Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-11-01
ALL ZEN,
The Story OF Its Origin and Observance
"A Fes'nl Eve.

The Story OF It's Origin and Observance.
A F-s'nl Eve.
Last night Was Halloween, a term
winch IN these prosaic fin de steele DAYS
rings almost meaningless in the ears
OF the busy world. Once it was Il name
70 cnnJure with, and at its mention
pflsnt eyes We're clouded With night
feaflsh visions or uncouth ghosts and
sopiins SrueSone. Merry maid and
hopeiul lad. as the shades of night APP
preached. grew solemn, and watched
with bated breath for the coming of
Things. and the development of their
fate. I "
In those good old suierstitious times.
the future lurked in darkened wells. ana
was foret"id in many TRANCE signs and
protests. -
II is believed that weird rites. divina-
tons. etc. which characterize its OBJ
scrHance existed long before the cay got
It's present name. which is essentially
Christian. for Halloween ar All Hal
i"wss Eve. or the Vigil of Halluwinas.
indicate that the days falls on the eve
OF Al! Saints Day. one of the greatest
festivals of the Church.
According to Chambers Book of
Days. All Saints Day had its origin in
the seventh century. when the Pantheon
az iione was converted into Il Chris
tan palace of worship. and was dedi-
$3.50 - L 'l'C ~ 81 me = tS~-
ed Virgin Mary and all the martyrs.
The anniversary OF his event was al
first celebrated on May J.. bu, was sub
~se'u"ntly transferred tn November l..
which was thenceforlh. under the des-
lSration of the Feast of All Saints. set
apart as a general commem"ratinn in
their honor. The Feast of All Saints
will be celebrated tomorrow by the
Catholic church. and also by the Prot
estant Episcopal and possibly one or
w other denominations. which have
retained it since nre-Itefnrmatinn days.
The traditional pastirn,s of Ilalluw-
cen appear To have no religious signi-
tcaTce in the Christian sense, although
they often suggest the supernatural. 1t
is a time when signs are sought for Il
revelation of the future. especially in
relation to the fate which awaits the
unmarried. Various tests are employed
to determine who will be the future
husband or wife of the person seeking
such information. ard while it is safe
TO say that no sensible person any lon
go" believes in such things. so great is
the Fascination If attempting to lift thu.
veil from the future. eyer though it bc
done us Il joke. that the old customs
seem I" appeal L" th. popular imagina-
ton rs strongly as ever. and to retain
their pristine popularity.
Nuts ana apples are employed in many
Halloween rites. Indeed. nuts and ap-
plpS ara n SorI pf ..Sino uu, nam f,r ~,
nrnnnr .a,.b-, ~, ~ ~ ,iah, - ~
uses If which ih,.v - ,uI - 49, , 49,
/ are rnumerohle " 80
The person who takes an ,nnl,. ;, =,
II without bre,kin- thn raa,i,r ,,d
then throws the latter over ,,is or ha,.
! shoulder may discover in rho shave .ho
| peeline assumes when - f,lls re O..
letter Of tho, = of .,a.r futrra vie.
or "
A maiden with uor. tb,n 49, s,,i,o,
may determine vh;oh :. ~ 80 ~.
will we'd nv n,n,ino sa,.a,,i ~ e..
them and Than nlacinr ia 49, -
of a stove. IF !, mn cracts - 49, ~
love-, viii nroy. unr.itbt,, - :, l. ~
To hl,za ~, ,,,r,, h., 49, :. ,r, -
person maxine ,ba ,,;n, ~ - ~. 80
n, mol ,ftnr ~ ,;,, .,,n1 ~. -
1nn,t b., rba,, u.i1 49, ~ 'Ns' oui"
So oanoraI e ~ - .,:.
n;rbt ,na o. - 'u'a CIV ~
,.hiah 49, ," . a,e tne tests m
~. ~ ~ eiHp''seu' thal IN the
nni,i " Ens!aiiu tne name OF Nut
!. ~ -,!sn. Is apil'ea I" ftalio"e en-.
: oiiherls one OF me eomm"nest as well
as tle most popular sports with apples
was mat OF "ducklnS. The custom
sun survives. th"uSh, perhaps not to
'H'ls d l!dStiine. Tor the very young. The
nndn 800 ~ d 'uo ol M'te.'
~ Hs uo.h tiieil itduS