Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-10-31
HALIOE'EN CHARMS.

HALLoE'EN CHARMS.
Poetry and SuperstitiOns Associated
with the Last Night In OctOber-rhe
Maiden and Her Loyer-PRGan Gus.
toms that Have Become IncorpOra-
ted with the vigil of All saints.
The host of time honored superstitions
that cling around OctOber'S asst night are
too venerable TO be even ASST med correct
starting point. That they are a relic OF
heather customs is beyond dispute, yet
while gradually losing their mystic and
unhallOwed significance they still retain
their hold upon the popular mind and
serve 10 link the proSaic aud well-inform-
ed present with the picturesque igno-
rance of the past. In common
with many other SupersEitiOus prac-
tees they NAV be traced directly back to
the Druids, whose two great yearly festt-
walls were the "Beltane," or fire of God"
celebrated on the first Of May, and the
"Samh'in," or fire of peace" which took
place on the first of November. It was at
this time that these early lawglyerS as
sembled in solemn oOnClaYe to discharge
the judicial functions of their order, and
at this time also were kindled the sacred
fires, from which the darkened hearths all
| over the country were carefully relit. In
deed the custom of kindling fires on Hal
low-eye fingered in the British Island long
after the introduction of Christianity, and
many other practices but recently in vogue
were purely heather in their origin.
With most of these the object was to gain
some glimpse into the future, or to decide
on coming material relations; for the
witches and fairies, who were supposed to
select this night for their earthly ramUies,
were as aCcOmmOdatingas modern fortune
teller in the selection of husbands ana wives
10 suit all applicants. The girl in Tam
Glen who hangs the wet shirt sleeve by
the tire To dry, doubts not that her own
true love really came in spirit and turned
il for her, but relates the fact with cheerful
confidence:
The last Halloween | was wauken
My drOuklt sark-Sleeye, as you ken;
His likeness cam up the house stauken
In the very grey beeks o Tam Glen.
LOVERS CHARMS.
Sometimes a maid forced her future hus-
band to reveal his lIneaments by cOmbing
her hair before mirror at midnight, in
which case he might be seen peering over
her left shoulder into the glass-a test cal
Culated TO shake the strongest nerves.
Sometimes she stole out unperceiyed, and
hastily sowed handful Of hemp-seed, re-
peating now and then, in a trembling
whisper:
Hemp seed SOW thee, hemp seed I SOW
thee,
Let him that is 10 he my true love come
after me and shaw thee.
Then, glancing over her left shoulder,
she saw, ii the fairies were prOpitlOuS, the
apparition other lover, either narrowing or
pulling up the hemp, according to the
words Of the Invocation
Or perhaps she wound q new clue of blue
yarn and felt with fast. beating heart that
unseen hands were holding the other end
OF the thread. Then if she mustered cOur-
age TO put the question, VIVA hands, q
voice would answer and give the name OF
the lad who was destined 10 WOO and win
her.
1t is worthy of remark in all these
charms, silly and futile though they were,
that they manifest not only the anxious
prying into the future which is common
among the ignorant everywhere, but also a
spirit of reckless daring which is peculiar
~ the property of the North. The Scotch
pesSantrv, uneducated, superStitiOus, sur
rounded by an unseen world of elves and
fairies, found fearful delight in trying to
force an entrance into this spirit-land, and
in all their myths there IS ever present the
idea of an evil power who may at any
minute take q cruel advantage OF mortal ;
rashness So strong is this feeling that
counter. charms were often used as pro-
lection from the righteousness OF the dark
spirits thus heedleSSly invoked. and there
is a sombre COloring about many OF these
Northern entertainments that suggests for
chilly their Pagan and unhallowed origin.
Nor are there lacking instances IN which
terror and an Oyer-heated imagination
have wrecked mind and body of fOOlhardy
experimental as surely and hopelessly as
though Haki himself had been bent on his
destruction.
YOUNG PEOPLES GAMES.
It Is relief to turn from these charms
10 the popular games that make Halloween
cheerful for young people all the world
over. Nutcrack Night, as it was called in
the north of England, was an occasion OF
general festivity among the children, who
ducked for apples and roasted chestnutS
and melted lead aud otherwise enjoyed
themselves. On the Continent, too, the
little people had the best of it, partly be-
cause of the opposition which the Church
of Rome offered to all spells and fortune
seeking: partly because HallOw-eve being
the vigil of All Saints, was set apart as
day OF fasting so that the old-time fan be,
came gradually the undisputed property Of
the children.
Nuts have always heen considered an
essential feature of the nights entertain
ment, as well as valuable aid in indicating
the faithfulnesS of a lover. Carefully
named before they we're put on the hre,
they hopped together and burned cheer
fully i'm company if everything was going
we'll, or struck OFT in widely different dlrec'
tions if quarrel was lOOmingin the future.
Now if we two be lovers true,
Our nuts will burn together, o;
But if at heart we seek to part,
There'll show a change of weather, q.
Another Scotch custom was for the young
yeople TO 90 out blindfOlded and hand.in-
hand into the kailyard or garden and there
pull the first stalk of colewOrt they could
ind. These were named and By their size
and straightneSs indicated the outward ap'
pearanCe OF their owners future wife or
husband, while the qusntity of earth LETT
clinging to the roots marked the dowry and
the taste of the pith revealed sweet OF
| sharp temper as the case might be. Final
! ly. they are hung over the door and who
| ever entered first was held TO bear the same
Christian name as the destined bride OF
bridegroom.
THE THREE LCGGIES.
OWNING ones future by means of the
/ three dishes or "luggies" was common
I game both in ireland and Scotland. The
/ plates were filled respectively with pure
| water, earth and ashes, and the player, ad
! yancing blindfolded, plunged his hand at
/ random into whichever ecould reach. The
/ water foretold a speedy marriage, the ashes
a life of single blessedness and the mould
\ An early grave.
Without being altogether cheerful, thi:
was at least easier than trying 20 catch with
/ ones teeth an apple tied to banging
! stick, whose other end held fast lighted
| candle threatening destruction to face and
/ hair. Even ducking for apples on cold
| night requires fair amount OF courage
! and is more amusing for the lookers-or
than for the participants IN the sport, VINO
| FipslIy. il was believed that babies borr
on this mystic night we're endowed witt
especial powers regarding the sqPernatu
| raj world; that the elves watched owe
them with particular care, and that they