Saturday, October 31, 2009

A typical west of Scotland Halloween...


Hope the weather is guid fur the guising the nicht...



click here to see a typical Halloween doorstep scene in the West of Scotland.

7 comments:

Byrnetofferings said...

Hahaha, sounds about right.

Wormit Steve said...

Speaking as someone that comes from the states but has worked and lived here for coming up on 18 years I completely agree! It's NOT trick or treat it's guising. It's not pumpkins it's neeps (or the older Scots word, if you like). Tradition does not have to be lost because some shop has brought in cheap goods or some t.v. station airs a different cultural approach. Read your history. It's rich, it's interesting and, for those of you that have the time to look into Scottish Enlightenment, it's one of the foundations of liberty and libertarianism.

RantinRab said...

Indeed Steve. Have a look at a traditional 'tumshie' lantern. (Tumshie is a scots word for turnip. A turnip is what the English would call a swede).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/1800222297_ff632d97b2_m.jpg

Wormit Steve said...

Here are but a few reads...

(note the Pictish (former Scots) references beginning to be lost.

http://www.scottishradiance.com/halstory.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-or-treating

http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow_halloween.htm

Originally a festival for the dead, marking of the new year and rejected by other religions, cultures and peoples. Guising didn't have the "Trick" element of force or coercion.

Wormit Steve said...

Now which is more scary... the pumpkin or this???

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Traditional_Irish_halloween_Jack-o%27-lantern.jpg

RantinRab said...

I remember when I was a laddie and my brother and I went out guisin. My mother insisted that we knocked on the door and when answered we both had to say 'Please me we act aglochious' (spelling is probably way out!)

You had to ask permission first and had to entertain before you got any sweets or nuts.

Barlinnie said...

Not that I'd ever make a habit of agreeing with anyone fae Govan... but! Aye, clicking the link gives those on the outside of Glesga a good idea of whay my personal response would be.