The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-11-19
OLD HALLOWEEN CUSTOMS.

OLD HALLOWEEN CUSTOMS.
How People In European Countries Cele-
bratc the Last Day of October.
The evening of the s1st of October is
called all hallow even, or halloween.
The Catholic church designed this day
to be held in honor of all those saints
who had not particular days appointed
for them. in North Wales there Is u
custom on all saints eve of making "
great fire. called "coel coeth." Every
family, at a certain hour in the night,
makes n great bonfire in the most con-
spicuous place near the house, and
when 1t is about eXtinguishcd everyone
throws white stone into the ashes,
having first marked it; then, having
said their prayers, turning round the
fire, they go to bed. In the morning, as
soon as they are up, they come to search
out the stones, and if any of them are
found wanting they have a notion that
the one who threw it in will die before
he sees another halloween. The same
fire is mentioned by Rev. Mr.. Shaw in
his History of Moray" as being kept in
various parts of the Highlands son
all saints eve they set up bonfres in
every village. When the fire is con-
sumed the ashes are carefully formed
in a circle. There is stone put in,
near the circumference, for every per-
son of the several families interested in
the bonfire, and whatever stone is
moved out of its place, or injured, be-
fore the next morning, the person rep
resented by that stone is devoted, or
fey, and is supposed not to live twelve
months from that day."
The ringing of bells was one of the
modes of celebrating Hollowmas in En-
gland in the olden times. 1t was a
Roman Catholic practice, being de-
signed in some way to favor the souls
of Christians. For this reason Queen
Elizabeth prohibited it. 1t was also
the custom of Catholic families to have
n cake baked on this eve for every mem.
Der of the family, as u soul-mass cake
or soul-cake. 1t was composed of oat-
meal and full of aromatic seeds.
The burning of nuts to test love or
friendship is one of the amusements of
that night. The nuts (chestnuts) are
placed on hot stove and named, one
after the person placing it there and
the other after the one whom she loves.
If they when heated, fly toward each
other, their love is supposed to be true,
but if they fly apart then trouble will
brew.
Arnfho,. &c 10, fol litc IF Hy.ao1 Il
moisten them with water and take a
tiny slip of paper on which is written
the name of some loved friend and
press it into the center of the moistened
bread, forming into little ball; drop
the ball into glass of water, and il
it rises to the top The friend is true; il
it remains in the bottom of the glass,
they are supposed to be false.
Take four-quart tin basin and into
it place cards on which are written
some prophetic quotation; to each OF
these tie piece of baby ribbon half q
yard long. Have one card for each
guest and yourself as well; then take a
piece of pretty tissue paper and cover
the tin over the top just as if it were a
meat pie, letting the ends of the ribbons
protrude from slit in the center of the
pie. When refreshments Of apples,
doughnuts, pumpkin pie and nuts are
served, let each guest choose string
and pull forth the fatal card prophetic
of the future. This can be made very
interesting and amusing. Use great
care not to use any quotation that could
wound or give offense. Then there is
the peeling of the apples and tossing
the pairing over the shoulder to see what
cabalistic letter it will form.
Again, when an apple is eaten the
seeds are stuck on the back of the hand
and named, the hand is then thrown
back over the left shoulder and what.
ever seeds remain are true friends The
| girls are all seated in a circle, the boys
carefully blindfolded, and each with Q
magic wand Ia cane will answer the
purpose) walks three times around the
circle, then touches one of the girls
with the wand, and so selects the one
he is to wait on during refreshments
Again, you can have fairy party" by
all dressing like brownies zen masque, y
removing the masks when refreshments
are served.-Troy Press.