Halloween in Scotland traces back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a celebration marking the end of the harvest season and start of winter. Scots believed that on October 31, the veil between the living and the spirit world was at its thinnest, allowing ghosts to roam freely. To ward off these spirits, people dressed in disguises—a tradition known as guising—and carried carved-out turnips (neeps) with candles inside to light their way.
This old Scottish custom laid the foundation for modern Halloween traditions. Guising is still alive and well, with kids donning costumes and going door-to-door, bringing a bit of spooky fun to neighbourhoods across Scotland each year! In recent post Millennium times, Americanisms have sneaked into Scottish Culture, somewhat commercialising the whole tradition. We’re now ‘trick or treating’ and turnips have given way to Pumpkins, more easy to carve.
If YOU keep up Scottish traditions at Halloween, fair play to you!
