Not to know that Halloween is considered a big thing in Scotland?

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Scottish Highland born and bred, Scottish parents. We never did Halloween and nothing for it whatsoever. Christmas was big though.

I see people all over MN saying how big it was in Scotland? I seem to have missed it?

I am talking 70s/80s here, for reference.

Jammiebammie, I’ve heard that too but as Christmas is coming.

Jammie I know that song from my own (English) youth, but it's Christmas is coming etc (Hence the goose getting fat as that's what you'd eat.)

X post kate!

We had guising, dooking for apples, treacle scones etc in the late 80s/early 90s (as my mother remembers it in the 50s and my grandparents ahint that), but people didn't decorate houses, there wasn't a big thing in shops etc: it was very much a 'folk celebration'.

Was a thing in North Lanarkshire in the 80s and 90s. My primary school devoted half a day to activities and you went round the doors. But only the people you knew. Not strangers. You had to open with “the sky is blue the grass is green please may I have my Halloween” when the door got answered and then do a turn. And you usually got one sweet and lots of nuts.

We went guising in the 1970s in Inverness. You had to have a proper "turn" rehearsed, a song or a poem. We got lots of monkey nuts, some apples and a few sweets and coins.

Rural ne Scotland here and Halloween always been a biggish thing in my town. Not to the extent of America but all the primary schools had dress up day and games. Lots of kids out guising. It's sweeties nowadays but when I was young it was less trick or treat and more penny for the guy so most houses gave you money, but usually you had to perform for it.

I think that perhaps a lot of English people perhaps don't realise just how different the Celtic nations (and even parts of Northern England - I'm including Cornwall as a Celtic nation here!) are in terms of their folk celebrations.

Christmas only became a holiday in Scotland in living memory - my mother, who is in her early 70s, remembers my grandfather (who was a naval engineer) going to work on Christmas Day, whereas Hogmanay and 1/2 January have always been holidays.

What the heck are treacle scones and where can I get one ? (Disclaimer: sassenach)

Also, I don't really recall 'penny for the guy' being a thing when I was growing up (in Glasgow) - fireworks, yes, but Guy Fawkes was quite 'English'.

I grew up in inner-city Glasgow in the late 80s, early 90s and went guising every year. All the kids at school did.
My birthday is day after Halloween too so I always had Halloween-themed cakes and parties!

Scones made with treacle and spread with treacle so your face gets in a mess as you try to catch it .
You have to have your hands behind your back and it is swung on a string as you try to grab it with your teeth.

It was a big deal in our west highland village in the 90's. Either a party with apple dookin and donuts on string, or guising in a home made costume for monkey nuts, fruit and a few sweets.

And yes, we all had to have a party piece, and I was just saying to my English DP today how we used to get monkey nuts!

@rightreckoner -

1. Get scone
2. Cover it in treacle (I prefer syrup, but treacle is more traditional, and messier)
3. Hang it on a string (put some newspaper down first, if you value your carpets)
4. Eat it without using your hands or making it fall off the string - if you can do that, you win! (NB - owing to the nature of scones, treacle and children, this is practically impossible)
5. Voila!

Forgot about toffee apples !

I think that perhaps a lot of English people perhaps don't realise just how different the Celtic nations (and even parts of Northern England - I'm including Cornwall as a Celtic nation here!) are in terms of their folk celebrations

I live in Cornwall and it's not a huge thing here at all. Perhaps the advent of Methodism cancelled it out here?

Lol I know it’s Christmas is coming, but it’s always sung at Halloween with the word changed for some reason (round this way anyway, even though it doesn’t make sense )

it was big in the 70s and 80s in central scotland

Was always huge here in Glasgow - 70s/ 80s - all the same traditions as PP as well as anyone who arrived came in and dooked for their apple after doing their turn. Mam was always amazing at home made costumes - we won loads of times at school/ brownies/ cubs.

It's still huge now. We made up 40 bags and they're all gone but 2!

@FuzzyCustard - more about Cornwall being a Celtic nation, and having its own rites and celebrations, rather than how it celebrates Halloween/Samhain per se.

I have a friend who is PROPER Kernow (I think he might have been the first of his family to leave, actually) and Cornwall is...special.

We mostly got money (like 10p or 20p max per house). I don’t remember getting many sweets. Definitely had to do a trick for most people.

ThistleAmore Cornwall is very strong on Christianity. I've lived all over the UK and it's got the strongest Christian tradition of anywhere. It is certainly special, (and we do have a bit of a celebration on St Piran's Day) but perhaps not in the way you mean!

Big in central Scotland in the 80s. Guising, dookin for apples and school generally has a Halloween party as a PTA fundraiser.

Everyone in my Central belt town went guising in the 80s. There were also always parties at nursery and things like brownies and scouts. Apple dooking etc.