Halloween01
Waupaca Record
HALLOWEEN IS WITH US TONIGHT
The
No holiday on the calendar depends more for its charm upon the tradition and the customs handed down from generation to generation than does that fateful night of mirth and mystery – Halloween. Most of our American holidays commemorate historic events within the past century and a half and consequently cannot, of course, have any characteristics of ancient ceremonial. Even Christmas has, in its observance, been modernized out of all semblance of the old-tie celebration. Halloween, however not only retains its time-honored significance and long established ritual but fids its chief attraction in these reminders of bygone periods.
The festival of the night of October 31 has a number of different designations, tho none are so commonly used as Halloween. The others are All Hallow Even, Nutcrack Night and Snapapple Night, the latter two being derived of course from practices associated with the occasion. Halloween derive its most common name as the eve or vigil of All Saints’ or All Hallows Dave (November 1). From time out of mind this has been heralded as a night when witches, devils and other mischief making beings go abroad on their baneful midnight errands. By a strange coincidence, however, this same night is supposed to be devoted by the fairies to a grand anniversary celebration.
The traditions of Halloween also teach us that on no other night in the twelve-month do such supernatural influences prevail as after dark on the final day of October. According to ancient beliefs the spirits of the dead then wander about and in some instances the spirits of living persons have conferred upon them the temporary power to join the ghostly clan. Persons who have had the good fortune to be born on October 31 are especially likely to be warned or advised by the elves on each recurring anniversary of their natal day, but sometimes, so it is said, other persons have the gift of conversing with the airy visitants on such occasions.
Saint Matrimony is the patron saint of Halloween and indeed this autumn holiday is best known as the night of all nights for peering into the future and especially for discovering just what sort of husband or wife fate has selected for each unmarried participant in the rites. It is this function of the holiday which helps to keep the observances alive with the young people of the nation and not a few of their elders who are yet youthful in spirit. Not only are the mysterious spirits that are abroad on Halloween supposed to be infallible in their verdicts, but it is also of manifest advantage that t hey demand neither fee nor reward for piercing the veil that hides the future. The performance of some very simple ceremony is all that is exacted of the curious young man or woman who would learn interesting particulars regarding the destined life partner.
The origin of Halloween seems to be hidden in an intermingling of classic mythology and Christian superstitions. The plan of making nuts and apples conspicuous in the Halloween festivities is traced back to the custom of the ancient Romans to hold on November 1 a feast to Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds at which time there was a formal opening of the stores of eatables laid up in summer for use during the winter. On this same date occurred the great autumn festival to the sun with which the Druids or ancient Celts celebrated thanksgiving for their harvest and it was the belief of the Druids that on the eve of their holiday – the present Halloween – the Lord of death summoned those wicked souls that had within the year been condemned to henceforth occupy the bodies of animals.
Games
The gay games of modern times are not much like the solemn rites of the Druids, but a connection may be traced between the supernatural beliefs of the ancients, and the burlesque attempts to pry into the mysteries of the future which our own Halloween fun represents.
Long after the time of Druids, simple minded country people continued to believe in charms and witchcraft, and especially claimed that on the night of October 31 witches and goblins held revel and fairies danced its, or their manifestations, it was believed that the future could be foretold and human destinies discovered. As our celebration of the occasion is merely a whimsical adaptation of all this there is one thing clear at the outset: To a successful Halloween party the young guests must bring a large stock of imagination, a zest for merriment and an unfailing fund of good humor. For many Halloween tricks result in turning the laugh on one or another. This must be accepted in a gay, good-natured spirit. Old-fashioned Halloween parties were held in the kitchen, and where this is practicable it is a good place for many of the games. But all of the rooms used should be decorated with trophies of the harvest. Pumpkins, apples, grain stalks and autumn leaves offer materials for beautiful and effective trimming; and, if desired, about in the woods. From these spir-draperies of red and yellow cheese cloth and ornamentations of red and yellow crepe paper may be added. Jack o’ lanterns are, of course, a necessity.
Nutshell boats make a pretty test of fortune. In the half shells of English walnuts are fitted masts made of matches and tiny papers sails. On each sail is written the name of a guest, and the boats are set afloat in a tub of water. If two glide together it indicates a similar fate for their owners; if one sails alone, it means a lonely life. A gentle stirring up of the water will make the boats behave in an amusing manner.
The three saucers is said to be an unerring revelation of Fate. One saucer must contain clear water, another soapy water, or water into which a drop of ink has been spilled and the third saucer is empty. A girl is blindfolded and must dip her finger into one saucer. If the empty one she will always remain single; if the soapy water, she will marry a widower, but if she touches the clear water her fate will be a handsome and wealthy husband.