Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-31
CHARMS OF HALLOWEEN.
sUPERSTITIONs OF THE LAST
NIGHT OF OCTOBER.

saints-A Time HonOred supersti-
ton that Prevails the World Over
The Night the Wistful Maiden Dreams
of Her Lover.
The host OF time-honored superstitions
that cling around October's last night are
too venerable to be even assigned cor
rect starting point. That they are
relic OF heather customs is beyond dis
pute, yet while gradually losing their
mystic and unhallOwed significance they
still retain their hold upon the popular
mind, and serve to link the prosaic and
well-informed present with the plctur-
esque ignorance of the past. In common
with many other supersttious practices
they may be traced directly back TO the
Druids, whose two great yearly festivals
| were the "Beltane," or fire OF God"
| celebrated on May 1, and the ''Samh'in,"
| or fire Of peace" which took place on
| Nov. /. 1t was at this time that these
| early lRwgivers assembled in solemn con-
claye TO discharge the judicial functions
( Of their order, and at this time also were
kindled the sacred fires, from which the
0arkened hearths all other the country
| were carefully Telit. Indeed, the custom
| Of kindlng fires on Halloween fingered
ia the British islands long after the in
PRODUCTION OF Christianity, and many
! other practices but recently IN vogue
were as purely heather in their origin.
With most OF these the object was 10
gain some glimpse into the future or to
decide on coming marital relations, for
the witches and fairies, who were sup
posed to select this night for their earthly
rambles, we're as accommodating as
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 and turned it for her, but relates
the fact with cheerful confidence:
The last Halloween was wauken
My drOukit sark sleeve. as you ken,
His likeness cam up the house stRuken
In the very grey breeks O. Tam Glen.
LOVERS CHARMS.
Sometimes a maiden forced her future
husband to reveal his lineaments by comb
ing her hair before mirror at midnight,
in which case be might be seen peering
over her left shoulder into the glass-a test
calculated to shake the strongest nerves.
sometimes she stole out unperceived and
hastily sOwed a handful Of hemp-seed, re-
pCating now and then in bling whis-
per:
Hemp -seed, / saw thee; hemp-seed, I saw
thee,
Let him that is TO be my true love come after
me and shaw thee.
Then, glancing over her left shoulder,
she saw, if the fairies were prOpitious. the
apparitiOn OF her lover, either narrowing
or pulling up the hemp, according TO the
words of the invocation.
Or perhaps she wound a 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
courage to put the question, 'Wha
haudsY a voice would answer and give
the name Of the lad who was destined to
woo and win her.
YOUNG PEOPLES GAMES.
1t is a relief to turn from these charms
to the popular games that make Hallow-
cen cheerful for young people all the
world over. Nutcrack night, as it is
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, and
otherwise enjoyed themselves. On the
continent, too, The little people had the
best of it, partly because of the opposi-
ton which the church of Rome offered to
all spells and fOrtune-seeking; partly be-
cause Halloween, being the vigil OF All
Saints, was set apart as a day of fasting,
so that the Old-time fun became gradually
the undisputed property of the children.
Nuts have always been considered an
essential feature of the nights entertain
ment, as well as a valuable aid in indl-
eating the faithfulness Of a lover. Care
fully named before they were put on the
fire. they hoped together and burned
cheerfully in company if everything was
going well,'Or struck OF in widely diff
terent directions il a quarrel was looming
in the future.
Now If we two be lovers true
our nuts will burn together, o;
But II at heart we seek TO part,
There'll show change OF weather, o.
Another Scotch custom was for the
young people to 60 out blindfOlded and
hand-in-hand into the kailyard or garden,
and there pull the first stock Of cOlewOrt
they could find These were named, and
by their size and straightness indicated
the outward appearance of their owners
future wife or husband, while the quan-
tity Of earth left clinging to the roots
marked the dOwry and the taste of the
pith revealed a sweet or sharp temper, as
the case might be. Finally, they are
hung over the door and who ever entered
first was held TO bear the same Christian
name as the destined bride or bridegroom.
THE THREE LUGGEs.
Divining one's future by means of the
three dishes or "luRgies" was o common
game bOtn in Ireland and Scotland. The
plates were filled respectively with pure
water, earth and ashes. and the player,
advancing blindfOlded, plunged his hand
At random into whichever he could reach.
The water foretold a speedy marriage, the
ashes a life OF single blessedhess, and the
mould an early grave.
Without being altogether cheerful, this
was At least easier than trying to catch
with ones teeth an apple tied to a hang
ing stick, whose other end held fast a
lighted candle tn catching destruction to
face and hair. Even ducking for apples
on cold night requires a fair amount of
courage, and Is more amusing for the
lookers-0n than tor the participants in
the sport, who are apt 10 get soaking
for their pains.
Finally, it was believed that babies born
on this mystic night were endowed with
especial powers regarding the supernat-
ural world; that the elves watched over
them with particular care, and that they
were permitted { a doubtful privilege 20
hold converse with the fairies and spirits,
who manifested themselves on All Hal
lows I've.
Chronic Sciatica Cured.
A quT Ann Mao Ion % 1903