Scottish festival bans 'American' Hallowe'en - Telegraph Accessibility links Skip to article Skip to navigation Advertisement Telegraph.co.uk Thursday 24 January 2013 Home News World Sport Finance Comment Blogs Culture Travel Life Fashion Tech Dating Offers Jobs Politics Obits Education Earth Science Defence Health Scotland Royal Celebrities Weird Home » News » UK News Scottish festival bans 'American' Hallowe'en Jack O'Lantern: persona non grata north of the border By Tom Chivers 1:01PM BST 26 Oct 2007 A Scottish Hallowe'en festival is banning "consumerist" pumpkins in favour of turnips. The spooky celebration, at Scone Palace, Perthshire, is being organised by Scottish firm Herald Events as a riposte to the Americanisation of the traditional autumn festival, based on the ancient Celtic ritual of Samhain and co-opted by the Church. Speaking to the BBC, Jock Ferguson from the company said: "We will be having none of that pumpkin or trick-or-treat rubbish. "Pumpkins are banned and will not be allowed beyond the front gate." Related Articles Halloween Inc 31 Oct 2004 Bishop claims success at rebranding Hallowe'en 12 Apr 2008 Instead of Jack O'Lanterns and trick-or-treating, which organisers condemned as representative of "American big business and rampant consumerism", the festival will offer traditional Scottish activities such as "dooking for apples" and turnip-carving. In "De'il Tak the Hindmost", children will be lead around the grounds of the Scone Palace by the ghost of a Jacobite soldier, Dougal Murray, telling of the dark history of the old building. Heather McArthur, Events Manager at Scone Palace, said: "We wanted to move away from the normal 'trick or treat' type of activities this year and give Hallowe'en a Scottish twist. "'De'il Tak the Hindmost' combines traditional ghost stories with good old fashioned devilish fun and we think it will appeal to children and parents alike who are looking for something a bit different’. UK News News » Elsewhere Can you pass the primary school maths test? Pictures of the day External Links Scone Palace website In UK News Debbie Harry: Queen of Punk A winter wonderland: UK weather in pictures 30 years of breakfast TV Helicopter crash in pictures UK snow in pictures Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News Most Viewed TODAY PAST WEEK PAST MONTH North Korea to carry out third nuclear test 'aimed at US' Lego accused of racism with Star Wars set Boy, 11, admits raping six-year-old girl Trillions of dollars worth of oil found in Australian outback David Cameron may have finished off the Tories – but he had no choice Parents 'tried to exorcise daughter, 10' Algeria hostage crisis: latest Barack Obama inauguration 2013: as it happened Barack Obama inauguration: President aims to hit benchmark set by Abraham Lincoln Muslim Patrol: thugs abuse man in second 'vigilante' video Muslim Patrol: thugs abuse man in second 'vigilante' video Emigration: Two million quit Britain in 'talent drain' Europe speech and PMQs: David Cameron offers in-out EU referendum Cameron: I'll hold an in-out vote on Europe Beyoncé mimed Barack Obama inauguration Star-Spangled Banner rendition Advertisement MORE FROM TELEGRAPH.CO.UK Overseas Money Transfer Why you should use a currency transfer service for transferring money overseas View Vitsaprint Get everything you need for 2013: business cards, calendars and T-shirts View Telegraph Travel Hand-picked Escape the winter cold with a luxury holiday to Mykonos View Telegraph Travel Hand-picked Escape the winter cold with up to 70% off holidays to the world's most stunning destinations View Back to top HOME News UK News Politics Long Reads Wikileaks Jobs World News Europe USA China Royal Family News Celebrity news Dating Finance Education Defence Health Weird News Editor's Choice Financial Services Pictures Video Matt Alex Comment Blogs Crossword Contact Us Privacy and Cookies Advertising Fantasy Football Tickets Announcements Reader Prints Follow Us Apps Epaper Expat Promotions Subscriber Syndication © Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2013 Terms and Conditions Today's News Archive Style Book Weather Forecast