The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-10-30
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 81 '
WILL BE HALLOWEEN
Watch Out for the Ghosts, COLLINS
and Witches, The Town Will
Be Alive With Them.

loWe'en, or the evening before All
Saints day which is November /. The
vigil of All Hallows is associated in
the popular imagination with vari-
GUS superstitions and is celebrated
by the young wi tricks, and games
and rites in which the element of
prophecy has prominent place. Dec
orations of pumpkin heads, black
cats, cornstalks and in fact all har-
vest fruits prevail in Halloween par
ties. From the dim ages of the past
come customs that we know not of,
we use during our short day here and
pass on to children who will know
less than we do about their origin.
Yet the strongest parts of race or
people are the things they do with
out knowing why and the customs
they wear for a brief spell.
The boys and girls of Abbeville
and other towns in this section will
dress up as witches and goblins and
have a merry dance Of it on Tuesday
night. They will tie up the school
bell or they will let it ring out, just
as the notion strikes them. And they
will unhinge your gate, and my
gate, overturn porch chairs and turn
out lights, and go in droves and 60
! in pairs about their nefarious busi-
ness. But what would life be worth
without it all.
And look back a few years. The
mothers and fathers of these same
| little witches and goblins were plac-
ing apples on window lodges for the
witches to carry away, and walking
seriously and solemnly down the
staircase backwards at 12/ o'clock,
mirror in hand, waiting for the face
of the future husband to appear as
the last step was reached, and when
the last step was reached the lady
with the mirror was in such state
of mind she could have seen any
thing her imagination desired. And
the looking into the old well in the
dead of night to see the face of the
beloved in the deeps thereof; and the
turning up of rocks to find lock of
hair of the future husband. And the
water trick, or the custom of taking
a mouth full of water, and without
swallowing or spilling a single drop,
walk "a certain distance, and the first
person of the opposite sex met was
the fate of the one trying the trick
Another source of great fun was
to find a boy calling on his girl in
the country, and in those days, q
fellow went to see his best girl ano
hitched his rig at the post which usl1'
ally stood at the front gate. Some
times the wheels would be changed
front wheels placed on the back, anc
: the back wheels placed in front
which makes a very ridiculous look
ing buggy. Others went even farther
and would take the buggy down ano
perhaps carry into barn loft and
set up again in the loft; and the boy
when leaving would find himself
compelled to walk many miles to hi:
home in the. middle of the night
much to the joy of certain imps.
One custom prevailing even today
of placing a tub of water in the
middle of the room at a Halloween
party, with nice red apples floating
about to be taken out with the teeth
is past understanding even by under
standing people. There must be
legend back of this custom some
where, and it may go back as far a:
Adam and Eve. There is no telling
where an apple story will lead yor
by the working back process.
One of the oldest and pretties1
tests of true love and prophecies o1
future fate is the placing of two
chestnuts side by side on the fire
If one Kisses and steams it indicate:
fretful temper in the owner; il
both chestnuts misbehave it augur'
strife. If one or both pop away il
, means separation; but if both turr
to ashes TRANQUILITY side by side
long life of undisturbed happines:
will be the lot of the owners.