While Halloween and Mischief Night were marked by pranks and games, the excitement didn’t end there. Leading up to Bonfire Night on November 5th, families competed to gather wood for the biggest and best bonfires. In our Great Big Dialect Hunt, you submitted regional words like “chumping” and “progging,” both used to describe collecting wood. James Gledhill fondly remembered the friendly rivalry between groups as they scoured the village for fuel to keep their bonfires burning brightly.
Children and bonfire, Dewsbury, (LAVC/PHO/P1968)
Today, while Halloween has evolved, many of these regional traditions and words continue to haunt our celebrations. From the joy of apple bobbing to the eerie tales of witches and bogeymen, these spooky dialect words and customs remind us that Halloween has always been a time of fun, mischief, and a little bit of magic.
What spooky words or customs does your area have? Share your stories on Instagram: dialectandheritage or on X (Twitter): @DialectHeritage and help keep these fascinating traditions alive!
