Thread: Halloween in Ireland and Scotland

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Could someone please clarify this? I have read in several places that Halloween is a big deal in Ireland. It is their biggest holiday of the year, and is even a national holiday where adults get the last Monday in October off work and kids get a whole week off from school.

Then I go to forums, or talk to people from Britain, and everyone says it is not very popular in Ireland (or Scotland). Does its popularity vary by region or something? Is it still celebrated as Samhain, with barmbrack and such, or is it becoming more Americanized?

And what about Scotland?

Did these countries just lose interest after the Scottish and Irish immigrants brought their Halloween customs to America?

Not that I'm an expert on all things UK, but I've performed there many times (throughout Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England) and what I do know comes from the word of folks who live in those places. It is different from region to region and in some cases even county by county, whether it's celebrated at all.
The Irish of course seem to celebrate more heartily than the rest of the UK, which shouldn't be surprising. Children still, for the most part, get into the barmbrack and play 'knock-a-dolly' (ding-dong-ditch to us Americans) and many areas still light central bonfires and so on. That's what a number of folks conveyed to me in Belfast, Dublin, and Galway. I haven't witnessed it but again, that's their word.
In England, two things happened over the long years which ended Halloween culturally in any meaningful sense (and certainly in any way related to how North Americans observe it).
One, the Protestant Reformation. Since the Protestants derided much of the Catholic Church's dogma, they did not believe in saints, and would not celebrate a day for saints, let alone an 'eve' the night before.
Two, much of what traditional rituals did remain in the English heart during that time of year was shifted quite rapidly to Nov. 5th, Guy Fawkes Day, which commemorates the thwarting of a terrorist plot to blow up the Protestant King James I (James VI of Scotland) and a joint meeting of Parliament in 1605.
Guy Fawkes Day sees bonfires, ritual effigy burning of Fawkes, and other 'mischief night'-ish traditions.
Of course, being the birth islands of the Western world's ancient Earth religions, there are a large number of 'neopagan' and 'wicca' groups throughout the UK, and most of them do celebrate Samhain/Halloween in a big way, even if they differ from each other in details and intent. Many of them take it deadly seriously and it's a night of vigil, atonement, reconnection with the self and the gods, and communion with the dead.
Other groups have more lighthearted traditions but they still observe them strictly.
I've never run across anyone in Wales who really cared much about Halloween (and believe me, I ask anywhere in the world I go!), so I cannot know what traditions, if any, they may observe.
Scotland is in between the Irish and English customs where Halloween is concerned, though Scotland has a clearer connection to Irish/Celtic religious customs than England has had in the last 500 years. Scottish children do have their own games and treats on that night, though it is hard for me to get any diehard info about it on a popular level from my friends there. But I have been told by a number of 'natives' (independently of each other) that many families are beginning to adopt the American Halloween, the trick or treats and everything else, in the last few decades. And of course, there are many, many pagan/wiccan, etc., sects in Scotland who observe it in a big way, and always have.
In England too, the usual look of utter confusion on the faces of grown-ups answering a door on the evening of October 31st ("why are these children dressed up and asking for sweets?!") is being replaced slowly but surely by a smile and a bowl of candy. Halloween seems to be picking up 'over the pond', but it's in North America where the night is worshipped most passionately.
At any rate, I hope that is informative enough to help you keep searching and reading.


Any UK denizens who find flaws in my little typing jumble, please correct and teach! I'm only reporting what I've been told on many occasions by many people, but they can't all know all the answers!


Mike C.

Firstly lets clear up a little geography.

Barring the more rabid of nationalist and separatists, Scotland, Wales and England are actually pretty much the same country and whilst there are different traditions between these regions they are no more disparate that those between Yorkshire and Essex (both regions of England), in fact you will find a greater difference between Yorkshire and Essex than you will between Yorkshire and Scotland.... and indeed many regions throughout the UK have traditions of mischief that can be associated with Halloween....but are also Associated with Nov 5th

As for knowing nobody in Wales etc...., well, I'm in Wales and there are few in the country more Halloween orientated than me, the traditions between Wales and England are virtually indistinguishable.

Ireland is slightly different as this is a completely different Nation, the major difference is Ireland is predominantly a Catholic Nation, and the Halloween tradition is in fact Catholic not Celtic, the protestant church in the UK pretty much erased the associated Catholic tradition that made Halloween... another significant factor with the Irish is that they were predominantly Celtic when they were converted to Catholicism, with Celtic traditions such as Samhain, which means the Catholic priests would have needed to make a bigger deal out of All Hallows Eve in order to erase the associated Celtic festival.

Now, as for the American Tradition, this is a much much amplified tradition than those currently or previously celebrated in Europe, the American tradition is reputed to be imported by Irish, but when they did so they mutated it into a festival of much greater significance.
In recent years what's been happening over here is the American tradition has been influencing Europe, this was partly in the UK a deliberate act to try and divert attention from Nov 5th, but increasingly we get influence from American media

Thank you Phoenix, that was the sort of correction/informing I was looking for. I regret that I was never able to find YOU in Wales any of the times I've worked there, else I'd have known better about those customs.
Again, I only base what little I know on what's been told to me from those regions, and can't tell you how much I appreciate your input and 'wisdom' (to be dramatic about it). I love the UK and Ireland, and being a Scots-Irish Halloween lovin' American I want as much in-the-know info I can get.
I will be in the UK again this summer, touring once again, and I believe we will be performing one night in Cardiff. I'd love to meet you there if that's anywhere close to you, haha!
I could tell you about life on the road, you could enlighten me on Halloween in your area AND go into more detail on surround sound haunting! :-)

Anyway, thanks again for the clarifications. Cheers-

Mike C.

Sadly I live about as far from Cardiff as you can get yet still be in Wales, used to live down there when I was in university, though if you happen to be doing a gig in Liverpool or Manchester then these are much more in my area..... what group are you touring with?

I believe we're playing in both Liverpool and Manchester, I'll have to see the official itinerary to get the dates, but it'll be between 17 June and 5 July... this time around I'm performing with Andy Williams (he of Moon River/Music to Watch Girls By in that Punto car advert fame)... but once I get all the info I'll PM or email you, I've derailed this thread now, haha!

I return you to your regularly scheduled forum-


Mike C.

Thank you both very much! Although studying Halloween and Celtic history is a hobby of mine, finding info. on current customs was giving me diffculty (which doesn't sound like it would make sense, does it?)

I recently became acquainted with a lady who has an Irish Halloween shop online and she is moving to Ireland in less than a month. I'm looking forward to hearing her stories come this October.

Now that I've mentioned it, I'm sure someone will want to check it out:
http://www.cafepress.com/irishcountry/1737687

Mike, I know you are an entertainer, but what specifically?

(Speaking of Guy Fawkes Day, "V for Vendetta" is such an awesome movie!)

I loved the graphic novels/comics of V For Vendetta when they came out, when was it, mid-80's? Thought the movie was a blast, very well done.
I'm a singer/musician, play a few instruments, pretty easy going! :-)
Thanks for the link to that store, and DO fill us in on any stories your friend tells you!


Mike C.