Halloween aka ‘All Hallow’e’en’ Fun during the Civil War

Belle Montgomery

2nd Lieutenant
Joined
Oct 25, 2017
Location
44022
Also see my post " *See my post https://civilwartalk.com/threads/halloween-superstitions-of-the-nineteenth-century.151036/for more superstitions.

An early article that described Halloween and its charms was printed in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on October 31, 1865, in which a number of Halloween spells were recounted; also included was a Halloween parody of the "Night Before Christmas."
Amongst the American people but little other sport is indulged in than the drinking by the country folk, of hard cider, and the masticating of indigestible ‘crullers' of ‘doughnuts.' The gamins make use of the festival to batter down panels, dislocate bell wires, unhinge gates, destroying cabbage-patches, and raise a row generally." -Virginia Mescher

Excerpt from the article below -Kate Stone, in her journal, Brokenburn, described some Halloween practices. She wrote in November, 1864, “Some gentlemen called, and we had cards. After they left, Lucy and I tried our fortunes in divers ways as it was ‘Hallow’e’en.’ We tried all magic arts and had a merry frolic, but no future lord and master came to turn our wet garments.”*
*-On Halloween if one was to wet the sleeve of a shirt and hang it to dry in front a fire while lying in bed and watching it till midnight. Supposedly, “the exact apparition of the anxious inquirer’s future partner for life [would] come in and turn the sleeve, as if to dry the other side of it.”- London Evening Standard, “Halloween,” 31 October 1878, p. 2.
The article below left out the rest
(I have the book)
Kate goes on to say:
"There were no ghostly footprints in the meal sprinkled behind the door.
**No bearded face looked over our shoulders as we ate the
apples before the glass. ***No knightly forms of soldiers brave
disturbed our dreams after eating the white of an egg half-filled with salt"
**-“
The love-stricken one has to take a candle and go alone to a looking-glass … when there she has to eat an apple before it and comb her hair. If lucky, she will see the face of her future husband pepping over her shoulder.”Alnwick Mercury, “The Observances of Hallowe’en,” November 4, 1882, p. 2.-Obviously, according to Kate, this superstitious practice was done earlier in 1864.
***If a girl boils and egg and then removes the yolk, filling the empty space with salt. At bedtime, she eats the salted egg, and then she will dream about a man bringing her a pail of water to quench her thirst. This is the man she will marry.

Did people celebrate Halloween during the Civil War? Well, the answer’s complicated. Halloween, ‘All Hallows’ Eve,’ or ‘All Hallow’e’en’ can trace its origins in America back to the mid-1800s, with an influx of Scottish, English and Irish immigrants. These immigrants brought with them their tradition of carving turnips and rutabagas (eventually traded in for the more prevalent—and iconic—North American pumpkin) to ward off evil spirits on the eve of “All Saints Day,” November 1st. This was all eventually paired with other traditional harvest and sugaring season activities, such as corn husking and apple peeling, costumes, and parties. Halloween wasn’t made an official holiday until 1921.
There are few written accounts of Halloween in the United States prior to 1860, but reference to the celebration or activities do occur. *See my post titled "Halloween Superstitions of the Nineteenth Century"
REST OF ARTICLE:https://www.lincolncottage.org/halloween-and-the-civil-war/
 
Last edited:
Back
Top