"Kind fortune, tell me where is heWho my future lord shall be;From this bowl all that I claimIs to know my sweetheart's name."
"Kind fortune, tell me where is heWho my future lord shall be;From this bowl all that I claimIs to know my sweetheart's name."
she puts the bowl into a safe place until morning. Then she is blindfolded and picks out the same number of letters as there are in her own name, and spells another from them.
In New Brunswick, instead of an apple, a hard-boiled egg without salt is eaten before a mirror, with the same result. In Canada a thread is held over a lamp. The number that can be counted slowly before the thread parts, is the number of years before the one who counts will marry.
In the United States a hair is thrown to the winds with the stanza chanted:
"I pluck this lock of hair off my headTo tell whence comes the one I shall wed.Fly, silken hair, fly all the world around,Until you reach the spot where my true love is found."
"I pluck this lock of hair off my headTo tell whence comes the one I shall wed.Fly, silken hair, fly all the world around,Until you reach the spot where my true love is found."
The direction in which the hair floats is prophetic.
The taste in Hallowe'en festivities now is tostudy old traditions, and hold a Scotch party, using Burns's poemHallowe'enas a guide; or to go a-souling as the English used. In short, no custom that was once honored at Hallowe'en is out of fashion now. "Cyniver" has been borrowed from Wales, and the "dumb-cake" from the Hebrides. In the Scotch custom of cabbage-stalk pulling, if the stalk comes up easily, the husband or wife will be easy to win. The melted-lead test to show the occupation of the husband-to-be has been adopted in the United States. If the metal cools in round drops, the tester will never marry, or her husband will have no profession. White of egg is used in the same way. Like the Welsh test is that of filling the mouth with water, and walking round the house until one meets one's fate. An adaptation of the Scottish "three luggies" is the row of four dishes holding dirt, water, a ring, and a rag. The dirt means divorce, the water, a trip across the ocean, the ring, marriage, the rag, no marriage at all.
After the charms have been tried, fagots arepassed about, and by the eerie light of burning salt and alcohol, ghost stories are told, each concluding his installment as his fagot withers into ashes. Sometimes the cabbage stalks used in the omens take the place of fagots.
To induce prophetic dreams salt, in quantities from a pinch to an egg full, is eaten before one goes to bed.
"'Miss Jeanette, that's such a fine trick! You must swallow a salt herring in three bites, bones and all, and not drink a drop till the apparition of your future spouse comes in the night to offer you a drink of water.'"Adams:Chrissie's Fate.
"'Miss Jeanette, that's such a fine trick! You must swallow a salt herring in three bites, bones and all, and not drink a drop till the apparition of your future spouse comes in the night to offer you a drink of water.'"
Adams:Chrissie's Fate.
If, after taking three doses of salt two minutes apart, a girl goes to bed backward, lies on her right side, and does not move till morning, she is sure to have eventful dreams. Pills made of a hazelnut, a walnut, and nutmeg grated together and mixed with butter and sugar cause dreams: if of gold, the husband will be rich; if of noise, a tradesman;if of thunder and lightning, a traveler. As in Ireland bay-leaves on or under a man's pillow cause him to dream of his sweetheart. Also
"Turn your boots toward the street,Leave your garters on your feet,Put your stockings on your head,You'll dream of the one you're going to wed."
"Turn your boots toward the street,Leave your garters on your feet,Put your stockings on your head,You'll dream of the one you're going to wed."
Lemon-peel carried all day and rubbed on the bed-posts at night will cause an apparition to bring the dreaming girl two lemons. For quiet sleep and the fulfilment of any wish eat before going to bed on Hallowe'en a piece of dry bread.
A far more interesting development of the Hallowe'en idea than these innocent but colorless superstitions, is promised by the pageant at Fort Worth, Texas, on October thirty-first, 1916. In the masque and pageant of the afternoon four thousand school children took part. At night scenes from the pageant were staged on floats which passed along the streets. The subject wasPreparedness forPeace, and comprised scenes from Americanhistory in which peace played an honorable part. Such were: the conference of William Penn and the Quakers with the Indians, and the opening of the East to American trade. This is not a subject limited to performances at Hallowtide. May there not be written and presented in America a truly Hallowe'en pageant, illustrating and befitting its noble origin, and making its place secure among the holidays of the year?
HALLOWE'ENBring forth the raisins and the nuts—To-night All-Hallows' Spectre strutsAlong the moonlit way.No time is this for tear or sob,Or other woes our joys to rob,But time for Pippin and for Bob,And Jack-o'-lantern gay.Come forth, ye lass and trousered kid,From prisoned mischief raise the lid,And lift it good and high.Leave grave old Wisdom in the lurch,Set Folly on a lofty perch,Nor fear the awesome rod of birchWhen dawn illumes the sky.'Tis night for revel, set apartTo reillume the darkened heart,And rout the hosts of Dole.'Tis night when Goblin, Elf, and Fay,Come dancing in their best arrayTo prank and royster on the way,And ease the troubled soul.The ghosts of all things, past parade,Emerging from the mist and shadeThat hid them from our gaze,And full of song and ringing mirth,In one glad moment of rebirth,Again they walk the ways of earth,As in the ancient days.The beacon light shines on the hill,The will-o'-wisps the forests fillWith flashes filched from noon;And witches on their broomsticks sprySpeed here and yonder in the sky,And lift their strident voices highUnto the Hunter's moon.The air resounds with tuneful notesFrom myriads of straining throats,All hailing Folly Queen;So join the swelling choral throng,Forget your sorrow and your wrong,In one glad hour of joyous songTo honor Hallowe'en.
HALLOWE'EN
Bring forth the raisins and the nuts—To-night All-Hallows' Spectre strutsAlong the moonlit way.No time is this for tear or sob,Or other woes our joys to rob,But time for Pippin and for Bob,And Jack-o'-lantern gay.
Come forth, ye lass and trousered kid,From prisoned mischief raise the lid,And lift it good and high.Leave grave old Wisdom in the lurch,Set Folly on a lofty perch,Nor fear the awesome rod of birchWhen dawn illumes the sky.
'Tis night for revel, set apartTo reillume the darkened heart,And rout the hosts of Dole.'Tis night when Goblin, Elf, and Fay,Come dancing in their best arrayTo prank and royster on the way,And ease the troubled soul.
The ghosts of all things, past parade,Emerging from the mist and shadeThat hid them from our gaze,And full of song and ringing mirth,In one glad moment of rebirth,Again they walk the ways of earth,As in the ancient days.
The beacon light shines on the hill,The will-o'-wisps the forests fillWith flashes filched from noon;And witches on their broomsticks sprySpeed here and yonder in the sky,And lift their strident voices highUnto the Hunter's moon.
The air resounds with tuneful notesFrom myriads of straining throats,All hailing Folly Queen;So join the swelling choral throng,Forget your sorrow and your wrong,In one glad hour of joyous songTo honor Hallowe'en.
J. K. Bangsin Harper's Weekly, Nov. 5, 1910.
HALLOWE'EN FAILUREWho's dat peekin' in de do'?Set mah heart a-beatin'!Thought I see' a spook for shoOn mah way to meetin'.Heerd a rustlin' all aroun',Trees all sort o' jiggled;An' along de frosty groun'Funny shadders wriggled.Who's dat by de winder-sill?Gittin' sort o' skeery;Feets is feelin' kind o' chill,Eyes is sort o' teary.'Most as nervous as a coonWhen de dawgs is barkin',Er a widder when some spoonComes along a-sparkin'.Whass dat creepin' up de road,Quiet like a ferret,Hoppin' sof'ly as a toad?Maybe hit's a sperrit!Lordy! hope dey ain't no ghos'Come to tell me howdy.I ain't got no use for thoseFantoms damp an' cloudy.Whass dat standin' by de fenceWid its eyes a-yearnin',Drivin' out mah common-senseWid its glances burnin'?Don't dass skeercely go to bedWid dem spookses roun' me.Ain't no res' fo' dis yere headWhen dem folks surroun' me.Whass dat groanin' soun' I hearOff dar by de gyardin?Lordy! Lordy! Lordy dear,Grant dis sinner pardon!I won't nebber—I declar'Ef it ain't my Sammy!Sambo, what yo' doin' dar?Yo' can't skeer yo' mammy!
HALLOWE'EN FAILURE
Who's dat peekin' in de do'?Set mah heart a-beatin'!Thought I see' a spook for shoOn mah way to meetin'.Heerd a rustlin' all aroun',Trees all sort o' jiggled;An' along de frosty groun'Funny shadders wriggled.
Who's dat by de winder-sill?Gittin' sort o' skeery;Feets is feelin' kind o' chill,Eyes is sort o' teary.'Most as nervous as a coonWhen de dawgs is barkin',Er a widder when some spoonComes along a-sparkin'.
Whass dat creepin' up de road,Quiet like a ferret,Hoppin' sof'ly as a toad?Maybe hit's a sperrit!Lordy! hope dey ain't no ghos'Come to tell me howdy.I ain't got no use for thoseFantoms damp an' cloudy.
Whass dat standin' by de fenceWid its eyes a-yearnin',Drivin' out mah common-senseWid its glances burnin'?Don't dass skeercely go to bedWid dem spookses roun' me.Ain't no res' fo' dis yere headWhen dem folks surroun' me.
Whass dat groanin' soun' I hearOff dar by de gyardin?Lordy! Lordy! Lordy dear,Grant dis sinner pardon!I won't nebber—I declar'Ef it ain't my Sammy!Sambo, what yo' doin' dar?Yo' can't skeer yo' mammy!
Carlyle Smithin Harper's Weekly, Oct. 29, 1910.
HALLOWE'ENPixie, kobold, elf, and spriteAll are on their rounds to-night,—In the wan moon's silver rayThrives their helter-skelter play.Fond of cellar, barn, or stackTrue unto the almanac,They present to credulous eyesStrange hobgoblin mysteries.Cabbage-stumps—straws wet with dew—Apple-skins, and chestnuts too,And a mirror for some lassShow what wonders come to pass.Doors they move, and gates they hideMischiefs that on moonbeams rideAre their deeds,—and, by their spells,Love records its oracles.Don't we all, of long agoBy the ruddy fireplace glow,In the kitchen and the hall,Those queer, coof-like pranks recall?Eery shadows were they then—But to-night they come again;Were we once more but sixteenPrecious would be Hallowe'en.
HALLOWE'EN
Pixie, kobold, elf, and spriteAll are on their rounds to-night,—In the wan moon's silver rayThrives their helter-skelter play.
Fond of cellar, barn, or stackTrue unto the almanac,They present to credulous eyesStrange hobgoblin mysteries.
Cabbage-stumps—straws wet with dew—Apple-skins, and chestnuts too,And a mirror for some lassShow what wonders come to pass.
Doors they move, and gates they hideMischiefs that on moonbeams rideAre their deeds,—and, by their spells,Love records its oracles.
Don't we all, of long agoBy the ruddy fireplace glow,In the kitchen and the hall,Those queer, coof-like pranks recall?
Eery shadows were they then—But to-night they come again;Were we once more but sixteenPrecious would be Hallowe'en.
Joel Bentonin Harper's Weekly, Oct. 31, 1896.
No Hallowe'en without a Jack-o'-Lantern.No Hallowe'en withouta Jack-o'-Lantern.
HALLOWE'ENA gypsy flame is on the hearth,Sign of this carnival of mirth.Through the dun fields and from the gladeFlash merry folk in masquerade—It is the witching Hallowe'en.Pale tapers glimmer in the sky,The dead and dying leaves go by;Dimly across the faded greenStrange shadows, stranger shades, are seen—It is the mystic Hallowe'en.Soft gusts of love and memoryBeat at the heart reproachfully;The lights that burn for those who dieWere flickering low, let them flare high—It is the haunting Hallowe'en.
HALLOWE'EN
A gypsy flame is on the hearth,Sign of this carnival of mirth.Through the dun fields and from the gladeFlash merry folk in masquerade—It is the witching Hallowe'en.
Pale tapers glimmer in the sky,The dead and dying leaves go by;Dimly across the faded greenStrange shadows, stranger shades, are seen—It is the mystic Hallowe'en.
Soft gusts of love and memoryBeat at the heart reproachfully;The lights that burn for those who dieWere flickering low, let them flare high—It is the haunting Hallowe'en.
A. F. Murrayin Harper's Weekly, Oct. 30, 1909.
Charades:
Charades, menu, tests. H. Bazar, 32:894.
Children's Parties:
Fortune games for very little children. St. N., 23:33.Hallowe'en fortunes for boys and girls. Delin., 66:631.Masquerade, games, tests. W. H. C., 35:43.Decorations. W. H. C., 36:34.Old-fashioned games. St. N., 35:51.Children's celebration of Hallowe'en. St. N., 32:1124.
Church Parties:
Mystic party. L. H. J., 22:57.For Young People's Soc. L. H. J., 26:34."Phantom fair." W. H. C., 39:32.
Club Parties:
For Country Club. Invitation. Costumes. Supper. Dance.W. H. C., 41:30."Candle-light café." W. H. C., 42. Oct., 1915.
Costumes:
Delin., 78:258.
Country-House Party:
Country Life, 18:624.
Dances:
Dances, drills, costumes. Delin., 78:258.Hallowe'en party. W. H. C., 40:39.Barn party. W. H. C., 34:30.
Decorations and Favors:
Autumn-leaf decorations and prizes. Delin., 64:638.Cobweb party. Delin., 91:44.Hall: Handicraft for handy girls.Place-cards, verses. L. H. J., 28:50.L. H. J., 31:40.H. Bazar, 39:1046.L. H. J., 20:48.L. H. J., 16:38.Cinderella party. W. H. C., 34:30.Favors. H. Bazar, 45:516.Nut favors. W. H. C., 32:53.Original decorations. W. H. C., 32:32.Fads and frills. W. H. C., 32:24.
Games and Fortunes:
Witchery games for Hallowe'en. Delin., 64:576.H. Bazar., 33:1650.L. H. J., 20:48.L. H. J., 25:58.Blain: Games for Hallowe'en.Quaint customs. H. Bazar, 46:578.H. Bazar, 32:894.Witches' think cap. L. H. J., 32:29.Hallowe'en happenings. St. N., 35:51.
Invitations:
H. Bazar, 33:1650.
Parties(miscellaneous):
H. Bazar, 28 pt. 2:841.H. Bazar, 32:894.L. H. J., 29:105.L. H. J., 30:103.Nut-crack night party. H. Bazar, 41:1106.Nut-crack party. H. Bazar, 38:1092.Novel party. W. H. C., 31:42.Yarn party. L. H. J., 26:63.L. H. J., 23:68.L. H. J., 14:25.Barn party. W. H. C., 34:30.Novel party with musical accompaniment. Musician, 18:665.Cotter's Saturday night. W. H. C., 38:40."Ghosts I have met" party. Pantomime. W. H. C., 37:27.Two jolly affairs. W. H. C., 39:32.Tryst of witches. Good H., 53:463.Tam o' Shanter party. Delin., 85:26.Jolly good time. Delin., 74:367.Hints for Hallowe'en hilarities. L. H. J., 27:46.Jolly party. L. H. J., 19:41.Hallowe'en fun. L. H. J., 33:33.Pumpkin stunt party. W. H. C., 45. Oct., 1917.Character party. W. H. C., 45. Oct., 1917.
School Parties:
"Cotter's Saturday night." W. H. C., 38:40.High school party. W. H. C., 42:34.How the college girl celebrates Hallowe'en. W. H. C., 31:16.
Suppers, Table Decorations, Menus:
Hallowe'en suppers. H. Bazar, 35:1670.H. Bazar, 37:1063.L. H. J., 24:78.L. H. J., 16:38.W. H. C., 40:39.W. H. C., 43:35.H. Bazar, 44:641.H. Bazar, 45:507.Hallowe'en party table. L. H. J., 29:44.H. Bazar, 32:894.Hallowe'en supper. Good H., 53:569.
The pages refer always to the October number of the year.
TITLEAUTHORSOURCEAll Hallowe'en(story)All the Year Round, 60:347All Souls' Eve(story)HopperEng. Illus. Mag., 18:225All Souls' Eve(story)LyallTemple Bar., 124:379Black cat(story)PoeBoogah ManDunbarEldridge Entertainment HouseBrier-Rose(story)GrimmFairy talesBroomstick brigadeJ. T. Wagner6 Barclay St., N. Y. CityBud's fairy tale(poem)RileyChild-worldChildren's Play with musicalaccompanimentMusician, 16:693Corn-song(poem)WhittierElder-tree mother(story)AndersenFairy talesFairies(poem)AllinghamFairy and witch(play)NelsonEldridge Entertainment HouseFeast of the little lanterns(operetta)BlissFisherman and the genie(story)Arabian NightsGhost(story)O'ConnorGhosts I have metBangsGhost's touch(story)CollinsGolden arm(story)ClemensHow to tell a storyGoblin stone(play)WickesChild's Book, p. 127Guess who(song and drill)MurrayEldridge Entertainment HouseHallowe'en adventure(story)McDonaldCanad. Mag., 12:61Hallowe'en adventure(play)KoogleEldridge Entertainment HouseHallowe'en frolic(poem)ConeSt. N. 20 pt. 1:15Haunted gale(play)WormwoodEldridge Entertainment HouseHouse in the wood(story)GrimmFairy talesLittle Butterkin(story)AsbjornsenFairy tales from the far northLittle Donna Juana(story)BrooksMother Goose recitalMusician, 21:633Nix of the mill-pond(story)GrimmFairy talesPeter Pan in KensingtonGardens(story)BarrieRapunzel(story)GrimmFairy talesRed shoes(story)AndersenFairy talesScarecrows a-roaming(play)Eldridge Entertainment HouseSeein' things(poem)FieldLove songs of childhoodSnow-white(story)GrimmFairy talesStraw phantom(pantomime)BlackallSt. N., 44:1133Testing of Sir Gawayne(play)MeringtonFestival plays, p. 211Voyage of BranMeyerWalpurgisnight(story)ZschokkeWind in the rose-bush(story)Freeman
TITLEAUTHORPAGESOURCEAll-hallows honeymoon(story)Marks104New Eng. Magazine, 37:308All Souls' Eve(poem)Marks, J. P.31-32Ancient IrishO'Curry7Ballad of Tam Lin65Child's BalladsBattle of the treesTaliesin7Neo-druidical heresyCaractacus(poem)Mason11Celtic twilight(poem in introduction to)Yeats58Charms(poem)Opper161Munsey, 30:285Comus(play)Milton131Cuchulain of MuirthemneGregory37-38-39Cuchulain's sick-bed42Death of the flowers(poem)Bryant18-19Different party(story)Bradley156-157Harper's Bazar, 41:131Dinnsenchus of Mag Slecht21Neo-druidical heresyDjinns(poem)Hugo148Druid song of Cathvah(poem)Todhunter9Expedition of Nera44"Fair maid who"139Encyc. of SuperstitionsFairy-faith in Celtic countriesWentz48-49Fairy fiddler(poem)Hopper64FastiOvid114Faust(play)Goethe130First winter song(poem)Graves16"Five hundred points"Tusser98Giles Corey of the Salem Farms(play)Longfellow151-152Golden LegendDe Voragine30Great fir-tree of Takasago(story)Rinder146Old-world Japan"Green fairy island"Parry103Welsh MelodiesHag(poem)Herrick66-67Hallowe'en(poem)Burns73-74-75Hallowe'en(poem)Coxe18-19-88-89-96Hallowe'en(poem)Letts99-100Hallowe'en(poem)Sheard143Canadian mag., 36:33Hallowe'en(poem)Bangs172-173Harper's Weekly, Nov. 5, 1910Hallowe'en(poem)Benton176-177Harper's Weekly, Oct. 31, 1896Hallowe'en(poem)Murray178Harper's Weekly, Oct. 30, 1909Hallowe'en Failure(poem)Smith175Harper's Weekly, Oct. 29, 1910Hallowe'en or Christie's fate(story)Adams169Scribner's, 3:26Hallowe'en in IrelandTrant51Dewdrops and DiamondsHallowe'en Fantasy(play),(Priest and the Piper)Pyle49Harper's Bazar, 31, pt. 2: 947Hallowe'en reformation(story)Butterworth149-150Century, 27:48Hallowe'en wish(poem)Munkittrick93-94Harper's Weekly, Oct. 27, 1900Hiawatha(poem)Longfellow145Immortal Hour(play)Sharp39-40-41Fortn. Rev. 74:867Jorinda and Joringel(story)Grimm135Grimm's Fairy TalesL'Allegro(poem)Milton86Land of Heart's Desire(play)Yeats36-43-45-47Lavengro(story)Borrow129Little Orphant AnnieRiley152-153Loch GarmanO'Ciarain36Lycidas(poem)Milton85Macbeth(play)Shakspere89Monastery(story)Scott62-63-76-103Night of the deadLe Braz116-117Legend of the dead"On nuts burning"Graydon91-92On the morning of Christ'snativity(poem)Milton28Paradise Lost(poem)Milton120Passing of Arthur(poem)Tennyson84Pastorals(poem)Gay74-75-92-93-94-95-97Peer Gynt(play)Ibsen131Peter and Wendy(story)Barrie64Polyolbion(poem)Drayton10Pomona(poem)Morris23Rip Van Winkle(play)Jefferson150-151Robin Goodfellow(poem)Johnson86St. John's Eve(poem)Kickham12St. John's Fire(play)Sudermann141St. Swithin's Chair(poem)Scott69"Soul, soul"98Notes and QueriesSpell(poem)Gay91Splores of a Hallowe'en(poem)Dick72Sunken bell(play)Hauptmann14Tale of Hallowe'en(story)76Leisure Hour, 23:765Tam Glen(poem)Burns79Tam o' Shanter(poem)Burns67-68Tannhäuser(play)Wagner132-133Tempest(play)Shakspere67Three-fold chronicle(story)Sharp54-56Harper's, 73:842Tom's Hallowe'en joke(story)Wright154Dewdrops and DiamondsTwig of thorn(play)Warren44-45Vertumnus and Pomona(poem)Ovid24Völuspa(poem)122We girls(story)Whitney162-163"When comes the harvest"Botrel112Songs of BrittanyWhen de folks is gone(poem)Riley153"When ebery one"160Werner's Readings, No. 31Wild huntsman(poem)Scott90Willie Baird(poem)Buchanan70