Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-30
HALLOWEEN SEEN
AS ODD SURVIVAL
Queer Mixture of Ancient
Beliefs and Myths
Still Persists.

Halloween, which in this country
has become largely mummer's holi-
day, Is a curious survival Of classic
mythology, Druid beliefs and supersti-
ton, and is still celebrated in many
parts of Europe with games and eere-
monies handed down from time i'm
memorial" says a bulletin from the
National Geographic Society describing
geographic origins of popular but UNI
offlcial holiday.
THE strange customs which mark
the observance of Halloween are of
mixed ancestry. The ancient Druids, a
religious order Of the early Celts, had
festival about the latter part of Oc-
tober which lasted several days Among
other things, they believed that on the
evening Of October 81 the great lord of
death, Saman, summoned all the wicked
souls who had been condemned during
the year and ordered them to inhabiT
the bodies of animals.
Wicked Spirits Feared.
ITO ward OF the wicked spirits
which they felt were proving the fields
and woods on that night, the DruiGs
built huge bonfires and kept q sharp
lookout. In some parts of Europe this
belief, in modified form, is held today,
and perhaps in the American boys de-
sire TO build bonfires in the Autumn
may be traced an outcropping Of an old
religious tenet.
THE Romans also had . harvest fes-
uyal about the same date. To them
we owe the association of nuts and ap-
pies with Halloween. Nuts and apples
were Roman tokens of the Winter store
OF fruits, and feasts were held in honor
Of Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit
trees, throughout Roman dominions.,
In Britain, where Roman and Druid
beliefs met on common ground, the
two festivals were strongly fused when
the early Christian priests brought a
new set OF holidays ana rev relIgIOhS
tenetS to combat those of paganisrin
But the mystery and the symbolism OF
the last night of October-it was not
then known as Halloween-were not to
be easily uprooted. So . compromise
was effected. To Offset the black magic
of Druid superstition the next day was
declared All Saints day. and the eve
ming preceding 1t was renamed hallowed;
or holy evening, which in popular
parlance became Halloween.
"A new name, however, was not to.
alter the entire character Of the occa-s
sion. All Saints day itself was speed-
lily lost in the shufi1e, and the preced-s
ing evening remained in the popular
mind as q time when supernatural in
fiuences prevailed. In some parts OF
Europe spooks o. a kindlier sort we're
substituted-the departed spirits of the
family, who, ON this one night of the
year, were allowed to visit their old
homes In Ireland, Scotland and Wales
food was left for them, hearths were
before the fireside when the villagers
went to bed. r.
I'm lonely rural districts Halloween
once brought peasants together around
great log fires in their houses, where
they shudderingly told one another bf
queer noises. strange fiutterings and
trembling shadows. But they tenn
pered their fears with feasting-and
with games in which nuts and apples
played leading part.
Eating an apple before a looking
glass was traditionally supposed TO re-
veal q girls future husband, who would
be seen peeping over her shoulder.
Ducking for apples, still popular Hal
loween pastime, was preceded by a more
risky game in which a lighted candle
and an apple were placed at opposite
ends Of stick and the stick whirled
horizontally. Merrymakers tried to bite
the apple as 1t passed, but often they
received hot candle grease instead.
Nuts Show Future" :.
I'm Northern England Halloween was
also known as 'Nut-crack night be-
cause people gathered not only to crack
and eat the nuts of the seasons harvest
but also to use them IS a means Of
prophesying love affairs. Nut kernels,
named for people, we're placed in the
fire. II the kernel jumped from the
fire, the lover designated by it was un-
faithful; II 1t smoldered, then the
person had only mild regard for the
one making the test, but II 1t blazed
brightly, this was q symbol of true love
and devotion.
IN Ireland and Scotland it is stnl
the custom to prepare q bowl full of
mashed potatoes, parsnips and chopped
onions on Halloween. Into this If1ix-
ture named 'call-cannon,' for a reason
not known, q gold ring Is concealed.
At dinner each guest helps himself to
a generous portion from a deep bowl,
and the one receiving the ring viii be
married within the year, or If already
married, will have good luck. A loaf
cake Is sometimes substituted for the
bowl mixture, and . key and ring hld-
den In It. The key eighties journey,
the ring marriage OF good luck
In parts of continental Europe Hal
loween, known by various names Is an
occasion for carnivals and other num-
merry. Belgium, Germany and parts of
France observe it locally by masquer-
AIDES, but the unoficial holiday does
not have the supernatural background
that It does In countries where the Celt
IL strongest. In several parts
Of France All Saints day IL observed
with .fetes and church pageants. otaniy
At Ligntefes ana INTERCHANGEABLE