Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-27


All Saints day on November l has moth
ing to do with the goblin and ghost visi-
tatiOns of halloween or an Hailow's eve
the night before. At any rate Halloween
IS supposed to be the one time of the
year when all mortals are given the power
70 look into the future when the spirit
of every mortal can. under the proper
spells. be made to quit temporarily its
flesh and blood abode and mix with the
inhabitants of the other world
| Of all the countries where Halloween
is observed, Scotland. which gives US the
name. is the one throughout which the
mystic rites of this occasion are most
generally practiced. That great Scot
/ bard. Bobbe Burns. has immorta!ized
/ many of these old Highland customs in
his poem Halloween" If you are giving a
Halloween party you would do well to
read this poem. Around your open fire
place some of the Halloween customs
related by this guild Draw Scot will prove
more than amusing. For instance:
The auld guidwIfe's weel honrdet nits
Are round and round divided.
An monte lads and las>ies' fates
Are there that night decided.
Some kindle couthie. side by side
An burn thegither trinity:
Some start ava with snucie pride.
An jump out-ower the chimlie
Flu high that night.
Jean slips in twa, WI tpntla e'e
VIVA twas she wadna tell;
But this is lock. an this Is me
She says II to herself:
He bleed Ger her an she Ger him.
As they wad neer mair part
I'M fun he started up the lum
An Jean had cen sair heart
10 sect that night.
In this test two hickory nuts or hazel
no
for her lover. are laid in the fire side by
side. If they burn quietly happy court
ship and marriage is assured. but if they
fly apart there is trouble brewing.
Another nut test to determine the faith
fulness of lover consists in naming three
nuts and placing them side by side on the
ashes or CRATE. The nut that cracks and
starts up the lum," stands for an I'M
faithful lover; the one that blazes be-
speaks a high regard for the maiden but
| the one that burns steadily she will wed.
In order. the clean hearth-stanr,
TIE luggi"s three ranged.
And every time great ear" is ra'.n
To them duly changed
Aud Uncle John. whf wciloak's joys
Sin Mars year did desire.
Because he got III" tom dish thrice
He h"aycl them the Er.
In wrath that night.
So does Burns describe another ancient
Halloween custom of his land in which
three ''luggies" (dishes) are used. one
contains clear water, another dirty water
and the third is empty. After the dishes
have been shifted about the blindfoided
contestant is led forward and made to
dip finger into one of the vessels. II he
or she dips into the clear water happy
marriage is sure to follow; if into the
dirty water. unhappy marital conditions
are coming, while a choice Of the empty
dish is the sign manual of bachelor or
spinsterhood.
The ceremonies above described are all
| of light, sportive character but there
are other ancient customs OF a more weird
| and awesome description. which Of late
! years have become almost obsolete among
! the young folk of this sophisticated gen
Grafton. One of these is the celebrated
| spell of eating an apple before looking
! glass. with a view of discovering the in
| quirer's future husband, who Will be seen
peeping over her shoulder. Burns repre-
sents a cautious little maiden trying this
spell as follows:
Wee Jenny to her granny says:
'W!ll We go vi me- granny:
I'll eat the apple III the glass
got frae Uncle Johnny
| She puff her pipe wi sic a lunt
In wrath she yap'rin:
I She notic't ma. an aiZr hrunt
Her Draw new Worset apron,
out through that night.
| a. 'Ye little skel pie limm"r's face
| | daur you try sic sIortin'.
| As seek the foul thief ony place.
| For him to spae your fortune
| Nae doubt but ye may get a sight!
| Great ye hae to fear #:
| For mony ane has gotten a fright
| And lived and died deleeret,
On sic night -