The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-31

widow, or nobody at ALL depended on his dip
ping his hand in the clean water, the foul water,
or the empty dish. The ceremony was repeated
three times, the order of the dishes being
changed each time.
The above are the principal ceremonies which
we're ancently observed on the Occasion OF
this dnitc cbineTicdl solemnty," as Harvey, the
cOniuror of the last century, has styled IT, They
all had tor their object the revelation OF the
mysteries of the future. But. there are many
traditions which go to prove that the occasion
was also celebrated in the olden time as fes-
tval or general merry making, without any
such sinister designs.
Diving for Apples.
In the north of England the young people
used 10 dive for apples, or-what was a rarer
sport-catch a. them with open mouths, the
apples being fixed to the end Of a swinging stick,
to the other end of which was fastened lighted
candle.
In an old illuminated missal In Douce's COL
lection, ceremony similar to the last is repre-
sented in the quaint figure painting OF the
middle ages. A person is represented as attempt
ing to light candle, which he holds in one
hand, by means OF another fastened TO the end
OF q pole The pole is supported by two stools
placed at a distance from each other, and on
this the operator balances himself, at the risk
of receiving ducking In a tub of water beneath,
while be attempts TO light his candle.
The Carnival of Fire.
One of the most common methods of observ-
ing Halloween was by klndltng dres in promi-
nent positions. In Moray, Scotland, this cere-
mony was performed by way OF Thanksgiving
tor the successful gathering of the crops. In
lreloLd fires were also lighted on the tour great
Druidical festivals, of which Halloween hap
peDed TO be one. But this last was long since
discontinued candles taking the place of bon
fires. Although the Welsh still adhere to the
custom OF kindling large tires on this occasion,
they can give no account of the origin or pur-
pose OF their illumInalions.
In Perthshire, Scotland, there were formerly
many different ways of keeping the vigil of All
SAINTS Day, but the element OF fire was the most
favored in their ceremonies. In some places
the peasantry would form taegots of heath,
broom and flax, which were lighted and carried
through the village streets in grand and brilliant
procession. In other sections large fires would
be kinded in every village, and when they
were burnt out the ashes were carefully
collected and arranged in the form of circle.
Within this circle, and near the edge, stone
was then placed by every person who had an
interest in the ceremony. II any of these stones
we're removed, or in any way interered with
during the night, The petsons whom they repre-
sented were certain OF encountering death
within year. Various spells or enchantments
were also resorted TO for the purpo;e OF ioiing
the evil designs of the witches and demons who
were supposed to be abroad. Ia many parts OF
Wales, also, a custom much resembling the
above prevailed. II was attended by several
curious ceremonies. The people ran swiftly
through the fire and smoke, casting stone be.
hind them az they went; and at the conclusion
they all made off as last as their feet would
carry them, TO escape the black sh0rt-tdtled so,C
This unseemly haste was then compensated
for by rousing supper upon parsn,Ds, nuts,
and apples. The later were to be eaten only
after catching them in the mouth, task at
en6ed with considerable difficulty, as they
were either suspended in the air by a string or
sent whirling around a tub of water. On the
following morning each person who had cast a
stone intothe fire sought for it among the ashes,
and if any one failed to find his, ill-luck would
soon beti6e him or her.
The Ringing of Bells
for the repose of Christian souls was another
and popular pastime IN the old Papal days in
England. When Henry VIII renounced his
vocation as defender of the Faith" he wrote a
letter to Cranmer, prohibiting all "superstitious
practices especially "she vigil and ringing of
bells all the night long upon Allhallo w-day. at
night" Queen Elizabeth ike wise ordered 'that
Ga sfifoupse s%peruons rneing of oels and the
ot1ous ringing OF bells Mt Alhallo nti,le, and AZ
A Soups-day, with the two nights next before
and after, be prohibited"
1t is undoubtedly owing to the same dislike OF
practices which SAVIOR in any degree of superstl-
tion, that the many quaint and ludicroGs
methods of keepingtthe Vigil of All Saints'Day
have fallen into disrennta and disnsn