Autumn Holiday at the Funen Village

Get your hands dirty this autumn half-term

Potatoes, turnips and other root vegetables have been an important part of rural diets for centuries. During the autumn half-term, Funen Village invites visitors to its Root Festival, where crops grown beneath the soil take centre stage. These crops played an important role in farmers’ kitchen gardens and households.

Children and adults can help dig up potatoes in the field and carve turnip lanterns, a tradition dating back to long before pumpkins became a familiar feature of autumn.

On Tuesday during the autumn half-term, one of the Village’s pigs is slaughtered. The butcher and the Village farmers explain what is happening throughout the process.

What can we learn from the past?

Funen Village increasingly connects the past with present-day questions about resources, consumption and everyday life. In the 19th century, reusing and repairing items and making careful use of available resources were a natural part of daily life, as very little could go to waste.

Living conditions were very different from those of today, but these old habits offer an interesting perspective on how we use, repair and reuse everyday items and materials. A visit gives families an insight into everyday life in the past while offering new perspectives on questions that remain relevant today.

You can also experience autumn throughout the Village, where historic farms, gardens and fields provide the setting for your visit. Families can explore the surroundings and discover how the changing seasons shaped work and food in the 19th century.