Symbols

Bats Because they fly only at night and live in tombs and abandoned churches, bats are believed to be an omen of evil. They are commonly associated with witches and vampires. It is superstition that witches and vamps can take the form of a bat. The vampire bat is the only mammal that feeds on blood so it is no wonder they are linked to death and occult rituals.

Witches Witches have long been a source of fascination for many. Witches are thought to be tellers of fortune and to cast spells, both good and bad. This frightened many because it was believed that supernatural powers were strongest on Halloween night. The implication of being a witch has greatly changed throughout the centuries. Thoughts of old wrinkled green skinned hags, with grey stringy hair and a wart are what many think of. Others think of witchcraft and the negative propaganda associated with it. A more realistic view of the modern witch is a socially conscience individual who practices Wicca and is proud to be considered a Pagan. In the Wiccan religion, the word witch means wise one.

Broomsticks Witches and broomsticks go hand in hand. They have been associated for centuries. Often witches are depicted riding them across the night sky with a black cat on the end. A more reasonable explanation may be that Halloween festivities happened during the rainy season. Women used their brooms to vault over the puddles and large amounts of water. As well, during the Witch's Sabbath, they performed a jumping dance while straddling the broom, using it to vault higher. It was thought that the higher the jumps, the higher the crop growth because in ancient time, the broom was thought to symbolize fertility.

Jack-O-Lanterns Traditionally on All Hallows Eve, jack-o-lanterns were placed on porches and in windows, in hopes that Jack, the nasty Irishman that the lantern is named for (see Jack-O-Lantern history page), would take the light if needed instead of bothering anyone. The pumpkin jack-o-lantern has been an essential part of Halloween celebrations since the Victorian days and today is a universal symbol of Halloween.

Owls Superstitions suggest that owls ate the souls of the dying by swooping to earth. Owl screetches and their glassy stare are an omen of death and disaster. The owl is scarcely seen during the day and is affiliated with night behaviors.

Black Cats Cats have been considered by many to be spiritual animals. They have been worshiped in many societies and are thought to have the ability to sense good and bad spirits. Western superstitions would have us believed that black cats have special powers, that they can represent spirits or even incarnated humans, thereby linking black cats to occultism. On Easter and Shrove Tuesday during the Middle Ages, black cats were routinely hunted down and burned. Cats accused of being witches' familiars were generally burned alive. The colour black is also commonly linked to the dark realm.

Ghosts & Skeletons Ghosts are universal symbols for the departed. Skeletons and bones are symbols of death and the shortness of life. Samhain is the festival of the dead, so it seems fitting that ghosts and skeletons would be used. It was thought that on this night of the year, the dead roamed the earth freely in their passage to the hereafter.

Spiders & Webs While many nature/earth centered cultures feel that the spider and web represent the weaving of life, in reference to Halloween, they represent dark, spooky places and haunted houses long forgotten.

Masks A mask is a whole or partial cover for the face. The use of masks dates back to man's earliest history. Symbolic masks were devised to be worn during ceremonies of many ancient peoples. Druids wore masks on Halloween to ward off evil spirits, witches, goblins and ghosts. One of the most commonly recognized types of masks is the false face. It represents another person or creature and made usually of papier-mache or plastic. It is most commonly worn on such occasions as Halloween and Marti Gras.

Superstitions

What is a superstition? My New Standard Encyclopedia explains it as an irrational belief that usually involves a way of explaining the fearful or unknown. Superstitions include beliefs in luck, magical words, charms, incantations and spells; in fortunes revealed by the stars cards and dreams; and in cures such as "witches brew" and strange potions.

Halloween has traditionally been a time for marriage divination games, fortune telling and petty pranks.

ANIMALS

Bats - It is a death omen if a bat flies around a house 3 times. Ghosts are about if a bat flies into your house. Good weather is ahead if bats come out early and fly around playfully.

Black Cats - In North America, it's bad luck if a black cat crosses your path and good luck if a white cat crosses your path. In Britain and Ireland, the opposite is believed. Certain bones on the cat are believed to have the power to make wishes come true, or to make one invisible when used in potions. If a cat jumps over a dead body, the corpse will become a vampire. To reverse this process, kill the cat. (I do not advocate harming animals and this is only a list of superstitions. Please do not harm cats because they are rarely around dead bodies and vampires in the classic horror sense do not exist. You shouldn't harm living things anyway... sicko! Thank you!)

Owls - Lore tells that owls ate the souls of the dying by swooping to earth on Halloween. Owl screetches and their glassy stare are said to be an omen of death and disaster.

Birds - If a crow, jackdaw, or raven croak over any person, it denotes evil of a serious nature. Magpie sightings mean you will hear news soon. Pigeons flying into a home that is not theirs, is an omen of sickness. Resting on abed means death is certain.

Fowl and Livesock - Cocks greeting you or crowding around your home means you will soon encounter visitors and success in your journey and business. Meeting a hare, mog or mule is an ill omen. If you meet an ass (donkey) expect trouble. Meeting sheep or goats denotes prosperity in your affairs.

BAD LUCK (General)

To break a mirror is seven years bad luck.

Walking under an open ladder is dangerous but also bad luck

Stepping on sidewalk cracks is bad luck. "Step on a crack, break your momma's back."

Opening an umbrella indoors is not only unecessary but bad luck as well.

If you spill salt, throw a pinch over your shoulder to ward off bad luck.

The #13 is reported to be bad luck. Ever wonder why tall buildings have no Floor 13?

Some say making a decision on Friday is bad luck. Any Friday or just the 13th? I have no answer to this one.

Knocking on wood keeps bad luck away.

It is unlucky to pick up an odd glove on the street.

BIRTH

Halloween babies can see and talk to spirits. It is thought that children in general can see ghosts and spirits.

Halloween babies will enjoy lifelong protection against evil spirits.

Halloween babies have the gift of second sight.

The day of the week in which you were burn will be the most fortunate day for you.

Most people regard the #13 as unlucky. Ironically, it is said that a child born on the 13th of the month will be fortunate and happy, as well as being skilled in arts and sciences.

CHARMS

Finding a four leaf clover is good luck.

Insure good luck by nailing a horseshoe over your front door.

Rabbit feet are suppossed to be good luck.

At Halloween, nuts were used as magic charms.

FAIRIES

Do not sit under a Hawthorn tree on Halloween if you do not want to be enchanted or carried away by fairies.

Anyone throwing out water should call out 'Seachain' (beware) to warn fairies and ghosts to get out of the way to avoid being splashed.

FORTUNE

In a group, peel an apple in a continuous motion. The person with the longest unbroken peel is assured the longest life.

Your future will be disclosed to you if you look into the well at 11 am on Halloween Day.

All family members should put an ivy leaf without spot or stain into a glass of water overnight. If the leaf is still spotless in the morning, the person is assured of life for another year but if the leaf has spots on it, the person who put it in the water will die within one year.

All family members should fill a thimble full of salt and turn it upside down on a plate. In the morning, the member with the colapsed salt stack is not expected to live through the next year.

GHOSTS & THE DEAD

To release a person from ghost possession, throw dust from your footprint at them.

If a candle flame suddenly turns blue, there's a ghost nearby.

Seeing a spider on Halloween means that the spider could be the spirit of a deceased loved one who is watching you.

Bury animal bones or a picture of a loved animal near the doorway to keep ghosts from entering your home on Halloween.

Place cornmeal at the side of a child's bed and ghosts will write the name of the future sweetheart.

MARRAIGE

The first person to bite an apple while bobbing for apples will be the first to marry.

It was said that if a girl put a spring of Rosemary and a sixpence under her pillow on Halloween, her future husband will reveal himself to her in a dream.

If a young person eats a raw or roasted salt herring before going to bed, the future spouse will appear in a dream and offer a drink of water.

Peel an apple in a continuous strip. When is falls to the floor, it will reveal the letter of a future husband.

Sweep the stack around the base of a corn stack with a broom three times. On the third time around, your future partner will appear or their name will be spoken aloud.

Blindfolded girls were sent out in pairs to the fields to pull the first cabbage they could find. It was suppossed to reveal things about their future husbands. If there was much 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 whether the man would have a sweet or sour disposition.

Dropping nail and hair cuttings into the last embers of the fire was used as a powerful charm to induce a dream of a future spouse.

To find out your future husband, stand in front of a mirror, light two candles, brush your hair and eat an apple. The ghost of your future husband is supposed to appear in the mirror.

If a young woman places an egg in front of the fire and it sweats blood, she will capture the heart of the man she loves.

Catch a snail on Halloween night and place it on a flat dish. In the morning you will see the first letter of your future sweetheart written in snail's slime.

Seeing a flight of birds on the way to your wedding foretells many children.

REMEDY

Cure leprosy and the plague by swallowing a spider rolled in butter. What?

Cure a toothache by spitting into a frog's mouth and ask it to carry the pain away. Didn't they tell us girls to kiss frogs to get a prince too? Whatever.

WARD OFF EVIL

Scare evil away by ringing a bell on Halloween.

Walking around your home three times backwards and counterclockwise before sunset on Halloween will ward off evil.

Oatmeal and salt were placed on childrens' heads to protect them from evil.

Place a jack-o-lantern on your porch or in your window to frighten evil spirits away but to welcome deceased loved ones on Halloween.

WEATHER

It is said that Full Moons on any night will cause irrational and fevered behavior in many individuals. Many emergancy workers in hospitals will tell you that all the loonies come out on full moon nights.

A clear moon on Halloween means fine weather ahead. Clouds racing across the face of the moon mean storms are on the way.

The wind at midnight indicates the prevailing wind for the coming season.

Don't look at your shadow in the moonlight or you'll be the next plot in the family graveyard.

Whatever is dreamed on the day of the new moon will be pleasing to the dreamer.

A child born within 24 hours of the new moon will be fortunate and live to an old age.

WITCHES

Put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards on Halloween night to meet a witch. This is an odd one because I read in my reseach that children were told to wear their jackets inside out on Halloween night to confuse spirits... who knows?

Witches are believed to be shape shifters, changing into cats and bats