From its crumbling castles to its storied shores, Ayrshire is a place steeped in history, folklore and legends – and home to some of Scotland and the world’s oldest traditions and celebrations. One of the oldest of these celebrations is the Gaelic festival of Samhain (pronounced sah-win with a silent m) that takes place every autumn. 

Samhain meaning  

The change of season from summer to autumn has been marked in Scotland for thousands of years as the Celtic new year ‘Samhain’. Our Celtic forebears celebrated the ancient tradition of Samhain, marking the end of summer and the harvest and preparing for winter. It was also a time when they believed that the boundary between the real world and the world of ghosts and fairies was at its weakest making it a Halloween for pagans 

Blessing Samhain: Bonfires

Folklore leads to the belief that bonfires were lit as a form of protection from evil spirits that could be lurking on the night of Hallowe’en. The fire was meant to repel those with ill intentions and hold them at bay until the sun rose again.  

Tumshies

We may now be more used to carving pumpkins for Hallowe’en, it was once turnips that would have been carved with evil looking faces to scare off fairies and ghosts. Candles were placed inside to illuminate the faces so they could be seen by ‘the fairies’ from far away. 

Guising

Guising is the original form of trick or treating. Parents would disguise their children to deter the roaming fairies and spirits from stealing them. On a night of mischief, the children could play tricks on friends and Neighbours, or they could go from house to house telling jokes to earn treats. 

One of the most famous guisers in Stirling could be James V who liked to dress up and visit his subjects in the villages near Stirling Castle.

Other adventures

Looking for adventures to undertake in Ayrshire & Arran when all this is over? Check out our guides to the incredible walking and cycling routes and fantastic food and drink on the doorstep of the Salt Lodge Hotel at Troon Yacht Haven!

Want to Celebrate?

If our wee tour has gotten you ready to celebrate Samhain, for a fantastic break you can book here.