The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-31
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
. AppETIoAAL LOCAL ITEMS SEE INSIDE rAeRs
CITY CRIMINAL CALENDAR.
HALLOWEEN.
The rcs,IvnI Preceding All Saints Day


40 To- morrow will bring again the annual
recurrence OF one of The chief Cnurch festivals
All Hallow's or All saints Day-of course
ancient and almost mystic celebration called
halloween" It's observance, associated In
memory with our ohildhoods years, and ex.
tending back for centuries past to the days of
our remote ancestors, is 80 general as to
render 9se useless any any prompting more than
of All Saints Day Itself had it's origin in the
dedication by Pope Boniface Nv, in the year
607, of the famed temple called the Rotunda.
Built long before by Marcus Agripps, the IA
as place OF reception for Idols OF the many
physiological gods. In 40S Theodoslus the
nounger, lho:great loonocast, In his zeal cast
them all from the portals OF the building aud
afterwards the rulers of the Christian Cnurcn
purified it, and converted it into
God. II was then dedicsted, az mentioned by
Boniface TO she honor of the Blessed Virgin aud
came to be regularly ceie6raI ed at rome. Ex.
tending thence all over Christendom, IL has
from tnst time to this known no interruption.
Losing. too, ITS peculiar and Intimate couuec-
tion wfsh the Roman Catholic Church, IL is now
regarded and observed with reverence by the
members of most all Protestant denomina-
lions. The first day of November becoming
thus a general feast day among all classes
to pass that the evening preceding-the evening
Of the last day Of October-was also celebrated
under The name OF "Al Hallsw' Eve" An
ciently. the singularly superstitious, and to us
of these days. slDgdlarly ludicrous belief was
entertained that thS evening was the one on
which the great Devil accompanied by all his
little devils, was most likely 10 visit the earth
for the purpose OF venting his spleen against the
many saints whose festival was so near st hand.
Now, In modern times, OF course all these
superstitions have passed away, and
juvenile folks, rather by the blow
ing OF horns, the pounding OF doors, the ringing
Of bells, and the popping of corn grains, than
by any solemn or mystical rites. In a practical
age we have lost much of our reverence for
garded. The different ceremonies, ench ant.
mepts and spells by which Halloween was
noted in olden times mad for their principal ob.
ject the spying into the future. the revelation of
things hidden from the pre- science OF men. Ours
being new country, we have known but little
of these things. The intelligent settlers who
first peopled shores al once set their coun e.
nances against all such folly. Scotland's great
poet, Robert Burns, has immOrtalized, in his
that country. Who has not read mis- poem, be-
ginning
Upon that nisht. VIXEN fairies light,
On Csssills DOwnans da lce
To sport that ngh'?"
Among the queer customs formerly connected
with the night were the pulling from the
largeness or smallness, the stralghtness or
| crookedness of the stalk thus drawn were in-
dicslive OF the size and shape of the future hus-
! band or wife; the sowing, unperceived of hemp
| seed, in the idea that an apparIiion of the com
| ing spouse would appear; the thro wing of n clue
| ofyarn into the well. to be caught below by some
the question, "Who holds?" revealing the name
! OF the future happy man; the placing OF two
nuts bearing the names of a lad and lassie
| who had taken kindly to each other, side by
| side upon the hearth, in the certainty that II
| they burned quietly and equally together, The
! twain would be united In due time; the eating
an apple all alone; the "Winning three wechts
| o. nsethine;" the lottery of the three dishes
| Ihe diving for apples, and numerous others
| But ancient times have gone. aud with the N
| most of the observances to which reference hal
| been made.