National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-11-01
ALL HALLOWEEN.
Its Foas,inss aad Reyeiries.


Tho last night Of October brought with II
the ancient festival Of Hallowecn-an occa-
sion OF Joyous pastimes to the young and OF
pleasant memories to the old. Although the
curious customs OF the anniversary have be.
come almost obsolete In this section oil the
country, they arc yet observed In many rural
places In Great Britain, 10 Canada and In
many parts Of the United States. The origin
OF the festival Ia involved IN obscurity, but II
undoubtedly had birth In the darker days Of
Paganism. IL Is q festival Of apples and nuts,
NJ embleins OF the russell time. Tho boys
bob LOT apples In tubs OF water, and the girls
resort to mysterious acts 10 get clue 10 the
names OF coming husbands. Discmbodied
spirits arc supposed 70 ride through the air
on broomsticks, and II IL the gala night for
witches, hobgobllns and all other Kinds Of
imaginary creatures, who arc said TO reign
supreme until midnight, and then TO retire
for another year.
The custom Of making nuts the principal
cdlblcs on this anniversary has earned for II
the name Of "Nut-Crack Night" They arc
not only cracked and eaton, but they arc
made the test Of the sincerity Of lovers. One
Of the customs among the young ladies Is to
place three nuts upon the stove, naming each
after separate lovers. II one cracks or jumps,
begins TO blaze or burn, II shows that the
flame Of love Is burning In his heart. lfthoso
named after the maid and her lover burn to-
gcther, they will be married.
The "three dishes" constitute another
source of amusement. They are ranged on q
table, when the parties to the trial are blind.
folded and allowed to advance snd dip theii
fingers Into one Of them. II they dip into
the clean water they will be married TO maid
ems; II into the foul, TO widows or widowers
II Into the empty dish, they are destined Il
be old bachelors or old maids. AS the par
ties advance to the table the position Of III,
dishes Is changed.
/. A custom fraught with much merriment !
to place candle on one end OF stick, sus
lpcnded by string from the ceiling, and upoi
the other end an apple. The stick Is thei
whlricd around, and tho mcrry-makers, II
succession, loap forward and cndeavor 4
catch the apple with their teeth, their hand
being tied behind them. The results Of thes
attempts arc often very ludlcrous.
In this country, where Young Amcrlc
doesn't take much stock In ghosts, the boy
celebrate the night In . manner PECULIAR.
their own. The front doors Of dwellings ar
] tho objective points TO which their attentio
Is directed. These they bang with club:
, calling the houscmaids from their accustome
duties TO answer the summons Of suppose
caller, only to DO greeted by cabbageheat
ruthlessly torn from Its bod by some juvcnil
garden-raider.
Halloween Is the night Of the praclici
joker, and although he Is sometimes unrul,
everybody SCENE ready to meet his sport viii
broad grin. Even those who grease the
tfaccs and burn their noses at "snsp-apple
! or get duckod In the effort TO secure "pil
! pin" or fail to satisfy their curiosity In n
gard TO their matrimonial fatcs, are contel
20 bide their time and hope for better luck 9
he next celebration of the joyous festival.