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By GEORGE sEIDL “This it the nicht o’ Hallowe'en When a’ the witchie mict be seen” —Old Scottish Verse Hallowe'en, the Eye of All Hal low, night of witchcraft and sorc ery, night of all nights for divin ation, when supernatural wraiths prowl the world upon their bane ful midnight errands—tomorrow night. Centuries ago Pomona, Roman Roddess of fruits and seeds, had her feast day then, symbolized in the opening of the summer stores of crops and grains for win ter use. Old English Origin—. Hundreds of years ago in the light of the moon on many an English forest and Celtic plain tall, bearded, Jong-draped Druids on such a night burned huge pyres against the sky their high reach ing flames, a symbol of immortal ity, and practiced weird rites to counteract the influences of witches and demons that roamed a superstitous world. More than fifteen centuries ago on such a night Christian wor shippers went about bearing torches that the poor souls con demned to purgatorial flames might be enlightened from their ves. And from these three power ful influences arose the modern might of hobgoblins, werewolves, and elves, through its binding hold upon our English, Scot and Welsh forebears in whose lands for centuries Hallowe'en or Nut crack night or Snapapple night has been observed. Symbolical of old Roman influ ences of the feast of Pomona, nuts and apples are symbols of the hight, and for forteiling and fun, their uses are legion on that eve. Especially is it a night for girls to find who their lovers are and their faithfulness. In Ireland if a young woman would know if her lover is worthy, three nuts are placed upon the hearth, and she secretly taking one for herself, names the others for her lovers. If one cracks or jumps, that so named is believed unfaithful, but if it burns brightly and long, that love is the The apples are used in more playful fashion, a favorite sport being to have them bob about in a tub of water, with the bound participators trying vainly to catch them in their teeth. Other Diversions— Still another diversion is to uie ap apple and a lighted candle to opposite ends of a stick, which is slowly swung about. The trick is to catch the apple without get ting caught by the candle. “Luggies” is a Scottish diver sion. Three dishes, one filled with clean, another with foul water, the third empty, are placed on a table. Blindfolded a boy or girl places a finger in one. The foul or clean determine the disposition of the mate, and the empty means a life of bachelor or spinster- hood. Another method of determining a girl's lover was to take two lemon peels, wear them all day, one in each pocket at night, to rub the four posts of the bedstead with them. If the girl is to suc ceed, the person will appear in her sleep, and present her with a couple of lemons. But imagine presenting any piri nowadays with “a couple of lem. anstt
Newspaper Details
Provo Evening Herald
Provo, Utah, US
Fri, Oct 30, 1936
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Chad L.
USA 01 Sep 2026
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