October 2019 – Spooky Scotland

Halloween Origins: Samhain and the Cailleach

Oct 30, 2019 | Beltane, Cailleach, Feasts, Quarter-days, Celebrations and the Celtic Calendar, Myths and Legends, Samhain and Halloween, Wheel of the Year

The origins of Halloween date back to an ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (pronounced sow-in) which celebrated the harvest and the arrival of the Cailleach. For the Celts who lived some 2,000 years ago, November 1st was their New Year. It was a time when the...

The Minister, The Witch and The Witch Pricker: The Tragic Tale of Kathrin Key

Oct 15, 2019 | Protestant Reformation, Witch Hunts and Trials, Witch-pricker, Witches

Witch! This was perhaps the most fearsome word encountered by Kathrin Key, resident of the small fishing town of Newburgh in Fife. Witches were powerful. They could curse and cure, make cattle sick, kill children and fly broomsticks. Their magical abilities came from...

Halloween Origins: Samhain and the Cailleach

The Minister, The Witch and The Witch Pricker: The Tragic Tale of Kathrin Key

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