Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1892-12-16
oLo HALLOWEEN cusfoMs.
How People IN European Countries ceis-
bratc tho Last Day OF October.

How People IN European Countries csis-
Britc tho Last Day OF October.
The evening OF the slst Of October "a
called all hallow even, or haliowc ON.
Tho Catholic church designed this day
TO be held in honor Of all those saints
who had not particular days appointed
for them. In North Walcs there Is a
custom on all saints eve Of making
great fire, called ''cocl coeth" Every
family, at n certain hour Ia the night,
ma ca great bonfire In the most con-
spicuous place near the house, and
VIII II Is about extinguished everyone
throws white stone into the ashes,
having first marked 1t; 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 II any Of them are
found wanting they have a notion that
the one who threw II 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. "on
all saints eve they set up bonfircs in
every village. When the FIRE IL con-
sumed the ashes are carefully formed
in 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, OF
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. II was
Roman Catholic practice, being de-
signed in some way to favor the souls
Of Christians. For this reason Queen
Elizabeth prohibited IL. II was also
the custom Of Catholic families to have
cake baked on this eve for every mem
Der OF the family, as soul-mass cake
or soul-cake. II 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) arc
placed on hot stove and named, one
after the person placing Il there and
the other after the one whom she loves
III they, when heated, fly toward each
other, their love Il supposed to be true,
but II they fly apart then trouble will
brew.
Another game Is TO take bits of bread,
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
1t 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
piece Of pretty tissue paper and cover
the tin over the top Just as II. II were a
meat pie, letting the ends of the ribbons
protrude from a slit In the center Of the
pie, When refreshments of apples,
doughnuts, pumpkin pie and nuts are
served, let each guest choose a string
ana 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 10 see what
cabalistic letter IL will form.
Again, when an apple is eaten tho
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 circle, the boys
carefully blindfolded, and each with a
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,"
removing the masks when refreshments
are served. Troy Press.