If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE Halloween. Every part of it is fun for me! I was deeply missing my GR days of ole, when I used to have a Halloween Party every year for the ghosts, goblins, and the tired and often freezing parents. I loved walking around with the boys for trick or treating, and then handing out candy by removing the front glass window in the door to have easy access to the trick or treaters. I often got 200+ kids each year, and lit up the house with lights and huge blow up graveyards.
I know that Halloween hasn't been the same during the covid years, so I wondered as I sat here in Glasgow, unsure of what to expect.
But wonders of all wonders............IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!
Oh my heavenly days, it is a BLAST over here!
While we learned while living in Ireland that it originated there, the Scots have certainly had their fair share of taking it from there.
So here is the main thing you need to understand - - it is NOT trick or treating here. It is guising..... here is a more formal explanation ...
Scottish children traditionally donned costumes and pretended to be malicious spirits as they went ‘guising’ around the local streets. It was believed that, by disguising themselves, they would blend in with any wandering spirits and remain safe from harm. After performing tricks or songs, guisers were given gifts to help ward off evil – a far cry from some of today’s trick-or-treaters, who get ‘treats’ for simply showing up in costume.
I bought the candy, turned on all the lights in the house, hung out a wee blow up skeleton on the hedges, propped open the gate, bought and put out 7 pumpkins ranging in sizes I could carry home and settled in for a fun night.
Unsure what or who (or what) would show up.
The guisers started coming around 5:30, it was already darkish by then and it started with the weans. (wee ones - aka little kids) coming with their parents. Malcolm, my neighbors 4 year old grandson, kicked off the festivities in his shy fashion, while others slowly sauntered in.
Then my neighbor Claire stopped by. And thank goodness she did, as I did not realize, that the guisers must do something to get their candy. WHAT?!?!?! How did I not understand that, what had I missed??? You must 'sing for your supper' it seems, at least that is how it went down in Glasgow.
From then on it was a full out show, full of jokes, riddles, songs, trickery and laughter. Oma and I stayed by the door and soaked it all in. These kids came prepared, they knew the assignment and they delivered.
Say, why is 8 afraid of 7? Because 7, 8, 9.......
Why did the cow cross the road? .....to get to the moooovies.
Why do ducks have tail feathers? To hide their butt qwacks.
Seriously, y'all, it was so fun!!!! (*so fun*- right Aine and Effie!?!😆). I wanted it to last all night! Although I ran out of candy really fast and had to send Levi off to the store to procure more.
Oma was just as thrilled as I was to hang out in the hallway, awaiting our next guising show. We even had some boys come back, over and over, switching hats, or coats, and tell us they weren't the same people. They didn't come back after I gave them apples.
Anywho - now that I know the drill, I will be PREPARED next year. I just can't wait. I'm buying loads of candy, sharpening my riddle answering skills, and gonna settle in for a night of laughter and fun. Maybe I'll even get Oma to come back and experience it all with me.
Life is good! Eat the treats!
Kandy Karamel Keltic Kitty
