Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-11-01
HALLOW T. EN-.
A Few Thoughts in Connection With Its
Origin and Observance.


Origin and Observance.
The first OF November is dedicated to
the memory OF all saints i'll the Roman
calendar. and the vigil" or evening
previous, thus gets its name OF hallowed
or holy eve. No other night in the year
is so devoutly assigned to Cupid by
SWANS and maidcns as this, and the
origin oi the many mystical observances
by which to obtain glimpse into iutur-
itv is yelled in the obsCurity OF the dark
ages. The practice OF throwing cabbage
at the door, which is an observance dear
to the heart OF every boy, originated in
an old Scotch custom. \ youth and a
maiden are blindiolded, and hand in
hand 90 to the "kail, or cabbage patch,
to pull the first plant they touch. II ii
is straight and Comely, or short and
ugly, SO will be the future spouse. II
earth clings TO the roots it is a sign Oi
wealth. The taste OF the heart OF the
stem, whether sweet or bitter, indicates
the disposition. Finally, the stems are
placed over the doorway, and the Chris
tlan name OF the first person who enters
is that OF the unknown. Afterward
the shape it takes indicates the oCcnpa-
ton Of the husband. Thus, little nails
indicate carpenter; walls, 4 physician;
plows or hoes, farmer, and so on.
Next the nuts-the hazel being pecu.
liarly the witches tree, its iruit is prefer.
red-are cast on the glowing Goals, one
named lOr lad and one for laSSe. Ii
they sputter and fly apart, the person
will not wed; ii they burn cOntented!y
side by side, mingling their white ashes
together, Indicates undying attachment
and happy union.
Many other observanCes for foretell-
ing the future OF lovers are kept in va
rious countries. An apple is pared SO
as to preserve the peal in one long strip,
and this is whrled thrice around the
head and then let fall. 1t will take the
form of the initial letter OF the lovers
name. A young girl goes alone into a
room, apple in hand, just as the clock
strikes midnight, and standing before
the glass combs her hair and eats the
apple: she will see the image OF her
lover looking over her shoulder in the
mirror. The Irish maidens 90 forth ut
midnight to SOW hempseed, and look
backward to see tho shadow Of the IT,
ture husband following 10 reap thereon.
The old-fashioned manner OF celebra-
ting Hallow Fen is fast falling into dis.
use, as it richly deserves to. The praC
tice of smashing windows, deiacing
doors, unhinging gates, breaking down
fences and committing other acts OF I'M
warrantable deviltrv was certainly one
of the most reprehensible imaginable,
and we are glad to see that with the ex-
ception OF the rural districts it is hardly
now in vogue anywhere. In this city
there are annually few store boxes
dumped into the street, an occasional
gate lifted from its hinges, sign or two
changed so that the change will produce
a laugh at the expense OF the parties
whose business is misrepresented by
the sign, or a few grains Of corn ratified
harmlessl v against window panes, start.
ling the children. With these innocent
exceptions to mark its anniversary, this
once prominent night of the year is
fast losing it's identity and becoming as
"the other nights OF the year.