Exploring Scotland’s Spooky Past with @deanmackay For...

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Exploring Scotland’s Spooky Past with @deanmackay

For more photos and videos from Brodie Castle, explore the Brodie Castle location page, and the #brodiecastle hashtag on Instagram.

“Noone in Scotland can escape from the past. It is everywhere, haunting like a ghost.”—Geddes MacGregor

Brodie Castle sits on the high peaks of Scotland in Moray, a 16th-century reminder of the nation’s supernatural heritage. On a small heath known as Macbeth’s Hillock, King Macbeth is believed to have encountered three “weird sisters”—an event that inspired Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.

“The woodland walks on the estate could certainly be described as spooky,” says local Instagrammer Dean Mackay (@deanmackay). “In some areas the trees are so tall and tightly packed together sunlight only just struggles through. The air is thick with the smell of the ancient Scots pine and Norway spruce trees. Dead leaves fall from the trees and crumble under foot.”

Many modern-day Halloween traditions originated from Scotland’s harvest festival, Samhain. Villagers carved ghoulish lanterns out of turnips to scare away the dead on All Hallows’ Eve, the night when spirits and souls freely roamed and witches engaged in evil practices.

The tradition of trick-or-treating in costumes finds its origins in the Scottish tradition of “Guising.” Those who were brave enough to wander out Halloween night would disguise themselves in terrifying attire as they said prayers or carried lanterns to ward off evil. They received offerings for their efforts—and later children would begin to dress up and sing in return for sweets, nuts and sometimes pennies.

“I have very vivid memories of Halloween in Scotland,” says Scotland Instagrammer Kristie De Garis (@kristiedegaris). “It just holds this air of history and also something else that’s hard to put your finger on: it’s magical. The night still holds a lot of magic for me and I love this connection we have to our ancient past as Scots.”

Apples and their star-shaped core have strong ties to Scottish legend, and their presence is still felt in the seasonal game Apple Dookin’ (Scottish for “apple ducking”). Traditionally young singletons would try to catch floating apples in a basin with their hands are tied, a symbol of catching love for the coming year. Whereas pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating have become common across the world, some haven’t been as eager to continue bobbing for apples.

“Dookin’ for apples was something I tried to avoid,” says Scottish Instagrammer Sophie McCook (@instamacs), who recalls that the game would often lead to a head submerged in water. “I judged that an apple, no matter how good, was not worth putting my head in water.”

The rituals will continue this year in Scotland, where on October 31 spookiness still reigns.

by via Instagram Blog