HALLOWEEN
SPECIAL
‘\
he war waged h_v Halloween on its ('eltic relative. Samhuinn. has virtually erased the ancient liestival from the public
consciousness. In the l'nited States. where All Hallows live has become a $3.5 billion industry. the most prominent pop cultural reference to its pagan ancestor is a film called Stun/ruin. which advertised itsell‘ with the tagline: ‘cannihals wreck havoc on Jenna Jameson.
Yet. despite its relative obscuritv. Samhuinn (as it's also known) is a festival with roots that stretch hack to a murkv pre-(‘hristian past. Intended as an opportunity to reflect on the changing seasons and acknowledge death and birth. it was one of the manv dates in the pagan calendar colonised h_v (‘hristianitv alter Popes (iregor_v Ill and IV shunted All Saints I)a_v from 13 .\la_v — itself a pagan holidav —- to 3] October.
The origins of Halloween are worlds away from Sarah Palin spookalikes, sexy cat outfits, jack o'Ianterns and dooking for apples, as Jasper Hamill discovers
Tuesday 28
TOURS
I Supernatural History Tours Mary King’s Close Tours, Meet at Mercat Cross (beside St Giles' Cathedral), Edinburgh, 0131 557 6464. 6—9pm. £10 (£9; 6 for children). Visit what is allegedly one of Scotland's most haunted locations this Halloween for what could potentially be a truly terrifying frightfest and learn more about the urban myths and extremely peculiar paranormal activities that have plagued the site over the centuries. New evidence of the supernatural is available for your own assessment. Find out for yourselves. if you think you’re brave enough. Tours run every 20 minutes.
24 THE LIST 16—30 Oct 2008
Wednesday 29
BOOK EVENTS
I Ruth ‘The Truth’ Urquhart Borders Books. Fort Kinnaird Retail Park. 390 Provan Walk. Edinburgh. 0131 657 4041. 7pm. £5. The woman known as Britain's only psychic agony aunt hosts a Halloween style psychic group meeting.
Thursday 30 FESTIVALS
I City of the Dead Hallowe’en Festival Parliament Square. High Street. Edinburgh. 0131 225 9044. 7pm—midnight. £8.50 (SIS—€6.50). History and horror on a special Halloween graveyard tour to investigate the world's best documented supernatural case — the Mackenzie Poltergeist.
BOOK EVENTS
I Vivian French Borders Books. Fort. Kinnaird. Edinburgh. 0131 657 4041. 10am. Free. Vivian French. author of dark fairytale The Robe of Skulls. brews up some Hallowe'en tales followed by a Q&A session.
Friday 31
MUSIC
I Our Ladies of Sorrow Wee Red Bar. eca, 74 Lauriston Place. Edinburgh. 0131 229 1003. 7-10pm. $34. Keeping up their annual tradition. Edinburgh band OLOS will play out a synth prog opera inspired by 19708 Italian soundtrack-rockers Goblin. while terrifying and tacky images from giallo horror movies are projected.
DAYS OUT
I Cheesecake - Night of the Living Tease Capitol. 468 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. 0141 331 1040. 8pm. £6. Trick or tease? It's time to get your frocks on and join some of Scotland's best new burlesque performers.