Hallowe’en – A Bygone Theme by Pat Byrne

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‘Mum, Anna and me have got an idea for Hallowe’en,’ said Catherine.

‘Okay. Tell me about it.’

‘We’ve got it all planned. It’s going to be a bygone theme,’ said Anna. ‘Auntie Mary says she can lend us stuff. She’s got a trunk in her loft full of vintage clothes that she’s kept like forever.’

‘Sounds different’, said their mum.

‘It’ll be like in the olden days. And you won’t have to do a thing,’ said Catherine.

‘Except could you help with some stuff you used to do when you were wee. We want to duck for apples,’ said Anna.

‘Think you mean dook.’

‘Aye, dook. We’ve been learning about Hallowe’en customs at school. You cover scones in treacle and hang them up and you’ve to try to eat them – no hands allowed,’ said Anna.

‘What is treacle anyway?’ said Catherine.

‘Black and syrupy. Messy! I thought I wasn’t to do anything,’ said their mum.

‘We’ll do nearly everything but we need dad to help with the lanterns.’

‘So, they’ve roped you in too, Jim?’

‘Looks like it, Florence. No pumpkins this year they want to use turnips.’

‘That’s what you did when you were wee, right?’, said Anna. ‘You said: “We use turnips in Scotland.” ‘

‘Fine, fine.  But only our close and next door for the trick and treating mind. And you’ll need to all stick together and keep an eye on the youngsters.’

‘Thanks, mum. You’re the best. Auntie Mary is coming up later to teach us some old songs. This is going to be brilliant.’

Mary had a lot of songs printed out for the kids to choose from. She played them on the piano and they chose the ones they liked best. They decided on Ally Bally Be, or as she called it – Coulter’s Candy, and Three Craws Sat Upon the Wa’. Mary suggested they learn a third song for back up so they had a go at One, Two, Three Aleerie.

‘Come down to my house tomorrow night and we can go over the songs again and you can look through the trunk and see what you want to dress up in.’

‘We’ll be down after school. Us two and Joseph and Karen from next door if that’s okay?’

‘I’ll see you then. Now any chance of a cup of tea?’

On Hallowe’en night the girls got dressed up in felt hats, Anna’s had a wee veil. Her coat was double breasted, navy blue with a Peter Pan collar and Catherine’s was fawn with a brown velvet collar. The coats were down to their ankles and the lace up boots were far too big. They would need to be careful on the stairs, but at least they wouldn’t be cold. Mum said folk would smell them coming a mile away because of the stink of moth balls.

They’d helped their dad carve out faces In the turnips. Mum said no real candles but she put new batteries in some wee Christmas lights and they worked great. They filled the old baby bath with water and had the apples all ready to put it. It was going to be the best fun ever.

Their mum and dad waved to them at the door as they set off on their guising expedition. ‘Just our close and next door, mind. Nanna Gillies probably won’t hear you so give her a miss. See you soon’.

In less than an hour they were back. ’Trick or treat,’ they shouted together when their mum answered the door.

‘Come in. Come in.’

Anna, Catherine, Karen, Joseph and another wee boy followed her into the living room.

“What are you going to do for your Halloween?’

‘We’ll sing some songs,’ said Anna.

They had learned the songs well and sang word for word Coulter’s Candy and Three Craws. Their mum and dad clapped and asked for an encore so they made an effort with One, Two, Three, Aleerie.

The wee boy was very quiet and serious. He didn’t join in. He was dressed  smartly in a heavy woollen suit with short trousers and long socks and a shirt and tie. He had very neat black hair.

The children giggled as they splashed about dooking for apples. Florence had the baby wipes all ready as they attempted to eat the treacle covered scones swinging from a contraption Jim had rigged up in the kitchen. She gave them monkey nuts, sweeties and a wee bit of change.

The wee boy stood back and watched. ‘Did you want to sing or anything’, said Florence.

He nodded, stepped forward and started to sing the Skye Boat Song.

‘Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing over the sea to Skye ……

The children stopped giggling and nudging each other and everyone was still. His voice was clear and soaring,  When he finished they clapped. He smiled and gave a little bow.

‘We’ve still to go to the McGarry’s and the Smith’s,’ said Anna.

‘Okay, then, but straight back after that. You’ve to get up for school in the morning.’

It wasn’t long before the girls returned.  “That was the best Hallowe’en ever,’ said Anna.

‘Who was the wee boy?  What a lovely singer,’ said their mum.

‘His name’s Daniel. He just tagged along. He might have been a friend of Joseph’s. His cousin or something,’ said Anna.

‘I’ve never seen him before,’ said Catherine.

‘There was something familiar about him,’ said their mum.

The next night the children packed up the clothes to return to their aunt. ‘Will you ask her to have a look in the trunk for an old photo album,’ said their mum.

Mary brought the album to their house and they all looked through it.  There were photos of old ladies with long skirts, their hair up in buns, and men with handlebar moustaches and waistcoats decorated with fob watches.  There was one photograph, a family group, with everyone dressed up in fancy clothes. A wee dark-haired boy stood at the very front. He wore a woollen suit and a shirt and tie.

Florence pointed to the photograph. “That’s your great grandfather,’ she said, ‘I never met him before’.

Pat Byrne, Hallowe’en, October, 2024.

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