The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-29
Halloween Comes This Week
Real Festival of All Saints Day Originally Instituted
by Gregory w in s35
by Gregory w In S35
BIZ ELEANOR KISIBALL

Halloween is ths vigil Of All Saints
day. which is the first of November.
This day, originally called in the an
Au-HaT1owmass or simply HaIIowmass,
was introduced because the days dedi-
Gated TO the saints were becoming too
numerous; for. as pfous men were
gathered 10 Abraham's bosom they
were exalted to saintheod by their Ia
menting brothers. and thus saints
days or holidays occurred 50 re
quently that it was desirable to desig-
nate one day for all the saintS-hence
All Saints day
The real festival Of All Saints day
was originally instituted BY Gregory "
in S55 and was appointed to be ceIe-
brated November l. It was admitted
to England in S7o and Is now a wei
recognized day there. and everywhere
the church calendar is closely fol-
lowed
Halloween. as It is now called, was
observed by religious Ceremonies
which in time degenerated into SUPER
stitious customs and rites. In the rural
districts OF the British Isles the Gus
[ tom was formerly to kindIe fires on
Hallow-even and various magic cere-
monies were then celebrated to coun-
teract the influence Of demons and
witches who were thought to be abroad
! in large numbers on this night This
custom is still followed to some ex-
tent in North Wales. aItho the people
can give no reason for the HIumina-
ton other than to light their merry
making
Collected Bonfire Ashes
A minister of Perthshire mention
ing the peculiar customs, says. On
All Saints Even they set up bonfires
IN every villag=- When the bonfire is
consumed the ashes are carefully col
lected into the form of circle Than
a stone is put in, near the circunl fer
ence. for. every person Interested -
| the bonfire; whenever a stone is move i
out Of its place, or injured befo e the
next morning, the person represented
7 by the stone is devoted. or fey, and is
not supposed TO live twelve months
from that day"
The telling of fortunes by means of
mystic charms On this evening pre-
walls among the lower classes of these
| countries and persons who seek to
liIL the veil of the future. accept what
1t dIscloses with more or less credulity
and govern themselves accordingly. In
our own country no Halloween froIic
is complete without testing these
charms and much amusement is
caused by the fortunes foretoId. aItho
no credence is placed in them.
Nut-Crack Night.
Halloween is also called Nut-craek
night, probably from the custom Of
burning nuts, thereby telling fortunes.
mainly Of d matrimonial nature If
the nuts lie still and burn together,
it is a hopeful love, if on the other
hand, they bounce and fly asunder,
the sign is unpropitious
Young persons determine the figure
and shape Of their future husband
and wives by going bHndfolded into a
cabba ge field on Halloween and pull
ing up a cabbage. the first one they
touch It's being little or big. straight
or crooked. is prophetic of the size
and shape of the future spouse, and II
dirt cIingS to the roots. IL indicates d
fortune, the extent depending upon
the amount of dirt adhering. The
taste of the heart of the cabbage
whether it be sweet or bitter. is in