Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-10-31
ALL HAlLOW E'EN.

Tonight will be All Hallow Fen
that curious old festival which is now
almost passed from memory, as it has
already from observation. 1t was one
of those quaint and pleasing supersti-
tions which long flourished in the ro-
mantle regions of the countryside as
characteristic of the times and the peo-
pie.
1t was not distinctly American fes-
tival, though it was made so by adop-
ton. 1t seems to have originated In
Scotland or in the remoter regions OF
Northern England, where in many
places it is still observed, though
shorn of its most pleasing and oldest
ceremonials. From there it was i'm
ported to this country'by the earlier
immigrants, and it found a congenial
home in New England and some parts
of the South.
1t was religiously observed until
within the last few decades, when it
fell into gradual neglect, so that it is
now rescued from oblivion only in
the memory of antiquarians or on the
pages of encyclopedias. Among the
countrymen Of Burns whose whimsi-
cal and yet deeply poetic natures
were ardently attached to its quaint
ceremonies, made the more congenial
by the part intermixture, part def
ance of religious forms, it flourished
best, and the greatest peasant singer
made it the subject of one Of his most
charming descriptions.
All Hallow Fen is so named from
its preceding All Saints Day, an an
cient and solemn festival Of the older
churches. 1t was thought to be a
time when devils and witches and all
other mysterious beings Of the dark
ness were abroad on their baleful er-
rands, and it was also regarded as
grand anniversary celebration OF
those fanciful aerial people, the fairies
No doubt it was the sense of this COM
merce with these ecclesiastical out
laws which lent the mystic ceremonies
such a powerful and peculiar charm.
The number of the rites is legion,
but as they found their birth and OBJ
servance principally among young
people, it is not to be wondered that
the bulk of them turned upon the old
and ever-cherished theme of love and
marriage.
OF these, one of the quaintest, as it
was one probably one Of the most
general, was the custom of catching
with the mouth at floating apples in
a tub of water, the prize being missed
in nine-tenths of the efforts, to the
great laughter and edification of the
bystanders. A modification Of this
was having the apple on one end OF a
hanging stick, at the other extremity
of which was a lighted candle. The
stick was made to revolve rapidly,
and the person whose turn it was TO
catch had to do with his mouth, the
hands being tied behind the back.
Everywhere and at every time at
which the festival was observed, the
ceremony of nut-cracking or nut
burning was introduced. Probably
this particular instance took its ori-
gin from the mention of nuts in the
ancient Roman calendar, by which it
seems that they were highly priced
for some ancient religious use. From
the custom of flinging them into the
fire or cracking them with the teeth,
the festival has often been denomi-
mated Nut-crack-night, this appella-
tion being used by many old authors.
The common plan, and the one OBJ
served in Ireland and later in this
country, was for girls TO place three
or more nuts near the fire, naming
them after their lovers and them
selves. II the nut cracked or jumped
il was a sign that the lover would
prove unfaithful. If it blazed or
burned steadily, it was an omen that
his affection was all that could be de-
sired, and If one bearing the girl and
her sweetheart's name burned togeth-
er, it was deemed conclusive evidence
that that they would be speedily and
happily married. This custom yet
survives in many sections. and it will
be the last to give way to the vandal-
ism of forgetfulness.
The first Hallow Fen ceremony OF
the canny Scotch lads and lassies was
the pulling of a stock or plant of kali.
To do this they went out to the field
hand in hand, with their eyes shut,
and pulled the first they met. Its
being big or little, straight or crook
ed, was prophetic OF the size and
shape of their future partners. II dirt
stuck to the roots, that was the
.'tooher" or marriage portion, and the
taste, pleasant or otherwise, OF the
heart of the stem was foreshadow-
ing of the natural temper or disposi-
f;ap TacfIu the stamG Upra nlacad