What's your Halloween plan for your kilt?

[The Q]

In the UK we didn't celebrate Halloween until recently (over the last 30 years) mostly I think because of the influence of American children's films and UK Shops seeing Halloween as a way to make money.

Traditionally we celebrated Burning Guido Fawkes on November the 5th, something that is slowly disappearing as it is seen as Not PC, expensive for the fireworks that go with it, and in major cities Bonfires are banned due to smoke regulations.
For those who don't know Guido Fawkes AKA Guy Fawkes was one of the conspirators in a plot to blow up the houses of parliament, at the state opening by King James I, (VI of Scotland) 1605

Remember, remember, the 5th of November, Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.

I'll add my on Saturday I'll attend My summer sailing clubs end of season, annual dinner and prize giving, fully kilted (its a suit and tie dinner), I will not be kilted at the winter sailing clubs Halloween dinner.

[Peter Crowe]

In the UK we didn't celebrate Halloween until recently (over the last 30 years) mostly I think because of the influence of American children's films and UK Shops seeing Halloween as a way to make money.

Traditionally we celebrated Burning Guido Fawkes on November the 5th, something that is slowly disappearing as it is seen as Not PC, expensive for the fireworks that go with it, and in major cities Bonfires are banned due to smoke regulations.
For those who don't know Guido Fawkes AKA Guy Fawkes was one of the conspirators in a plot to blow up the houses of parliament, at the state opening by King James I, (VI of Scotland) 1605

Remember, remember, the 5th of November, Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.

I'll add my on Saturday I'll attend My summer sailing clubs end of season, annual dinner and prize giving, fully kilted (its a suit and tie dinner), I will not be kilted at the winter sailing clubs Halloween dinner.

This is probably true of England but not the whole of the UK. 'Hallowe'en' (the name comes from the Scots tongue) was long celebrated in Scotland although it started falling out of fashion during my childhood in the 1970's. The Scots traditions I grew up with included turnip lanterns rather than pumpkins and 'guising' around the neighbourhood (similar to what Americans call trick-er treating the difference being you had to sing a song/tell a story or Joke in order to get treats which included peanuts in the shell and mandarin oranges as well as candies), dookin for aipples (dunking for apples), and eating treacle covered soda scones off a washing line etc. Admittedly, my parents were traditional about such older customs and kept them longer than most. We also observed the traditional Scots form of New Year and never touched a drop of alcohol on Hogmonay which was a day of preparation for the Bells when we saw in the New Year with our favourite alcoholic beverage, and thereafter with first-footing and partying in our neighbourhood.

Hallowe'en was primarily a night for children dressing up in fancy dress costumes (occasionally adults who were the parents and grandparents of younger children too) and not an evening I ever associated with wearing the kilt.

Guy Fawkes has become popular in urban Scotland because older kids love fireworks. When I lived in Glasgow's Maryhill it was a terrifying night for elderly folk and domestic pets. The Neds (Chavs) loved it and ran amok being a pain in the ar*e to everyone particularly the Fire Brigade and the Police. However, it is not a traditional Scots celebration and only became popularised from down south with the widespread use of television from the 1950's and 60's.

[Jock Scot]

I really don't recall any Halloween type things in the rural Highlands in my youth, perhaps partly because there was a war going on. After the war in the rural highlands where lack of transport and distances were a real hinderance to life, it was only weddings and funerals where there were any significant gathering of family and friends. In passing I don't recall Halloween being mentioned down South in England until the late 1990's.Now transport, communications, television for all that raise people's expectations which go to make the world a smaller place and I suppose one of the consequences of that is these "celebrations" are now almost common knowledge worldwide.

[Peter Crowe]

I really don't recall any Halloween type things in the rural Highlands in my youth, perhaps partly because there was a war going on. After the war in the rural highlands where lack of transport and distances were a real hinderance to life, it was only weddings and funerals where there were any significant gathering of family and friends. In passing I don't recall Halloween being mentioned down South in England until the late 1990's.Now transport, communications, television for all that raise people's expectations which go to make the world a smaller place and I suppose one of the consequences of that is these "celebrations" are now almost common knowledge worldwide.

Knowing Lochaber and the western Highlands more generally, that makes perfect sense Jock. My parents also grew up with war-time and post-war shortages (rationing wasn't finally over until 1954), and many of these traditions we were brought up with were passed down from my grandparents and great-aunts generation, plus we lived in suburban Lanarkshire (just outside Glasgow) where scontact with neighbours was simpler and easier, as I discovered after moving to a rural community in the Borders (Roxburghshire) when I was a raw lad of 16.

[Father Bill]

Wow!

You've possibly read my earlier comments in this thread about respectful dress on Hallowe'en and many children and adults dressing as that which they respect or to which they aspire which might make my Scottish kit acceptable, but . . .

When I start reading about kilts with ugly sweaters or selected for colours that match the season, I have to be honest and tell you that I start to cringe and want to hide my kilt and kit safely in the closet lest anyone think it's being worn lightly or as a joke.

I don't want to bore folks or offend anyone with this, but in no way do I select a kilt based on its colours. As I've said elsewhere (possibly ad nauseum) a tartan to me is a nametag, and I don't wear anyone else's tartan any more than I'd wear their nametag, so that leaves out picking colours to match the season and there's no way I'd ever wear it as any kind of joke. It's worn for my bit of clan affilliation and for love of Scotland and the garment.

To each his own, I guess.

[Jock Scot]

Thank you Bill, I was biting my tongue on that one. A long brisk walk also helped put my humour back on an even keel!

[SeumasA]

A long brisk walk also helped put my humour back on an even keel!

That's why I go for a run in the mornings Jock. It clears the mind and helps me deal with my employees better.

[Wareyin]

Knowing Lochaber and the western Highlands more generally, that makes perfect sense Jock. My parents also grew up with war-time and post-war shortages (rationing wasn't finally over until 1954), and many of these traditions we were brought up with were passed down from my grandparents and great-aunts generation, plus we lived in suburban Lanarkshire (just outside Glasgow) where scontact with neighbours was simpler and easier, as I discovered after moving to a rural community in the Borders (Roxburghshire) when I was a raw lad of 16.

I traced my family back to Lanarkshire! Scottish census records even give me the address of 2 generations in the 1800s.

[Pleater]

Here in the UK Halloween is becoming more and more 'popular', and when it started it was just a few families with youngsters we recognised as neighbours. There are now dozens of callers, many are whole gangs of teenagers I don't recognise, and it isn't just the masks.
Last year there were so many that, even though I thought that I'd bought too much, I ran out and was looking around for things to give them, handed out two dozen packets of crisps, and then turned out all the lights in the front of the house.

This year we are going to be out, visiting family in an apartment block where they do not get 'trick or treaters' as it is just too much now.
Halloween was not something celebrated when I was a child, and up until about 15 years ago it just didn't happen. The first year I handed out apples and oranges - as it was all I had on hand, much to the disgust of the recipients.

Doubtless I will be wearing a kilt, but not for All Hallows Eve reasons.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[kilttrip]

Nothing extravagant, I just plan to wear my Sportkilt (Black Watch) to hand out candy to the kiddies.