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In the original folklore, the man called Jack O'Lantern was a ghostly figure of the night who roamed the lands with a burning lump of coal inside a hollowed out turnip. During Samhain, people would carve out turnips to create their own lanterns as a means of scaring away evil spirits. By the 1800s, Scottish and Irish communities immigrated to the United States and brought their Halloween traditions with them but around this time they adapted the practice of using turnips to pumpkins which are easier to carve.In the original folklore, the man called Jack O'Lantern was a ghostly figure of the night who roamed the lands with a burning lump of coal inside a hollowed out turnip. During Samhain, people would carve out turnips to create their own lanterns as a means of scaring away evil spirits. By the 1800s, Scottish and Irish communities immigrated to the United States and brought their Halloween traditions with them but around this time they adapted the practice of using turnips to pumpkins which are easier to carve.
In the original folklore, the man called Jack O'Lantern was a ghostly figure of the night who roamed the lands with a burning lump of coal inside a hollowed out turnip. During Samhain, people would carve out turnips to create their own lanterns as a means of scaring away evil spirits. By the 1800s, Scottish and Irish communities immigrated to the United States and brought their Halloween traditions with them but around this time they adapted the practice of using turnips to pumpkins which are easier to carve.

Halloween in Scotland: 13 ancient customs and concepts of Celtic Halloween lost in today’s world, remembering Samhain

Halloween may be celebrated worldwide nowadays, but its origins started with the Celts - one of Scotland’s ancient ancestors that celebrated the frightful festival with customs completely unique to what we see in today’s world.
Thomas Mackay
By Thomas Mackay
Published 20th Oct 2022, 15:03 BST
Updated 31st Oct 2022, 13:35 BST

Modern customs like carving pumpkins or ‘trick-or-treating’ that we see in today’s Halloween do not originate from the Scots nor our Celtic neighbours in regions like Ireland. Halloween (or ‘Samhain’ as it was known) was serious business in ancient Scotland as it marked the weakening of the barrier between our world and the spirits’ which posed the very real threat of ghosts or demons threatening people or their land.

According to the Celtic calendar, this festival ushered in the dawn of winter associated with death while marking the end of the harvesting season of summer associated with life. This is also why the colours orange and black feature so prominently during Halloween as orange symbolises the warmth of the harvest season while black represents the bitter cold winter.

Here are 13 ancient customs or concepts of Halloween to show how it was traditionally celebrated in Scotland unlike what we see today in places like the US; Oidhche Shamhna shona dhut (Scottish Gaelic for Happy Halloween!)

Here are 13 ancient customs or concepts of Halloween to show how it was traditionally celebrated in Scotland unlike what we see today in places like the US; Oidhche Shamhna shona dhut (Scottish Gaelic for Happy Halloween!)

When we think of Bats and Halloween today we inevitably think about the folklore of Vampires and the ability of these creatures to turn into Bats. However, Bats' association to Halloween is also due to the large bonfires that were lit during Samhain, these massive flames would attract bugs and Bats - being insectivores - would flock to the area to take advantage of this and devour the insects. This would occur every year which is why Bats became associated with the celebration.

9. Bats were a Halloween symbol even before Vampires

When we think of Bats and Halloween today we inevitably think about the folklore of Vampires and the ability of these creatures to turn into Bats. However, Bats' association to Halloween is also due to the large bonfires that were lit during Samhain, these massive flames would attract bugs and Bats - being insectivores - would flock to the area to take advantage of this and devour the insects. This would occur every year which is why Bats became associated with the celebration. Photo: Angeleses via Pixabay

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Cabbage stalks were a huge part of Halloween and its fortune-telling traditions. If you uprooted a cabbage plant you could then 'read it' to find out information about your future spouse, however if the stalk was too short or withered it spelt misfortune for your future in this area. It is also said that cabbage stalks would be hollowed out and filled with kindling and young men would go door-to-door using the smoke emitted from the plant to 'purify' houses.

10. Cabbage stalks were used to purify homes and predict the future

Cabbage stalks were a huge part of Halloween and its fortune-telling traditions. If you uprooted a cabbage plant you could then 'read it' to find out information about your future spouse, however if the stalk was too short or withered it spelt misfortune for your future in this area. It is also said that cabbage stalks would be hollowed out and filled with kindling and young men would go door-to-door using the smoke emitted from the plant to 'purify' houses. Photo: Submitted via Scotsman

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These days Halloween is often thought to be more about receiving gifts like confectionery rather than offering them, however it wasn't always this way. During Samhain it is reported that Celts would leave offerings of food and drink outside to appease the wicked spirits and would even dedicate portions of their crops to be taken by them, a huge sacrifice at that time.

11. People would leave gifts for the dead

These days Halloween is often thought to be more about receiving gifts like confectionery rather than offering them, however it wasn't always this way. During Samhain it is reported that Celts would leave offerings of food and drink outside to appease the wicked spirits and would even dedicate portions of their crops to be taken by them, a huge sacrifice at that time. Photo: Submitted via Scotsman

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Rather than celebrate Halloween on October 31 alone is is thought that the Celts would celebrate for three days for this event that marked the end of the Celtic Calendar. Early texts present this idea that Samhain was a mandatory celebration that lasted for three days and three nights.

12. Halloween was celebrated for longer than one day

Rather than celebrate Halloween on October 31 alone is is thought that the Celts would celebrate for three days for this event that marked the end of the Celtic Calendar. Early texts present this idea that Samhain was a mandatory celebration that lasted for three days and three nights. Photo: Submitted by Ian Rutherford

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