This is one of my most absolute favourite times of the year. The crisp bright mornings full of golds and reds and browns and fading greens as the trees turn and the leaves fall, heralding the return of winter. In these parts it means the return of a long dark period when the months grow slower as we wait for the return of the sun and any hint of warmth in the air. It has also recently been Hallow'een and we love Hallow'een in Scotland. Hallow'een has always been a very important festival here. Yes, it's primarily a children's festival, for dressing up to go guising for sweets at neighbours houses. But this is an old festival which has travelled down through the centuries, and within the dressing up and the pumpkin carving (traditionally turnips in Scotland, but they have made way for the easily carved American pumpkin) lingers the remnants of something much older. Hallow'een is the day the spirits walk amongst us looking for those souls who are to be taken away back to the spirit world. Dressing up to disguise ourselves was done in the belief us mortals could hide amongst them so they wouldn't recognise us as living souls and snatch us away. The Celtic festival at this time is Samhuinn, also known as the Fire Festival. The Celtic cultural traditions run through Scotland still and haunt our festivals. The American style of Hallow'een originates from these, which later became All Hallows Eve through Christian influences. But our old world still permeates down through the centuries on the 31st October and is more Pagan than Christian.
The Samhuinn festival celebrates the Winter Gods overthrowing the Summer Gods, bringing in the Celtic New Year on the 31st October.
The Beltane Society in Edinburgh celebrates the festival in style each year.
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It is a dramatic, magical and otherworldly event. Beautiful too. Even frightening.
Costumes are dramatic and mystical.
Fire is a reassuring and powerful influence, bringing light and warmth in the coming dark months.
It is worth visiting Edinburgh for one of these festivals. There is also the Beltane Festival celebrated on the 31st April.
We also celebrated Hallow'een at home, with a party in the garden. Children and adults dressed up and there was mulled cider, and a BBQ and sweets and apple dunkin, and donuts tied on strings, dripping with honey. It was fun and silly and to be repeated.
Happy Hallow'een Everyone.......
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