Boo! It's that time of year again - Halloween is drawing near and, as a food manufacturing company that specialises in traditional Scottish produce, we look back in time to the most celebrated Scots poet – Robert Burns.
Old ‘Rabbie’, was famously a big fan of all things mystical and spooky. He even penned a whole poem dedicated to All Hallow’s Eve – the night where the veil between living and dead is said to be thinnest!
Halloween being of Celtic origin has many its traditional myths and legends described in great detail by Burns in his poem “Halloween”. However, many non-Scots and Scot themselves may struggle to understand Burns traditional Scottish dialect which is why we have translated some of the Robert Burns poem from then… to now:
Then Now
Upon that night, when fairies light Upon tha night, when fairies light
On Cassilis Downans dance, On Cassilis Downans dance
Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze, Or over the lays, in splendid blaze
On sprightly coursers prance; On sprightly horses prance
Or for Colean the rout is ta'en, Or for Colean the route is taken
Beneath the moon's pale beams; Beneath the moon’s pale beams
There, up the Cove,to stray an' rove, There, up the cove, to stray and rove
Amang the rocks and streams Among the rocks and streams
To sport that night; To sport that night.
Amang the bonie winding banks, Among the bonny winding banks
Where Doon rins, wimplin, clear; Where the river Doon runs clear
Where Bruce ance rul'd the martial ranks, Where Bruce once ruled the martial ranks
An' shook his Carrick spear; And shook his Carrick spear
Some merry, friendly, countra-folks Some merry, friendly, country-folks
Together did convene, Together did convene
To burn their nits, an' pou their stocks, To burn their nuts, and pile their shocks of wheat
An' haud their Halloween And have their Halloween
Fu' blythe that night. Full of fun that night
To find out the full translation visit: www.mythicjourneys.org/mythkids_oct06_burns.html
What do you make of these old Celtic legends? Are you a believer? Will you be taking part in any of these Halloween traditions? Tell us all about it in the comment box below:
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