Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-10-25
SEASON OF GENERAL MERRI-
MENT ALMOST AT HAND.
GREAT TIME FOR PARTIES
Many Pretty Customs Called Forth
by the Observance Of the Occasion
Some Of the Popular Fancies
and superstitions That Make the
Night Enjoyable.

The Halloween season, with it's
parties and frolics, is almost at
hand and takes one back to the days
when all made merry On that occa-
sion. Halloween means All Hallow
Even, and there was a time when it
was one Of the most widely observed
of all holidays.
After time the observance of this
day almost entirely disappeared and
none but the children celebrated it.
In these later days people again have
taken 1t up and they have learned
that Halloween is ti-ne for rejoic-
ing. On this evening many parties
and other entertainments are given.
The leading idea respecting Hal
lowe'en is that it is the time of all
others when supernatural influences
prevail. It Is night set apart for
the universal walking abroad of
spirits, both visible and invisible.
This age, philosophers and students
tell US, is drifting away from the
deep and stupid into the realm of the
light and the sensible. Never" says
noted magazine writer, have there
been SO many delightful people as
now. People have drifted away
from the heavy and uninteresting,
and consequently improbable, into
the realm OF the agreeable, the en-
PERTAINING and the beneficial The
result is plainly seen in the changed
demeanor of the human race"
In other words, people are begin
ming to discover that they are here to
have a good time, not bad time. So
Halloween gradually is coming to be
celebrated more and more, and on
this night the mischievous boys are
in their glory.
There are so many customs that
abound on this evening. Everything
is bewitched and everybody is sup
posed to believe in the potency of the
fire, the efficacy of the cake and the
significance of the appletub. The
last-named is one of the favorite Gus
toms. The apples are placed in a
tub Of water and the youngsters dive
for them. If one succeeds in coming
out dripping and triumphant, he is
rewarded with hurrahs on the part of
the company.
Another old custom that originated
in Ireland is, when the young women
would know whether their lovers are
faithful, to put three nuts upon the
bars Of the CRATE. naming the nuts
after the lovers. If nut cracks or
jumps the lover will prove unfaith-
full. If it begins to blaze or burn
he has a regard for the person max
ing the trial. If the nuts named af-
ter the girl and her lover burn up
together, they will be married.
There are many weird practices al
SO on this night, such as walking
downstairs backward with candle
in one hand and looking glass in
the other. The person whose face
appears in the mirror as you reach
the last step will be your be.rothed.
There is perhaps no other night in
the year when the popular imagina-
ton is given freer play THAI on
this occasion. 1t is clearly relic
of pagan times, and there is nothing
in the church observance of the en-
suing day of sAll Saints" to have
originated such extraordinary notions
as are connected with this celebrated
festival, or such remarkable practices
as those by which it is distinguished.