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 screeches and their glassy stare are said to be an omen of death and disaster.
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.
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
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 collapsed 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 candles 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 children's 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 emergency 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 research that children were told to wear their jackets inside out on Halloween night to confuse spirits... who knows?
Article Resources
New Standard Encyclopedia
Secrets of the New Age from Bell Publishing Company 1989
Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits by Rosemary Ellen Guiley.
