Irish Halloween

Hallowe'en is filled with family and local superstitions. On farms around Ireland, some families had a tradition of sprinkling holy (blessed) water on animals on October 31 and in homes, candles were lit for each deceased relative in the room where death occurred.

Irish folklore records how a plain cross of wood was often put up on the thatched roof inside the front door to ward off evil spirits.

Where some farm animal died as a result of a visit from some fairy of evil at Hallowe'en in previous years, holy water would be scattered by the superstitious Irish. Indeed if animals showed illness on October 31, people would often spit on them to banish any mischievous spirits around.

Ghost story telling and recounts of fairy activites were popular as well visits or graveyards and haunted houses. Supernatural stirrings at this time of the year are not an exclusively Celtic tradition. Cultures all over the world have rituals and festivals at the end of October and the beginning of November. There is the Fiesta de la Muertos in Mexico and the Indians celebrate Divalo, a Hindu holiday on November 2.

Just like the Irish custom of keeping candles in the window at Hallowe'en, the traditional way to mark Divali is to light candles and kerosene oil lamps.

Samhain marked the first day of winter and the eve of the festival was a time for settling up money .Workmen were given their wages and rents had to be paid. Folklorists have chronicled how, at Hallowe'en hobgoblins, evil spirits and fairies were busy individuals and mortals were often abducted to fairy land.! People were taken away to raths - never to be seen again by their friends.

If you meet the fairies on Hallow's Eve, then be sure to throw the dust from under your feet at them and they will be obliged to surrender any humans they are keeping captive. To avoid fairy trouble, people travelling distances on All Hallow's Eve carried a black handled knife or a steel needle.

The story goes that anyone throwing out water should call out 'Seachain' or beware to warn fairies and ghosts to get out of the way and avoid being splashed. In a somewhat novel health safety move, parents have recounted stories to the children about the puca fairy spitting or urinating on wild fruits in order to discourage youngsters from eating decaying fruits in November.

Ulster folklore chronicles how fairies were believed to be fallen angels and were especially dreaded on Hallowe'en night. In some places, oatmeal and salt were put on childrens' heads to protect them from evil and harm. In parts of Co Waterford, Hallowe'en was called the night of mischief or con. Gangs of youths visited farmers houses and levied a sort of blackmail which was good humouredly paid with party fayre.

Weather was important and the wind at midnight would indicate the prevailing wind for the coming season. If there was a moon on Hallowe'en, it was used an omen. A clear moon meant fine weather . The amount of cloud translated in rainfall and clouds racing across the face of the moon meant storms were on the way.

Hallowe'en was traditionally a time for marriage divination and tricks and games were carried out . The theory was that if an apple was peeled in one long continuous strip , then the peel would fall onto the floor to form the initials of the future husband. If the apple was eaten before a mirror, his face would be seen looking over the girls' shoulder. Sweeping the stack around the base of the corn stack with a broom three times in the hope that on the third time around, the future partner would appear or his name would be spoken aloud. Even pulling cabbages was supposed to reveal a lot about a future spouses. Blindfolded girls were sent out in pairs to pull the first cabbage they find. If there was a lot of earth attached to the root, they would have plenty of money but if there was only a little earth, they would be poor.The taste of the heart of the cabbage would reveal alot about his disposition - sweet or sour!.

After Hallowe'en, on All Soul's Day which falls on November 2, some Irish people laid a table with a place for each dead relative and the poker and tongs were placed in the shape of a cross on the heart stone. Whatever the season, the Irish have a gift at telling ghost stories and our literaure is studded with memorable spooks. James Joyce who penned Ulysees also wrote about a black dog with eyes like carriage lamps that patrolled the stairs at Clongowes Wood and Oscar Wilde also wrote about the paranormal.

           
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