What to do this Halloween in Edinburgh and Glasgow
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The name is derived from the Scottish variant ‘All Hallows Even’ - the eve of All Saint’s Day - and is typically linked to the Celtic festival Samhain, marking the end of the lighter days in the annual calendar and the emergence of the ‘dark days.’
Samhain, meaning ‘summer’s end’ is the beginning of the Celtic New Year. The festivities were focused on the passing of the old year, the ending of the harvest and commemorating the souls of the dead. The bones of slaughtered livestock were used to light bonfires in order to deter the evil spirits and entice the peaceful ones. Feasts were prepared for the spirits with the belief that the boundary between the worlds of the living and dead is incredibly fragile on this night and that lost souls entering our world would be pacified by the gift of food. The Celtic ritual of wearing masks and costumes was an attempt to keep themselves safe by disguising their human form and appeasing and impersonating the spirits, making them believe they were among their own kind.
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Hide AdAs Halloween looms above we have prepared a list of the top five activities for Halloween in Edinburgh and Glasgow:
Holyrood Halloween. Holyrood Park, Edinburgh
A witch and druid lead this eerie expedition as they explore the origins and traditions of Halloween on a spine-chilling walk around Hunter’s Bog and the Crags. For more details visit: or contact 0131 6528150
Fright Night with Faust. Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Prepare to stifle your inner screams as Faust sells his soul to the devil in a screening of this classic silent film. The screening will be accompanied by the blood-curdling notes of the hall’s own organ and the evening will begin with a Victorian séance. For more details visit: or contact 0131 2281155
Neu! Reekie! Halloween Horrors. High street, Edinburgh
Thespian types will readily sink their fangs into this eclectic fusion of Halloween inspired music, film and poetry. The line-up includes creepy offerings from acclaimed writer Ron Butlin and Richard Jobson, former frontman of Scottish Punk band, The Skids. For more details visit:
The Holm of Halloween, Holmwood House, Glasgow
Creep the corridors of Holmwood, explore the many themed rooms and attend a mysterious feast. Fearless ghost hunters can also investigate the unlit graveyard. For more details visit: www.nts.org.uk or contact 08444932204
Pin Up Frights. Flying Duck, Glasgow
No need to worry about those fear-induced trembling limbs, they will be just what the dance-floor ordered at this spooktastic night of music head-lined by former Libertines and Dirty Pretty Things frontman, Carl Barat. For more details visit: