AIBU?
Not to know that Halloween is considered a big thing in Scotland?
useruseruseruseruseruseruser · 31/10/2018 18:29
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.
Mammylamb · 31/10/2018 20:42
Grew up in the 80s and 90s in Glasgow. Yeah, there was lots of kids parties and we all went guising. Every kid in the street went in a massive group! I’m surprised folk opened the door to us! We always ended up with loads of monkey nuts and apples; and the odd wee sweet!
ICouldBeSomebodyYouKnow · 31/10/2018 21:00
I grew up in rural Dumfriesshire in the 60s/70s. We went guising, with turnip lanterns that we carved at school. We wore some cobbled together outfit (witch, tramp etc) and what we called a 'false face' (mask), usually bought from Woolworths! Does anyone else remember they used to be made from papier mache? We always had to do a turn before any sweets, apple or nuts (and an occasional sixpence) were handed out to us.
SingingSands · 31/10/2018 21:11
I went guiding in the 80s in Glasgow.
Homemade costumes, we put a lot of effort into those.
Monkey nuts, apples, 10/20p coins, sometimes a wee chocolate.
Treacle scones, dooking for apples (always hated this, I can't put my face under water!), doing a turn.
I was only telling my colleagues the other day that we went inside peoples houses to do our turn and get our prize - seems weird now!
IfWishesWereKisses · 31/10/2018 21:12
I grew up in Ayrshire in the 70’s and it was a very big thing. We always went guising but back then you tended to only go to houses you knew. We’d knock on the door and ask ‘are you letting in?’ or ‘are you haudin Hallowe’en?’ Then do our turn and live in hope that they had tablet or toddee apples rather than tangerines and monkey nuts. My parents would have a big weekend Hallowe’en party for their friends with treacle scones, dookin for apples or with forks for the kids
2018SoFarSoGreat · 01/11/2018 22:40
It was a big deal when I was growing up in Dundee, loved it.
Went to a party here in SF this weekend and had been musing with hosts about typical things we did growing up. They took the treacle scones idea and did it with donuts. So cute. Still messy (less so) and fun to eat. Everybody got involved and it was great! Made me miss treacle scones though.
FartnissEverbeans · 01/11/2018 23:13
I grew up in Glasgow. I don’t know how big Halloween has to be to count as a ‘big thing’ - I remember dressing up and going round the local council estate, which was absolutely buzzing with children. We also had parties at Brownies and Guides and I remember planning my costume (one year I went as a soldier and borrowed my uncle’s army fatigues, and another year I was a scarecrow).
categed · 01/11/2018 23:28
Ayrshire and fife and always went guising. Tumshee lantern and black bin bag costumes. Monkey nuts, apples and tangerines with occasional coppers in as well. This was 80s. Also parties at brownies and people houses. Bonfire nights with massive bonfires and hogmany was a big deal with parties and celebrations.
EustaciaPieface · 01/11/2018 23:38
@Shampaincharly I grew up in Dundee in 70s and 80s and have exactly the same memories! Went out guising and did a song or a party piece (mine was singing Frere Jacques for some reason!). Dressed up at school and brownies too and lots of dooking for apples, treacle scones on strings etc. Made decorations with witches etc all week at school. Loved it!
FermatsTheorem · 01/11/2018 23:40
Was definitely a thing in Dundee and Edinburgh when I was a kid (late 60s/early 70s). Guising, dooking for apples, turnip lanterns (that's swedes for any English visitors to this thread). Also my mum used to do a brilliant recitation of Tam O' Shanter by candlelight - the candle always had to be blown out at the point where Tam shouts "Weel done yon cutty Sark" and the coven douse the lights.
TooManyPaws · 01/11/2018 23:43
Aberdeen in the 60s, guising for relatives. Neep lanterns, and getting monkey nuts or apples. Definitely had to do a turn.
Aberdeenshire in the 80s, helping run a cub pack. Always a Halloween party with apple 🍏 dooking and treacle scones. The kids went guising too.
Been in Fife since then and the kids still guise here but I don't usually see it as it is before it gets too dark and I'm at work. A big thing for the primary children - all the mums getting them ready while the children decide what their party piece will be. I know someone who lived for a while in Texas and the locals were most confused by her Scottish children insistent on telling them jokes or stories! 😂
Doubletrouble99 · 01/11/2018 23:50
Guising was what we did in the 60s and 70s. But guising was a penny for the guy which we had in our bogy. The pennies were for our bonfire fireworks. So guising had nothing to do with Halloween when I was a child. We went to Halloween parties with apple bobbing etc. but that was a separate thing.
StoneofDestiny · 01/11/2018 23:50
Grew up in Glasgow. Never went guising (not sure I knew what that was as a child). Had a 'Halloween mask' made of cardboard/thick paper - we called it a 'false face'. Ducked for apples at home and ate toffee apples and treacle lollies. Never went round doors.
ThriftyMcThrifty · 01/11/2018 23:50
My grandma grew up in Glasgow then Aberdeen and used to tell us fabulous stories about her childhood Halloween’s, she said it was more fun than Christmas as no church. She grew up in an orphanage then was fostered so I doubt she had a particularly nice childhood, but that was one of the highlights for her.
GrandTheftWalrus · 01/11/2018 23:59
Lanarkshire here as well and we went guising round the houses. Getting brought in to do our turn. Usually in my bin bag and green face.
When I joined the guides my mum got good at home made costumes and I won the 1st prize 3 years in a row.
DP is from Edinburgh and he remembers the same.
We were born in the 80s so this wouldve been early 90s.
FrancisCrawford · 02/11/2018 00:23
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FermatsTheorem · 02/11/2018 07:09
Just to clear one potential confusion up "guising" is short for "disguising" and has nothing to do with Guy Fawkes!
Anyone else used to sing this one?
New Year's coming and the goose is getting fat,
Please put a penny in the auld man's hat.
If ye hannae got a penny, a ha'penny will do,
If ye hannae got a ha'penny then God bless you.
AvoidingDM · 02/11/2018 07:40
I don't know if we called it guising or just "out for Halloween" great fun went to the houses we knew who were expecting you and had bags with your name on them. Monkey nuts, apples and a small sweet.
I also recall school showing Tam O'Shanter on TV, 4 classes so about 100 kids round what was probably a 25" telly.
Tam O'Shanter being the film of Burns tale of witches and stuff!
I'm sure i can recall my grandparents (20's) speaking of Halloween and dooking for apples.
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