Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-10-27
HALLOWEEN IS One OF
RELICS Of PLAGIARISM
MANY PARTIES APPROPRIATE TO
THE SEASON ARE BEING
PLANNED.
Innocent Fun viii Reign Next Tues
day Evening. but Police viii Not
Tolerate Any Rowyism.

tuesday, October 81, is Halloween.
and according % the superstitious of
olden times the witches, elves and
COLLINS will be abroad, if the proper
tiOl..
In this age Halloween furnishes an
opportunity for pleasant parties at
which many weird stunts" are per-
formed, and the young people are al
ready laying their plans tr the even
ing, while the irresponsible small boy
will be in evidence with his window
"tic-tac."
In England, October 81, or Hallow
Eve Is the vigil of All Saints day.
and has given rise to variety of Sill
perstitions ad CHAINS for projections
from the evil influences of the
witches These have descended to us
in such stunts" as diving for apples
and suspending an apple by a string.
and then biting it with the hands tied
behind the back.
While Chief of Police Mcdonald has
as yet issued no orders to the officers
in regard to the conduct on Tuesday
night next, yet it is believed that he
will not object to little harmless
fun on the part of the boys and girls,
but certain it is that there will be no
rowdyism or destruction of property
permitted and the young people
should govern themselves accord
ingly.
In the modern celebration of Hal
loween how many recognize the relics
of paganism which are so clearly de-
fined? With all it's pranks and more
or less practical jokes there is always
an atmosphere Of mystery in the sea-
son which is enjoyed by young and
old, particularly the young, for Hal
loween seems a day set apart for their
benefit. The old have the memories
of past pleasures and pranks expert
enced on that day.
One does not wonder in stumbling
upon Christianity interspersed to g.
great extent with paganism in re-
mote corners of the world, but in prac-
tical America, where such things have
given way to more modern ideas, Hal
loween is about the only trace left in
the line of holiday celebrations, that
may attach itself to pagan festivals.
The first religious celebration OF.
All Saints day was in the Seventh
century in Rome at the time when
me Pantheon was converted into a
Christian temple. The day is observed
by the Catholics, as rule. and in
many cases by the Episcopal churches.
with regular services. The old Eng
lish idea of Halloween was practically
the same as the Irish May eve super
stition and as the German "Walpugis-
nacht."
The belief among the Scottish peo-
pie was that those who were born ON
Halloween were given a second sight
and were able to communicate with
the spirits. The Germans thought
that the day was the annual holiday
of witches. ghosts, etc., and that on |
that evening fairies were abroad to-
work mischief or miracles and that Il
spirits of the dead were visible and
the powers of the invisible world |
were loosed.
On the strength of the supersttions,
held by the Scotch, Sir Walter Scott
in "The Monastery" gave Mary Ave-
nal the power to see the White Lady,
invisible to less gifted visions. Yeats
IN his dramatization of May eve, The
Land of the Hearts Desire, used the
tradition as the main basis of his
plot
Johannistag is another name for
this season and Sundermann used this
season conspicuously in Fires of St.
John. One writer says the third act of
Die Meistersinger is radiant with the
spirit of Johannistag. Other famous
in literature which
breathe the spirit of All Saints day
are Faust. the Broken scene of which
is laid on that foundation; The Temp
est, Midsummer Nights Dream.
scenes from Peer Gynt, and the wood