How Is Halloween Celebrated In Scotland?

[macwilkin]

No one has mentioned that the original name for the holiday was Samhain, various spellings, pronounced sew-ron. So I have!

And it seems this is another major contribution the Scots-Irish made to North American culture that they get no credit for, I mean in the modern mind. Explains why Halloween always seemed to be much more of a Protestant thing (in my childhood) than a Catholic one.

I suppose it depends on which branch of Protestantism you were thinking of; without crossing the line in terms of forum rules, I have always associated the holiday more with Catholicism and other liturgical churches such as "my own" Episcopal Church, since "All Hallow's Eve" is the evening before All Saints Day in the liturgical calendar.

One thing though: Halloween as a an American holiday is a relatively recent innovation; the late 19th century at the earliest, although as I mentioned earlier, certain aspects, such as divination of the future were practiced by the Scots-Irish in the past. I doubt the more militant Protestant Scots-Irish ever celebrated the Feast of All Hallows, given its association with All Saints Day.

T.

[Ryan Ross]

I've always pronounced it sah-win http://www.collegewicca.com/sounds/samhain.wav

Sounds good to me.

[Jock Scot]

I have no idea of the religious connotations of Halloween,or its roots, but I have, rightly or wrongly, assumed that the whole idea is an American thing. It most certainly was not heard of up in this part of Scotland in its present form until about 20/30 years ago. "Trick or treating" happened before then in a minor way, but I can't honestly remember if that happened at the end of October, but I think not. I think these days, Halloween is a minor event reserved mainly for young children, but I suspect that the "any excuse for a party" type reasoning is starting to take hold.

[The Thing]

In Ireland as a kid, Halloween would almost be as big as Christmas. The boys of the area would gather tyres, pallets and anything else that would burn for some weeks before the big night and make a bonfire.
You would go out collecting Hazel nuts and gather sloes and wild plums for making wine. The old farmers would have the hedges cut and make a bonfire out of it.
Come Halloween night everyone would all dress up and go trick or treating and then go back to our houses and have a party. The party would consist of the usual games, bobbing apples, hanging apples, telling ghost stories etc.
Instead of Jack o laterns we'd use bull rushes dipped in pariffin and keep them lit for hours.
Then later in the night the mischief would start, nothing too bad; turning street signs around, knocking on doors and throwing water baloons and eggs at people.

[Bugbear]

It probably is our fault, Jock, even if we didn't come up with the original Halloween.

Thanks for that description, The Thing.

And I appreciate everyone else's descriptions, thank you.

[Downunder Kilt]

I have no idea of the religious connotations of Halloween,or its roots, but I have, rightly or wrongly, assumed that the whole idea is an American thing. It most certainly was not heard of up in this part of Scotland in its present form until about 20/30 years ago. "Trick or treating" happened before then in a minor way, but I can't honestly remember if that happened at the end of October, but I think not. I think these days, Halloween is a minor event reserved mainly for young children, but I suspect that the "any excuse for a party" type reasoning is starting to take hold.

Exactly as I remember it in my part of downunder Jock. Up until about 25 years ago the only mention of Halloween here was in the cartoons and sitcoms that came from the US. Now we have every party shop, craft shop, and hotel listing the lastest in halloween costumes and parties.

Someone has mentioned(I think pleater) bonfire night, Is this the same as Guy Fawkes night or as we called it as kids "cracker night". Now that was a night, now banned because fireworks are too dangerous for the kids of today.

Memories

[Jock Scot]

Exactly as I remember it in my part of downunder Jock. Up until about 25 years ago the only mention of Halloween here was in the cartoons and sitcoms that came from the US. Now we have every party shop, craft shop, and hotel listing the lastest in halloween costumes and parties.

Someone has mentioned(I think pleater) bonfire night, Is this the same as Guy Fawkes night or as we called it as kids "cracker night". Now that was a night, now banned because fireworks are too dangerous for the kids of today.

Memories

Yes, November 5th is Guy Fawkes night, aka Bonfire night.

[Lallans]

Yes, November 5th is Guy Fawkes night, aka Bonfire night.

"Please to remember
The Fifth of November
Gunpowder treason and plot;
I see no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot."

[Lallans]

I suppose it depends on which branch of Protestantism you were thinking of; without crossing the line in terms of forum rules, I have always associated the holiday more with Catholicism and other liturgical churches such as "my own" Episcopal Church, since "All Hallow's Eve" is the evening before All Saints Day in the liturgical calendar.

One thing though: Halloween as a an American holiday is a relatively recent innovation; the late 19th century at the earliest, although as I mentioned earlier, certain aspects, such as divination of the future were practiced by the Scots-Irish in the past. I doubt the more militant Protestant Scots-Irish ever celebrated the Feast of All Hallows, given its association with All Saints Day.

T.

I grew up in a bit of a culturally unique area. Now ethnically cleansed, fortunately without violence.

Somewhere in my warehouse of books, aka the spare room, where I'll never find it for a year, I have a book entitled "Memories Of An Ulster Boyhood." In that the author talks about going around on Halloween (I think) and reciting an old verse at every door. I remember the gentleman remarking that the words of the verse probably predated Cromwell. When I've dug the book out, by next year, I'll post the verse- like many things of its day, it's clearly cryptic information, a mneumonic if you will.

[Bugbear]

Funny how things from one's childhood bubble up into thoughts during discussions.

I almost posted, yesterday, that I seemed to remember lumenaria (small paper bags partly filled with sand and a lit candle inside) being set out along walkways during Halloween in New Mexico. But no, that was Christmas and other celebrations.