Daily Republican., 1882-10-31
ALL HALLOWEEN.
ITS ANCIENT AND PRESENT GUS
TOMS-ThE MAIDEN AND
HER LOVER.

2VA1- u n n AAA1
MER LOVER.
sN-%-
Tonight, the last night OF October IL
looked upon by the small boy as one OF
unusual interest and is termed BY them
Halloween or All Saints Day. This
memorable night is celebrated by the
small boys and girls ia o novel way
and they delight in removing steps, un.
hanging gates, ringing door bells, and
committing other depredations which
Is quite contrast TO that Of ancient
times but as time wears on everything |
assumes a different aspect, but the
time honored event will always be
cherished by our people. The host OF
time honored superstitions that cling
around October's last night are too
venerable to be even assigned correct |
starting-point. That they are relict
Of heather customs is beyond dispute,
yet while gradually losing their mystic
and unhaIlowed significance they still
retain their hold upon the popular
mind and serve TO link the prosaic and
well informed present With ne pictur-
esque ignorance Of the past. In COM
mon with many other superstittovs
practices they may be traced directly
back TO the Druids, Whose two great
yearly festivals were the "BelSane," or
SIRE of God," celebrated On the first OF
May, and the "Samh'in," or sire OF
peace" which took place on the first OF
November.
1t was at this time that these early
law givers assembled IN solemn con-
clave to discharge the judicial functions
of their order, and at this time also
were kindled the sacred fires, from
| which the darkened hearthB all over
the country were carefully relit. In
deed the custom of kindling fires on
HalloW-eve fingered in ths British Is
lands long after the Introduction OF
Christianity, and many other practice
but recently in vogue we're as purely
heathen in their origin.
With most of these the object was to
gain some glimpse into the future, or to
decide on coming marital relations !;
for the witches and fairies, who were
supposed to select this night for their
earthly rambles, were as accommoda-
ting as a modern fortune.teller In the
selection of husbands and wives to suit
all applicants. The girl in Tam
Glen" who hangs the wet shirt sleeve
by the fire to dry doubts not that her
own true love really came in spirit aud
turned it for her, and in the language OF
the poet, relates the fact with cheerful
confidence
The last Halloween was wauken
My droukit sark-sleeve, as you ken;
His likeness cam up the house stauken
). L Tn hA orr lrlAn-
LOVERS CHARMS.
, Sometimes maid forced her future
husband to reveal his lineaments by
i, combing her hair before a mirror al
midnight, in which case he might bt
seen peering over the left shoulder int
the glass-a test calculated to shake th'
, strongest nerves. Sometimes she stol'
! out unperceived and hastily sowed
handful of hempseed, repeating nov
4 and then, in q trembling whisper
Hempseed l SOW thee, hempseed soV
q thee, Let him that is to be my true Low,
come after me and show thee" Thel
, Glanning over her left shoulder. sh
= saw, II the fairies were propitious, tn
!, apparitiOn of her lover, either harrow
ling or pulling up the hemp, accordlp,
to the words Of the invocation. 0
perhaps she wound new clue of blu
yarn and with fast beating heart Will
d unseen handD were holding the Othe
ts end of the thread. Then if she mus
II tered courage to put the question
a "Wha hands" voice would answe
and give the name of the lad who wa
l. destined to WOO and win her.
Il Thus line after line might be write
!. of these ancient customs, but those G
more modern usage will probably b
more interesting, especially the popula
a games that make Halloween Cheerful
y for all young people. Nutcrack Night,a
- il was called in the North of Englan
Il was an occasion of general festivit
among the children, who dHcked to
apples, roasted chestnuts, melted lea
and otherwise enjoyed themselves. o
the Continent, too, the little people ha
the best of it, partly because OF the OK
IA position which tho Church of Rom
4 offered to all spells and fortune-seekinl
v partly because Halo we've, being th
+ vigil of all saints, was set apart as
"a day of fasting, so that the oldtime fu
became gradually the undisputed proE
q erty of the children.
Ar Nuts have always been considered a
IA essential feature,of the nights entertain
IA mert, as well as valuable aid in il
"a dicating the taithfulness of a love
n Carefully named before they were PIT
4 on the FIRE, they hoped together an
burned cheerfully in company II every
thing was going well, or struck off l
widely different directions If a quarr'
was looming in the future.
II Another Scotch custom was for th
o young people to 60 out blind folded an
st hand in hand inLo the Kailyard or ga
}, den and there pull the first stalk (
colewort they could find. These wei
's named andby their size and straightne'
y indicated the outward appearance (
n thsir owner's future wife or husband
while the uantity OF earth left clingin
to the roots marked the dowry and tt
taste of the pith revealed a sweet {
Ia sharp temper, as the case might be.
iii Finally, they are hung over the dot
y and whoever entered first was held
ID bear the same Christian name as Il
1a destined bride or bridegroom.
a. DivininR ones future by means
NJ the three dishes or "luggies" was
common game both in ireland and SEQ
Hand. The plateswere filled respec
lively with pure water, earth and ashe
aud the playe4, advancing blindfolde'
ID put his hand at random into whichev
he he could reach. The water toretold
ID speedy marriage, the ashes q life
Il: bl essednesa end the mould an earl
eo grave. ,..-..,
he without being altogether cheerfu
ut this was at least easier than trying
catch with ones teeth an apple tied to
hanging stick, whose other end he
fast lighted candle, threatening d
y. struction to face and hair. Even due
he ling for apples on oolG night requir
70 q fair amount of courage and is mo
amuainp for the 10 1kers.on than for 81