The record-union., 1891-10-31
Enjoyment of Halloween MySte-
rieS in Great Britain.
The Queen Assisting in the Ceremo-
nies at BalmoraI-One Delightful
Night Among the Irish Peasantry-
''Bannock-Baking,' s'Snap-Apple''
and MISUNDERSTANDING the
Eafl'' In Scotland.
Especial Correspondence of RECoRD-UNIoN.
Copyright 1911


One often hears it said that the old Gus
toms and traditions are all forever pass
ing away. Perhaps those who feel and
say this are themselves merely growing
away from them, and in a manner pass
ing, through age and shifting condition,
out of their own former environment.
Some of the more ancient customs are
surely becoming obsolete. and with no
loss to humankind. But there will ever
remain to the Christian world few OF
the sweet old days Of mirth and merry
making which no change or iconoclasm
can mar or dispel.
Halloween is one of these. It is grow
ing upon American people in countryside
quarters, and even in city homes. The
continuous strong, firm and fine incom-
ing of English, Irish and Scottish folk
among those who have preceded them
long enough to become distinctively
American" is gradually engrafting the
best loved olden memories upon our new
social trunk. Halloween, next to Christ
mas-tide, must ever remain the most
cherished OF all recurring yearly periods
when the mysteries have most affluent
and the most forgivable, ii often gro
and vagaries of the human heart.
Whether its origin was pagan or
Christian, is of no consequence. HalloW-
cen would have been invested with just
the same tender brood of superstitions
and practices if it had fallen upon the eve
OF Easter, st. Johns day, or the Fourth
Of July-if the latter had had the white
beard of age upon it. The hearts of men
and women, maids and youths, fixed
upon time for Cupid worship; for the
pighting Of trOths: for the diVining of
what love might have in store. Sacred
as all other things ever have been or ever
will be, is the period of awakening of the
sweetest emotions. No more fitting a
time could be for this than the night be-
fore All Hallows, All Holy, or All Saints
Day, and the mellowing of the centuries
has curtained this eve of All Hallows
with such misty draperies and set behind
them such wealth of innocent memo
ries, that even age and austerity, turning
TO their witching maze in youthward
gaze and longing, ever draws them aside
with tender and loving hand.
In the remoter districts of England, and
especially in the ancient villages where
little change has taken place for centu-
ries, the older and more innocent features
of Halloween are still preserved and en-
joyed with unbounded Zest. In the
larger cities and villages the observance
and rude burlesque. The Saxon mind is
not SO retentive of sweet old custom and
tender superstition as is the Celtic. In a
large sense it may be said that the Eng
IIsh folk, generally, while ignoring Hal
Ioween practices, universally make
mental defense of the Halloween time
and spirit, and are affected, in passive
and admirable manner, by its hold on
them through literature rather than
through its direct spell upon their ma
lures, as with all folk of Celtic origin
Therefore while its recognition by the
English is complete, its observance is toll
erative rather than active.
The Queen herself was the chief per-
sOnage in a marked illustration of this
fact in 1876. Halloween was celebrated
with unusual ceremony at her Balmoral
Castle, in nAberdeenshire, Scotland, by the
tenantry and servants of Balmoral and
Invergeldie. There were torchlighG pro-
cessions, extraordinary bonires and the
burning in effigy of witches and war
locks. Nearly 200 torch-bearers assem-
bled at the castle as the shadows of even
ing fell. They separated into two par
ties, one band proceeding TO Invergeldie.
the other remaining at Balmoral. When
the torches were lighted at o'clock the
Queen and Princess Beatrice were driven
TO Invergeldie, followed by the Balmoral
torch-bearers. Here both parties united
and returned In procession TO Balmoral.
y tremendous bonfire was then lighted.
the Queens pipers playing the while.
Refreshments, comprising every dish
dear to halloween memory, were served
To all, when dancing to the strains of
the bagpipes was begun on the green
sward.
When the frolic was at its hight there
suddenly appeared from the rear of the
castle a grOtesque figure representing a
witch, with train OF ogres and elves as
attendants. All these made every possi-
bio demonstration of terror at sight of the
huge bonfire. Then followed an ogre of
demoniacal aspect and shape, followed by
another hideous warlock drawing a car
on which was seated the effigy of a witch,
surrounded by other figures in the guise
OF ogres and demons. These unearthly
lntruderS were marched several times
around the bonfire, and finally the chief
figure, the embodiment of witchdom, was
taken from the car and hurled into the
blazing pile amid weird shrieks and
howls from the masked demons, who in
stantly fed into the darkness, the cheers
OF the multitude mingled with the wildost
strains of the bagpipes, and great dis
play of fireworks.
an attendant present at the time told
me that the scene was most impressive
and picturesque, Lochnagar and other
mountains in the nighborhood being
covered with snow; that dancing and all
manner of Halloween festivities were
kept up until morning; and that the
Queen, precisely as any other mortal
present, entered into the spirit of the ex-
traordinary occasion-assisting in some
OF the preparations with her own hands-
with the utmost interest and zest.
In Scotland and Ireland, where super
stitions have held their own against all
change and progress, though undoubtedly
having largely passed by gradual evOlu-
ton from the status of almost savage be-
lief TO that of loved and cherished custom,
there is not another more priced time in
the whole year for Difference to the uni
versal sway of gentle witchery and ogre
ish charm. | have found that the same,
In degree, holds true in Northumberland
Durham, northern Yorkshire, Cumber-
land and Westmoreland, and in Wales
and the Isle of Man. The people of all
these regions were originally Celtic. To
me the conclusion seems Irresistible that
the traditions, superstitionS and practices
are not only largely of Celtic origin, but
that Halloween memories and charms
hold closest and longest in the hearts Of
all folk having descent aflinities TO the
Celtic parent race. My attention was first
called to a study of these lines of distinc-
ton through the interest awakened in
the personal enjoyment of a Halloween
festivity, while wandering among the
peasantry of Ireland.
1t was nightfall ere my peasant host
and myself who had been passing the
day among the Donegal glens and mount
aims, reached the farmhouse, where quite
number of country folk were already
awaiting our arrival. The house itself was
somewhat larger than the average Irish
cabin. 1t contained three very large
square rooms. Above these We're fairly
spacious lofts, rather close against the
thatches, where most of the scanty stores
were placed, and where the entire family
Were disposed of at night in hunks not