In the United States, American settlers brought their own beliefs about witches and ghosts. Irish and Scottish immigrants in the 1800s as well as Germans brought lore and costumes of their own, and voodoo beliefs came with Haitian and African peoples. The United States had a variety of beliefs that were regional by the end of the 1800s.
New Hampshire had barn dances, and New York City had parades and firecrackers. North Carolinians believed that the wind carried whispers of the future, and in Louisiana, cooking a supper eaten without speaking was common.
Large community celebrations became common the in 1900s, and adults joined in the fun more. Trick or treating became really popular in the 1940s and 1950s, with Halloween becoming more commercial each year. Now, even wearing a costume on the job is common, and large cities have large nightclub and party celebrations. Amusement parks are rife with celebrations, and private and civic organizations use the holiday as a springboard to raise money for charitable causes.
Scholars actually know very little about ‘Samhain.’ These ancient Celtic rituals are rife with beliefs, and the festivals and celebrations tie into these beliefs. ‘Samhain’ can be the beginning of the Celtic year, when farmers brought their livestock in from the fields. Shelters were built for winter and new laws passed at this time. Bonfires and feasting were rampant and individuals burned offerings of fruit, vegetation and animals for blessings from the gods.
‘Samhain’ was a time of transitioning when battles were fought and fairies cast spells. The natural world and supernatural world intermingled and the Celts believed the dead walked among the living. Visits from the dead occurred according to Celtic lore, and scholarly individuals believe these were the roots of Halloween.
‘All Saints’ and ‘All Souls’ Days date back to pagan customs, when Celts survived Christianity. In the early 800s, November 1 became ‘All Saints Day’, and 200 years later, ‘All Souls Day’ was added. Prayers for family and friends that were deceased became common, and lanterns burned for ancestors and food was placed out for the dead. Different regions of Europe had different customs and people of Wales put white stones near Halloween fires, to see if the stones moved at night, suggesting that individuals would then live another year.
TRUE-LOVER TEST
Two hazel-nuts are thrown into hot coals by maiden, who secretly gives
a lover’s name to each. If one nut bursts, then that lover is
unfaithful; but if it burns with steady glow until it becomes ashes,
she knows that her lover is true. Sometimes it happens, but not often,
that both nuts burn steadily, and then the maiden’s heart is sore
perplexed.
KISMET
Take half as many apples as guests, tie two long strings, one red and
one yellow, to each apple.
Place them in one large or several small baskets or receptacles on a
table. The girls choose the red and the boys the yellow strings and at
a signal they carefully pull the strings and follow them up until each
finds his or her mate holding the string of the opposite color,
attached to the same apple. The apples are then to be divided between
each couple and the seeds in each half, counted as follows:
One–I love thee.
Two–he (she) loves me.
Three–Wedded we will be.
Four–he (she) loves me dearly.
Five–he (she) loves me nearly.
Six–a friend forever.
Seven–we must sever.
Eight–we met too late.
Nine–why hesitate.
Ten–he (she) is my chosen mate.
THREADING A NEEDLE
Sit on round bottle laid lengthwise on floor, and try to thread a
needle. First to succeed will be first married.
SNAPDRAGON
1. The dragon consists of half a pint of ignited brandy or alcohol in
a dish. As soon as brandy is aflame, all lights are extinguished, and
salt is freely sprinkled in dish, imparting a corpse-like pallor to
every face. Candied fruits, figs, raisins, sugared almonds, etc., are
thrown in, and guests snap for them with their fingers; person
securing most prizes from flames will meet his true love within the
year.
2. Or, slips of paper on which verses are written are wrapped tightly
in tin-foil and placed in dish. Brandy is poured on and ignited. The
verse each person gets is supposed to tell his fortune.
Place burning dish in middle of bare table, for drops of burning
spirits are often splashed about.
PUMPKIN ALPHABET
Carve all the letters of the alphabet on a medium sized pumpkin. Put
it on a dish and set on a stand or table. Each guest in turn is
blindfolded and given a hat-pin, then led to pumpkin, where he (she)
is expected to stick pin into one of the letters on the pumpkin, thus
indicating the initial of future life-partner.
