We were sifting through some old Edmonton newspapers and came across a wonderful article entitled "The Story of Hallowe'en".  It was written in the Edmonton Bulletin on Friday, October 31st, 1930, and tells wonderful stories about Halloween's past.

The Story of Hallowe'en

The Goblins will get you if don't watch out For they have had their nut-brown eyes on people ever since the oldest cat and the wisest owl got together and planned a holiday.

Aerial transportation, world courts, tree-sitting marathons and the thousand-and-one other signs of progress haven't been successful in destroying the witchery of a certain black night in late October when witches fly on broomsticks and small boys play a game with doorbells.

Nobody knows how Halloween started. But years and years ago, long before the beginning of Christianity, Halloween fires were glowing in far corners of the earth.

Close upon the lighting of the fires came the belief in ghosts and witches; queer spectres against the moon flying back from Lapland; broomsticks that walked and owls that used their wisdom once a year.

The Druids, who believed that spirits lived in trees and brooks observed Halloween much as we observe Thanksgiving. They held an autumn festival, when they lighted fires in honour of the sun-god, expressing their gratitude for the harvest.

But back of this was a dark shadow that dimmed the light of the red, red flames.

The Druids believed that on this night, the God of Death called together the wicked souls during the past 12 months had been condemned to inhabit the bodies of animals. Small wonder that we still catch our breath when a black cat turns his lantern-green eyes our way.

The Romans, a little more civilized, followed a somewhat similar custom. On November 1, they held a festival in honour of Pomana, expressing thankfulness for the purple grapes the crimson apples and the golden grains in which their colourful souls delighted.

Apple ducking and the burning of chestnuts began at this time. Another custom, no longer used, originated some place in Wales in the dust-covered years of antiquity.

When the fire had burnt down, stones were collected, named for the members of the group and placed in the embers. Next morning a searcli was made for them.

If a stone belonging to a certain member had disappeared the others shook their heads and started to collect for a funeral wreath. For they believed that he who lost his stone, wouldn't be alive to name another one the next year.

Just where the custom started of walking down the cellar stairs backwards, with a lighted candle in one hand and a mirror in the other, hopefully expecting to meet your future husband's reflection in the looking glass, no books tell. And a girl sees anyone she usually doesn't tell, either.

Once upon a time in the highlands of Scotland, people believed that if a man put a spoonful of salt in his mouth, drank no water, and walking down the road in silence until he came to a place where three crossroads met, and then set very still on a three legged stool at midnight, after a while a voice would mention of a neighbour who was to die during the year.

The man then picked up a three legged stool and went running down the road to tell the news. The doomed man didn't have a chance. The neighbours started to inquire about his health. The minister asked his favourite text and made suggestions about the proper way to die. His wife measured him for his shroud. As a result, very often the prophesy came true.

OVER in Scotland, even now, housewives empty thimbles of salt on every breakfast plate at night on Halloween. If the salt falls out of the shape on any plate, it is taken as a sign that there is going to be a vacant chair at that table before that year passes.

Girls in Scotland often eat salt cakes and go to bed without talking or drinking water, believing that their future husband will appear to them in their sleep.

The Irish make a stew on Halloween, mixing mashed potatoes, parsnips and chopped onions with other vegetables. Then a ring is buried in it. Sometimes a coin is put in, too.

The person who will find ring will be married within a year, or if he is already married will be lucky. The one draws the coin will be wealthy. If a thimble had also entered the pottage, its finder might buy a radio and settle down to get his thrills by way of air, as it is sign of bachelordom or spinsterhood.

HALLOWEEN is observed in Canada in a spirit of revelry today.

But once upon a time it was a serious, sacred occasion. So if a black cat crosses your path, an owl hoots suddenly, or the strange shadow falls on the floor, remember that this is the twentieth century - and be your generation!

For access to the actual newspaper please see this link: The Story of Hallowe'en