October 31, 2006

Early Sunsets


Now that clocks have gone back an hour, we're beginning to get used to the early sunsets. For the moment at least, it is light when I arrive at work but that won't be for much longer, and it's dark by the time I get home.

No doubt our doorbell will start ringing soon for kids out for Hallowe'en. It's a shame that the more traditional Scottish Hallowe'en has been usurped somewhat by the American version. Kids talk about trick or treating instead of guising; they use pumpkins instead of the more traditional turnips and many kids expect to get sweets or money for nothing...in Scotland they are expected to come into the house and do a little performance, sing a song or tell a joke before they get their rewards. Find out more about the roots of Hallowe'en or Samhuin here.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice memories!

I was a guiser and did have to do summit (!) fir mae sherbet bon bons...

Cheers Grant,

Bluey a/k/a Grant....

Sagremor the Foolish said...

take comfort from the fact that the 'trick' part in trick or treat seems to have also fallen by the wayside, worse things happen at sea you know etc. I was a guiser, and remember telling some truly awful jokes in exchange for sweets and whatnot