The Meaning of Halloween

Old superstitions die hard, and it will certainly be long before the festival of Halloween becomes as much a thing of the past as has practically become the Guy Fawkes celebration on the 5th of November in Britain.

Long before the Christian faith made way among the untutored peoples of ancient Britain, the Druids had performed special rites of what is now known as Hallowmas Eve: fires were lit deep in remote forests, upon outlying spurs of hills, even upon the great plains that stretched between dense forests and partially cleared woodlands; mystic rites were performed, the help of the true God was implored, the machinations of evil powers were protested against.

The earliest records bear witness to a universal belief that Read the rest of this entry »

The following account of a Halloween frolic in the country is true and was from 1913.

The success of all Halloween frolics depends upon the mystery which shrouds the arrangements. Last year the boys of a country neighborhood noted for its entertainments were delighted to receive unique invitations from the girls for a Halloween party. The invitations are worthy of description. They were made of stiff black paper in the form of witches’ hats. The date was written on the peaks, and the invitation on the rims. White ink was used. These were mailed in small square boxes, with the address on a tag, just as milliners deliver their hats.

Twenty boys found these missives in their mail boxes and Read the rest of this entry »

From Massachusetts

On Halloween a girl is to go through a graveyard, steal a cabbage and place it above the house-door. The one on whom the cabbage falls as the door is opened is to be the girl’s husband.

 (Editors note: provided he survives)

From Pennsylvania

On Halloween walk backwards from the front door, pick up dust or grass, bring it in, wrap it in paper, put it under your pillow, and dream.

From Chestertown, Maryland

On Halloween put an egg to roast before the fire and leave the Read the rest of this entry »

From Alabama

A Halloween custom is to fill a tub with water and drop into it as many apples as there are young folks to try the trick. Then each one must kneel before the tub and try to bite the apples without touching them with the hands. The one who bites one first will marry first. 

(Editor’s note: now commonly called bobbing for apples)

From St. John, N. B.

On Halloween hang an apple by the door just the height of  the chin. Rub the chin with saliva, stand about six inches from the apple, and hit the chin against the apple. If it sticks to the chin,  you will be married, and your true love will stick to you.

From Boston, Mass
 
A girl goes to a field on Halloween at midnight to steal cabbages. The first one Read the rest of this entry »

Apples, nuts and candles are important in Halloween superstitions.

Nuts

Superstitious people believed the devil was a gatherer of nuts.  So nuts were used as magic charms by those who practiced such things. 

Young ladies of courting age placed Hazel Nuts near the front of the fire, each one to symbolize one of her suitors, if she had any.  She could then find out who her future husband would be by chanting, “If you love me pop and fly; if you hate me burn and die.”

Apples & Candles

If you sliced an apple through the middle, to reveal the five pointed star inside (try it), and then eat it by only candlelight while looking into a mirror, your future spouse will appear over your shoulder.  Alternately the same was believed if you didn’t have an apple but simply combed Read the rest of this entry »