Folklore of Scotland

1 September

7 September, not tied to the day

8 September

8 September, not tied to the day

15 September, not tied to the day

24 September

25 September, not tied to the day

28 September, not tied to the day

29 September

30 September, not tied to the day

21 October, not tied to the day

31 October

Folklore from the old calendars

Ale for Shony No longer kept Outer HebridesAt Hallowtide the people of Lewis met at the church of St Mulvay, each family bringing malt that was brewed into ale.
Born on Hallowe’en Lore and belief ScotlandIt was popularly believed that a child born on Hallowe'en had strange gifts.
Burning the Nuts Lore and belief England, Ireland, ScotlandOn Hallowe'en a pair of nuts was named for a lad and a lass and laid in the fire.
Fathoming the Stack No longer kept ScotlandAnother Scottish Hallowe'en charm from Burns was to slip out unnoticed to a stack of barley, called a bear stack, and measure round it three times with outstretched arms.
Hallowe’en fires in the White Cart at Paisley No longer kept RenfrewshireOn Hallowe'en the boys of Paisley built round hearths of clay walled with stones and sods out in the shallows of the river White Cart and lit bonfires on them.
Pulling the Kail Stocks No longer kept ScotlandThe first rite of a Scottish Hallowe'en was to go out hand in hand, eyes shut, into the kailyard and each pull the first cabbage stalk they touched.
Saining the boats in Orkney No longer kept OrkneyJohn Brand, describing Orkney at the end of the seventeenth century, found that sick cattle were sprinkled with a charmed water called forespoken water, and so were boats that had no luck at the fishing.
Sowens for the Hallowe’en Supper No longer kept ScotlandSowens was a thin dish made by steeping oat husks and meal in water until it soured, and in many parts of Scotland it was the proper supper for Hallowe'en.
Sowing Hemp-seed No longer kept Ireland, ScotlandOn Hallowe'en a girl crept out unseen and sowed a handful of hemp-seed, dragging something behind her to harrow it in, and saying a rhyme over and over.
The Apple and the Looking-Glass Lore and belief ScotlandA girl who wanted to see her future husband went alone with a candle to a looking-glass on Hallowe'en and ate an apple in front of it, some said while combing her hair.
The Blue Clue No longer kept Ireland, ScotlandOne of the Hallowe'en spells Burns described among the country people of the west of Scotland had to be tried alone and in the dark.

1 September

7 September, not tied to the day

8 September

8 September, not tied to the day

15 September, not tied to the day

24 September

25 September, not tied to the day

28 September, not tied to the day

29 September

30 September, not tied to the day

21 October, not tied to the day

31 October

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