I used to love Halloween as a kid in Scotland. We do it different to the Americans. For those that don't know by the way, Halloween did not start off in America. It originated in the Celtic culture, but no one knows how far back it started.
Anyway as I was saying, in Scotland the children come around the doors after dark dressed up in their costumes. They carry a bag or sack to hold their goodies in, but instead of saying "Trick or Treat", in my day they used to recite a rhyme. Which ran thus, The sky is blue, the grass is green, please give me my Halloween. Some children just said, Happy Halloween or such like. The person at the house would then invite the children indoors. The children then entertained the people in the house with a song, a joke, poetry , or what ever they wanted to show the household. The children were then given their treats.
Back in those days you would expect to be given an apple, some nuts in their shells (like peanuts), some little sweets, some sultanas and an orange. This was always quite a happy occasion for the children. They never were ungrateful or out to be mean and nasty to people that didn't participate in the event.
This also marks the start of our winter season in Scotland and Ireland.
I can recall being at Primary school and making Halloween craft items to hang up in the class and craft items to take home to show my parents. This was an exciting time of year for children. A few days later on the 5th of November was Guy Fawkes night. We children would be hoping that it wouldn't rain on the night so that we could see the fireworks.
For a week or two prior to Guy Fawkes night, young boys would be busy making a "Guy" effigy to burn on the big night. They would wheel the Guy around in a wheel barrow through the streets and shout "penny for the Guy". If they were lucky the local folk would give them some loose change to save for fireworks for the big night.
The atmosphere at this time of year is one of excitement and mystery. I have many fond memories of these days. Old traditions that I hold dear to this day. The other thing that made this event fun was the cold dark afternoons and nights. The ice on the footpaths and fog depending on the weather over the week. Most deffinatley after the 5th of November the weather began to get even colder. which brings more ice and then the snow.Not fun for adults but it sure is for kids.
Our Celtic culture is still strong to this day and we still pass on stories word of mouth to each generation in turn. Even when we have moved overseas there is still a part of us Celts that we bring with us to new lands.
It is all part of lifes rich tapestry my friends. We all love to hear stories of years gone by but how many of us stop to think where did it all start.
The link that I have added here may help to shed some light on that. I hope that you all find this interesting and entertaining.
Copyright by Alex Fulford 2010
