The Scottish Diaspora Blog is the digital home of my work on the Scots abroad. I am especially interested in the history of Scottish clubs and societies in Australasia, North America and Africa, in ethnic identity, and in the transfer of Scottish culture. I post stories regularly that explore the history of Scottish migration and the experiences of Scots abroad.
Celebrating Halloween in New Zealand
It’s that time of the year again when people all over the world celebrate Halloween – a good moment to remember that Halloween has long since been one of the many cultural traditions Scots took with them to places all around the world where they settled. This included New Zealand, where Scottish communities in both the North and South Islands made Halloween celebrations a central part in their annual events calendar.
In Wellington, in 1908, a Scottish festival was held in Burns Hall. The event was advertised as ‘a night of Scottish song and story’, and there was also a lecture entitled ‘The Love Songs of Scotland’, which was delivered by the Rev. J. Aitken (see advertisement). The musical programme had a number of contributors, including a Mrs Dempster who …