Exploring Irish Halloween: From Fortune Telling Games to Age-Old Superstitions
Halloween is more than just costumes and candy; it's a festival with ancient roots in Celtic and Irish traditions. In this blog, we'll explore the known and lesser-known rituals, games, and superstitions that have shaped this beloved holiday. Let's uncover the hidden meanings behind some of these olden Halloween customs.
Games and Fortune-Telling Rituals
The Celts were keen on discovering their future spouses, and many games were centered around this quest. Below are some of the early and present day traditions.
Bobbing for Apples and Snap Apple
Apple bobbing is a well-known Halloween game. But did you know it has deep roots in Celtic tradition? Each floating apple represents a potential mate. Young women would aim to bite the apples named after the young men they were interested in. The number of tries it took to get the apple would predict the future of the relationship.
First Try: A sign of a successful, blossoming relationship.
Second Try: Initial sparks will fly, but the relationship won't last.
Third Try: A bad omen; the relationship is doomed.
Now in Ireland, "snap apple" is more popular. Apples are suspended from strings, and blindfolded players try to bite them with their hands tied behind their backs. The game is often played by unmarried people to predict who will be the next to marry. It was thought that if you placed the apple under your pillow the same night, you would dream of your future lover.
Nut Cracking
Two nuts, named after a boy and a girl, are placed on a hob of a range or near a fire. Observing their behavior would predict their future:
Hopping: The couple will marry but will always fight.
Falling Off: The couple will break up before marriage.
Staying Still: A happy, lasting marriage is in the cards.
Cabbage Picking
Blindfolded women would pull up the first cabbage they found in a field. The amount of earth attached to the roots indicates the future spouse's wealth. Eating the cabbage would reveal whether the future husband would be bitter or sweet.
Colcannon
This dish of mashed potatoes, kale, and onions was more than just a tasty treat! Coins wrapped in clean paper were hidden within the dish, symbolizing future wealth for the children who found them.
Barmbrack
This fruitcake is an edible fortune-teller. Objects like a ring, coin, or cloth are baked into the cake. If you happen to receive a slice containing any of these, they could foretell your future life events such as marriage, wealth, or poverty.
Protective Measures and Superstitions
On Halloween (Samhain), the Celts felt the need to protect themselves against malevolent forces while the veil between worlds was believed to be at its thinnest. We explore some of these measures below.
Bonfires
Bonfires during Samhain serve multiple purposes: they mark the end of the harvest season, ward off evil spirits and future misfortune, and usher in the colder months. Communities would gather around these large fires for protection and celebration. In some traditions, embers from the communal bonfire were used to reignite fires in individual homes for good luck. Today, while the practice has evolved, bonfires remain a cherished part of Irish Halloween celebrations, particularly in rural areas where people come together to enjoy music and drinks around the fire.
Other Bonfire Superstitions:
Villagers believed that herding cattle between two bonfires brings good luck.
Dropping a cutting of your hair into the bonfire was believed to encourage dreams of your future loved one.
Jack-o'-Lanterns and Costumes
Jack-o'-lanterns are used to ward off evil spirits like Stingy Jack, while costumes help to blend in or ward off evil spirits and fairies. Visit our previous blogs for more details on these traditions (linked above)!
Anti-Fairy Measures
In Irish folklore, fairies and goblins roam the earth on Halloween night, collecting souls. Various protective measures include:
Holy Water and Dead Ember: Children in the house should be sprinkled with holy water, and in ancient times, a dead ember would also be placed in their cribs for added protection.
Metal Implements: Carrying a black-handled knife or having a steel needle stuck in your coat collar or sleeve can protect against being stolen away by fairies.
Wild Fruit Warning: Avoid eating wild fruit like blackberries on Halloween, as they are believed to be tainted by the devil spirit Púca.
Throwing Water: If you are throwing water out into the yard, always shout "seachain" (beware, in Irish, pronounced SHOCK-in) or "chughaibh" (water towards you, pronounced KHOO-iv). This is to warn any spirits or fairies who might be nearby so the water does not hit them. Annoying them could bring their wrath upon you.
Throwing Dust: It is believed that dust that has been in contact with a human carries some form of life essence or spiritual energy that can repel supernatural beings. As a last-ditch defense, flinging dust from beneath your feet at a fairy can offer protection during an unexpected encounter with these supernatural beings.
Offering Food: Before going to bed, it's customary to place a small portion of dinner outside the house for the fairy folk. Your hospitality will be noted, and perhaps they will stay away this Halloween.
The Parshell Cross
Specifically made on Halloween, the small cross, known as a "Parshell," is placed above the front door on the inside of the house. This cross is woven from straw and sticks and is believed to protect the household against bad luck, sickness, curses, and mischievous fairies until the next Halloween. When taking down the old Parshell, the phrase "Fan istigh ar an Sídhe" (pronounced Fawn ish-tee ar on Shee) is traditionally said, which means "Stay inside on account of the fairies." The old cross is often moved to another part of the house or even placed in the barn to protect livestock.
As we've seen, Halloween is much more than just a night of costumes and candy; it's a holiday steeped in ancient traditions and folklore. From games that predict future spouses to rituals that ward off evil spirits, the Celts and the Irish have contributed significantly to the Halloween we know today. So, the next time you bob for an apple or light a bonfire, remember the rich history and cultural significance behind these seemingly simple acts. Happy Halloween from all of us at Saints and Scholars!