from the country of France.

Facts about the Statue of Liberty:

• Height = 305 feet and 1 inch
• The palm of her hand alone could contain several people.
• The total weight is 225 tons.
• There are 25 windows in the crown
• 171 stairs from the base to the torch.