The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-29
HALLOWEEN TRADITIONS.
Many SuperstitfOns That Descended
from the Orient.


AS golden October brings it's splendors to
a close thoughts of Hallowe en- fit through
the mind Of youth and the romantic maiden
dreams of the future while she plans the
trying of diverse spells and charms on the
fateful night of Oct. 81. That is the time
when all the spirits. are supposed to be
abroad and are Thought by the superstitious
to have power over their friends and rela-
tives still in the flesh. Back in the dim re-
cesses of the past are found the traditions
of Halloween, half hidden under the cob
webs of paganism and mystery The
quaint rites and obseryances are relics Of
eIni-barbarism, for writers of antiquity
trace the festival even into the shades of
the dusky Orient. Greeks, Romans and
Druids observed Halloween with peculiar
solemnity. and All Haltow,s day NOV y IS
probably from the Angio-Saxon word hall
gan, meaning holy.
The DruidS believed in the transmigration
OF sous ana On 20 'n tbe ord
Death, called Saman brought together for
final judgment the souls that had been ltv-
ing in the bodies of the lower animals dur
ing the preceding twelve months. But by
Offering sacrifices, magic charms and pro-
pitiations the living had 1t in their power
to greatly lessen the punishment of wicked
souls, and it became the custom to make
presents to the priests that these holy
fathers might be induced to intercede for
the unfortunates. Fatted calves and black
sheep were the customary sacrifices. and
long before the institution of All Souls
day the ancient Irish used to kneel to Sa-
man in front of lighted candles. beseech-
ing him for the souls of their departed rel
atives
Among the Romans there was custom
of lighting fires upon the neighboring hills
on Halloween, fire being an emblem of i'm
mortality fifty calculated TO typify the as
cent of the soul into heaven Some thought
the brlliancy of the flames lighted the re-
deemed souls out of purgatory and showed
them the glory of the upward path to the
shining white City of Saints" In north
ern Wales there is a peculiar custom of
making a great fire called "Coel Certh, -
from which each family in the neighbor-
hood takes a brand or coal and starts a
bonfire in an open space near the house.
When the fire has burned down to a bed of
glowing emberS, every member of the fam
fly throws in a smooth. white, water-worn
stone having first carefully marked ii with
a sharp-pointed instrument. Each person
walks slowly around the fire once. repeat
ing his prayers. then he returns silently to
the house. undreSses without speaking, and
goes to bed. In the morning, as soon as
the family is up and dressed the members
stones. If any one of them is missing, 1t Is
believed that the person to whom ii be-
longed will die before the next All Saints
eve.
Sometimes the ancient, uncouth Saxons
baked a large cake made of wheat. oat or
full. silvery light of the October moon had
fallen and left mystic tint and property.
A pinch of coarse salt and few drops of
apple juice were dropped into the -four as
| ii was being made into dough. and the cake
was set to bake In a rude oven covered with
| baked 1t was cut into small triangular bits
and distributed In utter silence to each
member OF the household, who ate Ii SOL
EMMY. without saying word, and then
| went to bed.