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Halloween, a Scotch Poem

Key details

Archive number
NTS/02/25/BRN/02/112
Alt. number
3.6273
On display
No
Creator
Burns, Robert (Author)

Description

Halloween, a Scotch Poem.

This manuscript contains a portion of Burns's poem Halloween. The poem recounts the superstitious traditions followed by country people near the end of October. The details of such festivals reflect the local folklore his mother, Agnes Broun, and Betty Davidson, the widow of Agnes' cousin, passed on the young Burns during his childhood in Alloway.

The content of the poem focuses on the superstitions surrounding finding your future spouse. Young people used corn stalks, roasted nuts, and apples to help determine their futures in sometimes elaborate rituals. The work also relies heavily on Scots language. The manuscript is also badly faded.

Archive information


Hierarchy

  1. Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs ( )
  2. Halloween, a Scotch Poem

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