3Pc. Nurse Outfit W/Stethoscope & Head Piece X-LARGE WHITEHalloween, which originated in Ireland, is celebrated on the last day of October, when, according Christian tradition, the spirits of the dead return to the earth. All demarcation between the mortal world and the world of the dead is obliterated. People, with salt sprinkled in their hair dress up as ghosts and goblins, to blend with the supernatural creatures. They participate in various rituals, which are deeply rooted in Halloween myths.
A myth is a story, which has its roots in the traditional beliefs of a certain culture. The rituals followed during Halloween owe their origin to weird Halloween myths and are still strongly believed by many.
Fire, an important part of Halloween celebration, is believed to act as a deterrent to evil spirits. People light huge bonfires and make merry till the flames subside and it is around its embers that the real fun begins. Most of these rituals have originated from the belief that the night would present the future.
It is believed that by keeping a silver sixpence and a rosemary herb under her pillow a maiden would dream of her future husband. If she carries a broken egg in a glass to a spring and mixes some spring water in it then she would be able to see the reflection of her future husband and children in the water. The "looking glass spell "is another Halloween myth, which encourages a young girl to stand candle in hand before a mirror and eat an apple. She believes that in due time the face of her future husband will be reflected in the mirror.
Another ancient ceremony which still remains in Scotland is "pulling the Kate'. Young girls and boys, with closed eyes, set out to pull the first Kate or cabbage they touch. Its shape and size hints at appearance of their prospective spouses. Any earth clinging to the roots signifies money and the taste of the heart of the Kate indicates the nature of their prospective partner. To foresee results of wooing, two hazelnuts, named after the boy and the girl, are thrown into the fire and the nature of burn is observed.
Not all myths regarding Halloween have happy connotations. Some are pretty scary. The saying goes that if you hear footsteps behind you on a Halloween night and commit the mistake of looking back then you are doomed. The practice of hanging the "jack-o-lantern" or carved and lit pumpkin to ward of evil spirit can be traced back to the Halloween myth of the greedy farmer, who having duped the devil with crosses was condemned to roam the world with a lit turnip. as Hell too turned him out. One is sure to spy a witch in the sky if he dons his clothes inside out and walks backward on Halloween night.
The appearance of a bat thrice in the house on Halloween is viewed as a precursor of death.
Rituals involving death, magic and supernatural elements, which are deeply rooted in Halloween myths, are looked upon as harmless sports in countries like England and America but in Scotland they still retain their superstitious nature.
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