What's your Halloween plan for your kilt?

[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.

[OC Richard]

Unrelated to the kilt, but regarding the topic of Halloween's nature changing over the years, my father described Halloween in the isolated mountains of West Virginia in the 1920s as being more about young people being out in the dark doing various pranks, such as hauling one guy's wagon up onto the roof of his barn. The traditional treat of course was apples, candied or no.

When I was a kid in the 1960s it was the night of kids running around half the night without adult supervision, getting apples and candy and playing pranks such as sticking toilet paper all over somebody's house or car with shaving cream. The recipients of the pranks were the people who turned off all their lights and pretended not to be home, thus avoiding giving out treats. "Trick or treat" was taken literally.

It's so different now, with kids being taken around by their parents to get pre-packaged candy, and no pranks for non-givers. Many churches hold Halloween events to keep kids off the streets. We've seen the number of kids who come around to the door steadily decline, from a steady stream in the 60s to a handful today. Sad.

[Chip2]

It's so different now, with kids being taken around by their parents to get pre-packaged candy, and no pranks for non-givers. Many churches hold Halloween events to keep kids off the streets. We've seen the number of kids who come around to the door steadily decline, from a steady stream in the 60s to a handful today. Sad.

That could just be the neighborhood growing older.

My house is a 1/4 mile down a dirt road from a pretty tightly packed development, so last year MsChip and I dressed up, grabbed a bag of candy, and went walking to hand it out to the trick-or-treaters. We only saw one group, but stopped and talked with a few folks who said the number of kids in the area is dwindling, and that the place is just getting older, but hopefully not crotchedier.

[Jock Scot]

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

At my age "brisk walks" are the best that I can do. I cannot remember the last time that I actually broke into a trot, never mind running! Even though I say it myself and shouldn't I did, a few weeks ago, venture up the hill for a day in persuit of a stag with one of my Grandsons, a successful day all round. At a guess we covered about 12 miles over rough ground at heights ranging from 250 ft to just over 2500 ft. I was rather surprised with myself, but my oh my, did I suffer for the next few days!

[SeumasA]

... At a guess we covered about 12 miles over rough ground at heights ranging from 250 ft to just over 2500 ft. I was rather surprised with myself, but my oh my, did I suffer for the next few days!

I know we're way off topic, but....
That's a pretty good ramble for us older guys (I'm 58 BTW), especially with the elevation changes. I live at about 4500 ft. elevation so it doesn't take much effort to get the heart pumping. I work far too many hours at what many people consider to be an extremely stressful job. Running helps me shed that stress and get myself ready to face the day.
Just to keep this somewhat kilt related, here I am showing off the T-shirt I got for competing in the kilted mile at our local games. We won't discuss my time, other than to brag that I was the first old fart to cross the finish line, and third place overall.

[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.