Turnip Lanterns & Twisted Cocktails: A Very British Halloween & Devilish Discounts
After all the wine and food pairing emails of the last few weeks, I thought I'd go in a different direction today.
I'm lucky enough to live within walking distance of work, and more than a few houses that I pass on my commute have had, quite elaborate, Halloween decorations up for at least a couple of weeks.
Now, "when I were a lad" (admittedly a long, long time ago) Halloween was barely celebrated, but American influence over the past 30 years or so, means that it's now almost up there with Christmas, with British Halloween spending more than doubling in the past decade, reaching over £400 million annually.
We've got some extra discount on glasses for your Halloween cocktails (and recipes to fill them with) and as the 31st October isn't until Thursday, we'll GUARANTEE that they'll be with you on time! Also, as it's the time of year for monstrous things, we've included the "ugliest wine glasses in the world" - Winewings, - if cocktails aren't your cup of tea.
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I had a vague memory of learning, in school, that Halloween developed from a Celtic pagan harvest festival. So I thought I'd do a bit of research into its origins.
Ancient Origins: Samhain
Halloween's origins in Britain can be traced back to the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced "sow-in"), marking the end of harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts, who inhabited what is now Britain and Ireland, believed that on October 31st, the boundary between the world of the living and the dead became blurred, allowing spirits to cross over.
The Celtic New Year
Samhain marked the Celtic New Year, representing the end of summer and harvest season (the lighter half of the year) and the beginning of winter (the darker half). This transition was seen as a liminal time when the veil between worlds was at its thinnest, making it easier for otherworldly beings to enter our realm.
Spiritual and Agricultural Significance
- Harvest Rituals: Communities would gather the last crops and slaughter livestock for winter stores. These activities were accompanied by ritualistic practices to ensure good fortune for the coming year.
- Sacred Fires: Druids (Celtic priests) would light huge sacred bonfires on hilltops, where people would gather to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the gods.
- Community Gatherings: People would extinguish their hearth fires and relight them from the sacred bonfire, symbolizing unity and purification.
Protection from Spirits
The Celts took various measures to protect themselves during Samhain:
- Wearing costumes made from animal heads and skins to disguise themselves from harmful spirits
- Leaving offerings of food and drink outside their homes to appease wandering souls
- Creating boundaries of protection using circles of salt or sacred herbs
- Carving grotesque faces into turnips to ward off evil spirits (the predecessor to jack-o'-lanterns)
Roman Influence
When the Romans conquered Britain, they combined their own festivals with Samhain:
- Pomona: The celebration of the Roman goddess of fruit and trees, which added apple-related customs to the festivities
- Feralia: A day in late October when the Romans commemorated the passing of the dead
Transition to Christianity
As Christianity spread across Britain, the Church attempted to override pagan festivals:
- In 835 CE, Pope Gregory IV moved All Saints' Day to November 1st
- November 2nd became All Souls' Day, creating a three-day observance known as Allhallowtide
- Many Samhain traditions were absorbed into these Christian observances rather than being eliminated
- The name "Halloween" derives from "All Hallows' Eve," the night before All Saints' Day
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Historical British Halloween Traditions
Soul Caking
One of Britain's oldest Halloween traditions is "souling," where poor people would go door-to-door receiving soul cakes in exchange for prayers for the dead. This practice is widely considered a predecessor to modern trick-or-treating.
Apple Bobbing
This quintessentially British Halloween game originated in the Roman conquest period, combining Roman apple traditions with Celtic festivities. It remains popular at Halloween parties across the UK today.
Jack-o'-lanterns: A British Beginning
While pumpkin carving is now standard practice, the Celts traditionally carved turnips or swedes. The practice stems from the folk tale of Jack O'Lantern, a crafty farmer who tricked the devil and was condemned to roam the earth with only a carved-out turnip and burning coal to light his way.
Scottish Halloween traditions have remained particularly strong, with children still practicing "guising" - dressing up and performing songs, poems, or jokes for treats. Unlike American trick-or-treating, earning treats through performance remains an important aspect.
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Modern British Halloween
Contemporary Celebrations
Today's British Halloween has been influenced by American customs but maintains its distinct character:
- Less emphasis on decorating houses compared to the US
- Focus on indoor parties rather than street-wide celebrations
- Growing popularity of professional Halloween events and haunted attractions
- Increasing commercial significance for retailers
Interesting Facts
- British Halloween spending has more than doubled in the past decade, reaching over £400 million annually
- Trick-or-treating only became popular in the UK during the 1980's
- Ghost tours in historic cities like York and Edinburgh see peak attendance during Halloween season
Educational Integration
Many British schools use Halloween as an educational opportunity, incorporating:
- History lessons about Celtic and medieval traditions
- Art projects involving traditional crafts
- Literature studies featuring ghost stories and folklore
- Cultural awareness discussions comparing international celebrations
Controversies and Challenges
The modernization of Halloween in Britain has not been without controversy:
- Concerns about American cultural influence
- Debates about commercialization
- Safety worries regarding trick-or-treating
- Religious objections from some community members
Looking Forward
Halloween is like that friend who studied abroad and came back with weird new habits - it's definitely changed, but deep down, it's still wonderfully, quirkily British.
What's Brewing for Halloween?
Food & Drink Evolution
- Craft breweries releasing "Authentically Spooky" ales with names like "Ghostly Bitter" and "Haunted Hops"
- Traditional soul cakes getting Instagram-worthy makeovers
- Cocktail bars serving "Ye Olde Halloween Potions" at distinctly non-medieval prices
- That one pub that goes overboard with fake cobwebs and ends up catching more customers than spiders
The Next Generation
Today's British kids are growing up with a Halloween that's:
- Half TikTok trends, half gran's stories about bobbing for apples
- More likely to livestream their trick-or-treating than actually walk around
- Still somehow ending up with cheap plastic vampire teeth that break after one use
- Totally confused about why their parents keep mentioning something called "Ghostwatch" (terrifying!)
What's Actually Happening
Let's be honest, the future of Halloween will probably involve:
- More houses pretending not to be home during trick-or-treating
- An increasing number of dogs in Halloween costumes
- Weather that ruins at least 50% of outdoor Halloween plans
- That one neighbour who starts decorating in August
- Continued debates about whether Halloween is "too American" while everyone enjoys it anyway