Taking on the role of Scotland’s chief guisers (or galoshans), Edinburgh’s award-winning storytellers at Mercat Tours are launching a public appeal and programme of events to save some of Scotland’s great Halloween traditions.
Responding to evidence that the long-held Celtic Samhuinn traditions are waning, five star Mercat Tours is appealing to people across Scotland, and those visiting the country, to rediscover the old ways, remember the dead and keep their stories alive for generations to come.
To display their passion about preserving the past, Mercat Tours has curated a unique programme of Halloween events and tours (from 31st Oct to 2nd Nov) that will help people reconnect with the past, revive great Celtic traditions and explore the global influence that Scotland’s true stories have had on the worldwide Halloween celebrations.
All of the tours will take place in the historic capital of Edinburgh in some of the city’s most chilling historic sites.
Launching the campaign Tania Dron, Mercat’s Creative Development Manager and pagan, said: “The global Halloween celebrations of today are firmly rooted in the Celtic Samhuinn festival, a time to remember and communicate with the dead, but there is evidence that many of the festival’s traditions are being forgotten.
“At Mercat Tours we want to preserve Scotland’s past; our stories, places and culture, and that includes Samhuinn. As we see guising replaced with trick or treating, and turnips replaced by pumpkins, we want people to look back to, and embrace, some of the Celtic origins. We are appealing to everyone in Scotland to revive Scotland’s Halloween traditions, reconnect with the past and help us give history a damn good telling.
“Championing this drive, we are hosting a series of Halloween tours and events this October in Scotland’s historic capital city. Through the ancient craft of Celtic storytelling, our team of expert Guisers, or Galoshans as they are known in some parts of Scotland, will tell the true and sometimes gory stories of the people that lived before us, as they guide visitors round some of the city’s ancient streets, wynds and underground vaults.
“Our stories, and the sites we visit, are all the more chilling for being absolutely real: there are no tricks or jump scares on our tours. We will explore the authentic Samhuinn festival, as we prepare for the spirits of the dead making their return to the capital on All Hallows Eve. Those who complete our tours will become official champions of Scotland’s Samhuinn.”
In addition to telling the story of Samhuinn in Scotland, with their team of expert Guisers from around the world, Mercat’s Halloween tours will look at how the festival inspired celebrations further afield, including Canada, USA, France, New Zealand, Spain, Austria and Germany.
On all of their tours, Mercat will provide exclusive access to the famous Blair Street Underground Vaults, often referred to as Edinburgh’s most haunted site, where restless spirits still tread. Some of those who have previously ventured into the vaults have seen figures in the shadows, felt chill breaths on the back of their necks, or sensed a thin draughts in a deserted passage.
Those who listened hard enough in the dark silence of the vaults have even claimed to hear a faint echo of a centuries-old scream …
All tours meet at Edinburgh’s Mercat Cross, where the city’s undead are said to gather on All Hallows Eve.
Mercat Tours is also encouraging people to share their own Halloween stories on social media using the hashtag #MercatHalloween.
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