What's your Halloween plan for your kilt?

[OC Richard]

I will leave an offering of food and drink for my deceased ancestors... At this time of year the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. People used to wear masks so they wouldn't be recognised by the dead. Offerings were left out for the dead so they knew they were not forgotten.

Are these traditions which survive in Spain? Or are they things which have been revived in modern times?

I ask because I had an interesting conversation about these things with a person from Mexico, and the traditions he described were virtually identical to ones I had been told about by Irish people.

The Mexican said that food would be left on the table for your deceased relatives/ancestors, the front door left partly open. The living family would lock themselves in a back bedroom- "you want to honour them, but you don't want to see them!" he said.

In so many ways Mexican culture is Spanish culture, and I assume that these traditions were brought from Spain.

[Mel1721L]

Are these traditions which survive in Spain? Or are they things which have been revived in modern times?

I ask because I had an interesting conversation about these things with a person from Mexico, and the traditions he described were virtually identical to ones I had been told about by Irish people.

The Mexican said that food would be left on the table for your deceased relatives/ancestors, the front door left partly open. The living family would lock themselves in a back bedroom- "you want to honour them, but you don't want to see them!" he said.

In so many ways Mexican culture is Spanish culture, and I assume that these traditions were brought from Spain.

No, although the Spanish too have a "day of the Dead." Or so I believe, these are British or rather Celtic traditions. Ghosts were believed to be the dead, who were thought to live in their burial mounds, returning to the world. Some Norse sagas contain stories about this kind of thing and they were considered dangerous. The Celts migrated from Spain thousands of years ago and Northern Spain has a distinct Celtic culture. I don't know if these beliefs stem from there or not but Samhain (pronounced Soween) is British. Although many Brits are ignorant of it.

[Father Bill]

The original question was about the kilt and what we'd do with it for Hallowe'en and my first response was to think, "I'll leave it in my closet - it's no costume."

A second thought however, has ocurred to me: Perhaps I'll meet the young'uns at the door wearing it properly - no silliness and perhaps a mite understated.

For many of the children it will be their first time to see a kilted gentleman up close and in person, and (the retired teacher in me, now) it may fix in the wee bairns' minds a primary image of the kilt that is more correct than the nonsense they'll surely and sadly see in years to come such that they may say to themselves subcosciously, "That's not how I think of it."

What say ye?

Edited to add:

I should be clear that in at least my part of Canada, dressing up for Hallowe'en includes both the fantastical and the representative, and the former is extreme enough that it's pretty easy to tell which is which.

[Jock Scot]

I can see what you are trying to do Bill and education of children is never a bad thing. But, I do wonder if wearing the kilt on this particular time of year in front of children may be counter productive? Halloween, as far as I understand it anyway(we don't really do Halloween over here), is these days mainly a costume event and I do have concerns that the children will equate the kilt with costume, not something we ought to encourage in my view. Depending on the age of the children, visual learning will trump verbal learning every time. Just thinking aloud, nothing more.

[Father Bill]

I can see what you are trying to do Bill and education of children is never a bad thing. But, I do wonder if wearing the kilt on this particular time of year in front of children may be counter productive? Halloween, as far as I understand it anyway(we don't really do Halloween over here), is these days mainly a costume event and I do have concerns that the children will equate the kilt with costume, not something we ought to encourage in my view. Depending on the age of the children, visual learning will trump verbal learning every time. Just thinking aloud, nothing more.

I'm sensitive to that Jock, thus my first thoughts on the matter, but as noted, in this neck of the woods much of the "dress-up" is representative of something admired or recognized for its value.

Examples are youngsters dressing up in fairly accurate representations of a nurse or doctor because they respect those, or an similarly accurate representation of a barrister in the proper robes. The costumy stuff on the other hand, is wild, imaginative, clearly unrealistic, and inevitably accompanied by masks or fantastical make-up which of course, doesn't come with the more accurate portrayals.

I've seen white lab coats worn with a dog on leash by children of veterinarians, and yes, priestly robes worn with deep respect by children of religious families. Often the appearance is aspirational or reminiscent.

As noted, the difference is recognizeable immediately. Thus, I would be recognized by almost all as a "classical" Scot in understated kit. No pipes, no cromach, probably no bonnet, just plain and quiet Scottish kit.

And no white hose either!

[Jock Scot]

Hello Bill. Education is your field of expertise, so I bow to your greater knowledge and experience. You know the field, so to speak and you are more than aware of the risk of giving the wrong impression to the youngsters, as you have made clear and I cannot argue the point. I can also see that the atmosphere that you and the children are mixing is less likely to give the wrong impression(the costume/fancy dress bit) than in other more relaxed party atmospheres that many children will see the kilt worn at. I have my concerns though.

[Father Bill]

As always Jock, I respect your opinions and appreciate your sharing. I think it will go well here. I'm not going out to parties either, just meeting youngsters at the door, so it's fairly subdued in presentation.

That makes an interesting point though; I'd not wear it to a party at this time of year. The mood and inference at such events is indeed often a bit different and more goofy and raucous. Not the place for a kilt to be seen seriously.

[OC Richard]

Around here you'll see a variety of dress at a "Halloween party" ranging from actual Halloween costumes to ordinary dress.

I've worn Highland dress to such things a few times over the years. I don't think it's necessarily perceived to be a "costume" but more on the order of "fancy dress" which also is seen. For sure it can be perceived as a costume by some.

When people are dressing "in costume" it's usually a recognizable character from some movie or what have you, rather than the traditional witch/ghost/vampire sort of thing.

[Father Bill]

Richard demonstrates it well - regional variations in the observation of the evening's events.