Halloween and Spooky Offers
The Americans are mad about Halloween, but not so much in my family as my son was born on the 31st October and so he’s had too many Halloween themed parties to be thrilled by the event. But for the rest of us the day is something we always remember from our youth, when we might have called it “Mischief Night”. But I guess that was just because I was a pretty mischievous child, oops!
Across the pond they hollow out huge pumpkins and make the most wonderful Jack O’ Lanterns, but in the nation we make Tumshie Lanterns out of the far more difficult to carve neeps ,or turnips if you like. These neeps lanterns are meant to ward off evil spirits, although many a carving session has ended up in Accident and Emergency. You need a very sharp knife and a steady hand, with a tourniquet just in case. But you can eat the leftover turnip from inside the head, just cook. mash ,add salt and pepper and then butter.
There is also a tradition that has survived from the times of the Druids it seems,where you have to burn your nuts! How charming! Hazel nuts as everyone knows provide wisdom and knowledge and rowan protects against witches, so it is a bad look to cut rowan down. But back to nuts, their burning and courting couples. If the prospective bride and groom throw hazel nuts onto the fire and the nuts burn quietly with little noise then the marriage will be calm, but if it is noisy and burns too brightly then the union will be turbulent and difficult. Old wife’s tales perhaps, but I suppose it’s easier than actually talking to each other! Och the thought of it!
And if you want a quiet shop with no turbulence then what could be easier than a swift browse with our good selves here at James Pirie, founded in St Andrews in 1890, and still making gift buying easy.
And if you fancy bucking the trend of history where normally I’d suggest a whisky glass or two then why not look at our lovely G&T Thistle Flower of Scotland Gin and Tonic Copa Glasses from Royal Scot Crystal. They are great with a flowing, intaglio thistle design hand cut by one of the most highly skilled intaglio craftsmen in the land.
And just now they are on at half price and come in a prestigious presentation box with free delivery. If you want free gift wrapping, just tick the box at checkout. The link below has been shortened to make it prettier.
