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Halloween is a celebration observed in many countries on or around 31 October every year.  It is the eve of the western Christian feast of All Saint's Day, a day commemorating Christian martyrs.  Roman Catholics and Protestants celebrate All Saint's Day on 1 November.  Presbyterians celebrate and remember members of the family and community who have passed on.  One can see in this a reflection of the religious turmoil and conflict that Scotland experienced with the Protestant Reformation and its aftermath.

Like many of the western Christian traditions, including Christmas, there is a strong likelihood that these traditions existed prior to Christianity and were co-opted by it.  Halloween may have its origins in Celtic harvest festivals and especially the Gaelic festival of Samhain.  The proximity to the autumnal equinox and lead-in to the winter solstice is significant. A list of such Celtic festivals includes:

  • Samhain (Calan Gaeaf (Wales), Kalan Gwav (Cornwall) and Kalan Goañv (Brittany)
  • Imbolc
  • Beltaine
  • Lughnasa.

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A kilt is a garment similar to a skirt worn by men.  It was originally a wrap-around full-length garment (belted plaid) that could be draped over the shoulder and head - something like the garment Mel Gibson wore in the field in the movie Braveheart, where he played the role of Sir William Wallace fighting against Edward I (Edward Longshanks) and his army.  This was the "great kilt".  A walking kilt or small kilt was invented in the 1720s which was less unwieldy as the great kilt.  The small kilt was quickly adopted in Scotland, although here is evidence that this kilt was already in used before the 1720s.  A kilt usually has a tartan, although Irish pipe bands often wear a kilt in a solid colour - typically saffron or green.  The amount of material in a kilt (wool) can range from heavy (18-22 ounces) down to light (10-11 ounces).  A full kilt has 8 yards of fabric, although for those who are not girth-impaired, it can range up to 9 yards. 

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Remembrance Day (or Armistice Day) is typically a holiday on 11 November each year in Canada.  Originally it was meant to commemorate the Armistice that ended the First World War (sometimes called "the Great War").  There have been many wars since, including World War 2.  The day has come to commemorate all those who have made sacrifices in war, peacekeeping, in peace-time and on "the home front".  Canada's Remembrance Day is similar to that of France and Belgium in that it is a national holiday.  In the United Kingdom, Remembrance Sunday is the day of commemoration, rather than 11 November.  In Australia and New Zealand the poppy is worn on ANZAC day.

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Haggis is a savoury pudding. 

When one speaks of a "pudding" one does not speak of cream-based sweet desserts such as custard, mousse, rice or Jell-O.  In the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth a pudding could be sweet or savoury.  For example black pudding or a Yorkshire pudding are savoury puddings whereas rice pudding, Christmas pudding or a treacle sponge pudding are sweet puddings. There is a Canadian connection to sweet puddings - the sticky toffee pudding may have origins from two Royal Canadian Air Force Officers billeted in England during the Second World War.

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In History

Bannock is also known as skaan (or scone) or Indian Bread and is found throughout North American Indigenous cuisine, including that of the Inuit, First Nations and Métis. The word "bannock" comes from the Scots dialect of English with its first mention in literature of the 8th century. Historically it was used mostly in Ireland, Scotland and northern England.  That said, it may have been common in various forms in pre-Columbian exchange Indigenous societies.