The Book of Hallowe'en

This book is intended to give the reader an account of the origin and history of Hallowe'en, how it absorbed some customs belonging to other days in the year,--such as May Day, Midsummer, and Christmas. The context is illustrated by selections from ancient and modern poetry and prose, related to Hallowe'en ideas.

Those who wish suggestions for readings, recitations, plays, and parties, will find the lists in the appendix useful, in addition to the books on entertainments and games to be found in any public library.

Special acknowledgment is made to Messrs. E. P. Dutton & Company for permission to use the poem entitled "Hallowe'en" from "The Spires of Oxford and Other Poems," by W. M. Letts; to Messrs. Longmans, Green & Company for the poem "Pomona," by William Morris; and to the Editors of The Independent for the use of five poems.

RUTH EDNA KELLEY.

LYNN, 1919.

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I. SUN-WORSHIP. THE SOURCES OF HALLOWE'EN 1

II. THE CELTS: THEIR RELIGION AND FESTIVALS 5

III. SAMHAIN 16

IV. POMONA 23

V. THE COMING OF CHRISTIANITY. ALL SAINTS'. ALL SOULS' 27

VI. ORIGIN AND CHARACTER OF HALLOWE'EN OMENS 33

VII. HALLOWE'EN BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS IN IRELAND 35

VIII. HALLOWE'EN BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS IN SCOTLAND AND THE HEBRIDES 59

IX. HALLOWE'EN BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS IN ENGLAND AND MAN 82

X. HALLOWE'EN BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS IN WALES 101

XI. HALLOWE'EN BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS IN BRITTANY AND FRANCE 107

XII. THE TEUTONIC RELIGION. WITCHES 119

XIII. WALPURGIS NIGHT 136

XIV. MORE HALLOWTIDE BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS 142

XV. HALLOWE'EN IN AMERICA 149

"FOUR POEMS" 172

MAGAZINE REFERENCES TO HALLOWE'EN ENTERTAINMENTS 179

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST OF READINGS, RECITATIONS, AND PLAYS 182

INDEX TO QUOTATIONS 184

INDEX 188

ILLUSTRATIONS

Hallowe'en Festivities Frontispiece FACING PAGE In Hallowe'en Time 34

The Witch of the Walnut-Tree 100

The Witches' Dance (Valpurgisnacht) 138

Fortune-Telling 148

Hallowe'en Tables, I 156

Hallowe'en Tables, II 158

No Hallowe'en without a Jack-o'-lantern 178

The Book of Hallowe'en

CHAPTER I

SUN-WORSHIP. THE SOURCES OF HALLOWE'EN

If we could ask one of the old-world pagans whom he revered as his greatest gods, he would be sure to name among them the sun-god; calling him Apollo if he were a Greek; if an Egyptian, Horus or Osiris; if of Norway, Sol; if of Peru, Bochica. As the sun is the center of the physical universe, so all primitive peoples made it the hub about which their religion revolved, nearly always believing it a living person to whom they could say prayers and offer sacrifices, who directed their lives and destinies, and could even snatch men from earthly existence to dwell for a time with him, as it draws the water from lakes and seas.

In believing this they followed an instinct of all early peoples, a desire to make persons of the great powers of nature, such as the world of growing things, mountains and water, the sun, moon, and stars; and a wish for these gods they had made to take an interest in and be part of their daily life. The next step was making stories about them to account for what was seen; so arose myths and legends.

The sun has always marked out work-time and rest, divided the year into winter idleness, seed-time, growth, and harvest; it has always been responsible for all the beauty and goodness of the earth; it is itself splendid to look upon. It goes away and stays longer and longer, leaving the land in cold and gloom; it returns bringing the long fair days and resurrection of spring. A Japanese legend tells how the hidden sun was lured out by an image made of a copper plate with saplings radiating from it like sunbeams, and a fire kindled, dancing, and prayers; and round the earth in North America the Cherokees believed they brought the sun back upon its northward path by the same means of rousing its curiosity, so that it would come out to see its counterpart and find out what was going on.