HALLOWE'EN

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 105, 31 October 1933, Page 15

HALLOWE'EN

FEAST OF ANTIQUITY i.

Hallowe'en is tho name given to. October 31, being the eve of the jpc^tistr of All Hallows or All Saints' bkf,, which is on tho following day, November 1. Today it is better known as tho eve of the Christian festival. The actual origin of the Hallowe'en celebrations is lost in antiquity, although it is known to have been one of the big days in the Druids' religious calendar. According to the Encyclopaedia Brittanica, "The origin antedates Christianity, and the two chief characteristics of old Hallowe'en were tho lighting of bonfires and the belief that this is the one night in the year during which witches and ghosts are most likely to wander abroad. History shows that the main , celebrations of Hallowe'en were purely Druidical, and this is further proved by the fact that in parts of Ireland October 31 is still known as the 'Vigil of Saman.' This is directly connected with the Druidic belief in the calling together of certain wicked souls on Hallowe'en by Saman, Lord of Death.' On the Druids' ceremonies were grafted some of tho characteristics of the'- Roman festival in honour of. Pomona, held about November. 1, in which nuts and apples, representing the winter store of fruit, .played an important part." Hallowe'en used to be commonly observed all over ' Great Britain, and merry parties were wont to be the order of the day. In.recent years, however, the celebration of Hallowe'en has fallen into neglect. In fact the day probably would have been long ago a relic of the past but for the fact that Robert Burns has immortalised its obsefvanee, its ceremonies, and its fun m. one of the best of his descriptive poems: The picture of Hallowe'en as he gives it is perfect, and -.his- lmes have been the model or the source from which all descriptions of the festival r-ave been drawn. Hallowe'en is a tcstival which is based on superstitions, and this old rhyme fitly describes its power: — "This is the nieht o' Hallowe'en; A' tho witches to he seen Some o' them, black, somo o' them SomcTo' them like a turkey bean." In these times, however, tho supernatural influence has been in a great measure forgotten, but its social opportunities and a sentimental regard _ for auld lang syne continue to give it a lingering lease of life.