What better time to start a series on superstitions than right before All Hallow’s Eve?
This Halloween is particularly special because it’s being lit by a full moon, which happens only once every 19 years. And rarer still, it’s blue moon (the second full moon in a month).
Here in Canada and the U.S., every year hoards of children dressed in costumes, converge on innocent neighborhoods, knocking on doors to get free candy or other goodies before going on to the next door to repeat the process. So just how did this tradition get started?
This tradition can be traced back more than 2,000 years to the Celtic belief that the spirits of the dead still remained present on our plane of existence, and required food and drink to be placated. Failing to leave out an offering was sure to invite the disgruntled spirits to cause mischief and ill fortune in retaliation. Later, people began dressing up as the spirits in order to receive these offerings of food, and playing practical jokes on those who did not furnish them.
In Ireland, there was a practice among the peasants of going door to door to collect money or food in preparation for the festival of St. Columba.
In England, the poor would go around to different households on All Souls Day (November 1) begging for food. They would be given "soul cakes" in exchange for the promise to pray for the family's dead relatives. This practice was known as "going a-souling".
In Scotland children, or guisers, would have to impress the occupants of the houses they visit with a song, trick, joke, or dance in order to earn their treats.
In Mexico they celebrate Dia de Los Muertos, otherwise known as the Day of the Dead. This celebration is designed to honor dead ancestors, and runs from October 31 through November 2. This is the time when the dead are believed to walk the earth and return home for a visit. Altars to honor deceased family members are built, decorated with candy, flowers, and samples of favorite foods with a basin of water and towel left out so they can wash up afterwards. Candles or incense are burned to help the dead find their way back home. Families gather at the gravesites on November 2, tidying and decorating the graves before having a picnic to celebrate.
Halloween Superstitions
When you ring a bell on Halloween, it will cause evil spirits to fly away.
If a bat flies into your house, beware! You may have some ghosts or spirits visiting.
If bats fly around your house on Halloween night three times, death is inevitable.
If you’re out walking on Halloween night and you hear footsteps behind you, don’t turn around! It may be Death following you, and if you look him in the eye you’ll hasten your own death.
A person born on Halloween can both see and talk to spirits.
If you happen to see a spider on Halloween then the spirit of a loved one is watching over you.
At one time it was believed that Satan was a nut-gatherer, so, on Halloween night, nuts were used as magic charms.
The burning candle inside a jack-o-lantern keeps evil spirits and demons at bay.
If a candle suddenly goes out by itself on Halloween, it is believed that a ghost has come to call.
Always burn new candles on Halloween to ensure the good luck. If you burn Halloween candles at any other time it can draw strange happenings to you or bring bad luck.
Gazing into a flame of a candle on Halloween night will enable you to peer into the future.
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