Jack-o-lanterns
© Alan S. Orling/The New York Times
In an article from Oct. 30, 1892, "Customs From Halloween: An Observance That has Come From Pagan Times," The New York Times described "All Hallow Even or Halloween" as "undoubtedly a relic of pagan times."

The article continues:

Druids were accustomed to kindling sacred fires on the eve of Nov. 1, possibly to ward off evil spirits, as in the popular imagination this has always been considered the high carnival season for witches, fairies and the immaterial principle in humanity to wander abroad.

Supernatural influences prevail and divination by means of mystic ceremonies is at its highest power then.

But the greatest sport of all (In certain parts of England and Ireland), which is indulged now in this country as well, was the diving for apples. It being difficult to bite the bobbing fruit they were usually caught by the stems, or forced to the bottom of the tub and then seized.

The full original article below:
Customs of Halloween: An Observance that Has Come from Pagan Times

Various devices for piercing the veil of futurity - English, Irish, and Scotch experiments - that curious rite performed on the Isle of Lewis.

All Hallow Even or Halloween, which is to-morrow night, is undoubtedly a relic of pagan times. The Druids were accustomed to kindling sacred fires on the eve of Nov. 1, possibly to ward off evil spirits, as in the popular imagination, this has always been considered the high carnival season for witches, fairies, and the immaterial principle in humanity to wander aboard. Supernatural influences prevail and divination by means of mystic ceremonies is at its highest power then.

In certain parts of England and Ireland, they call it Nutorack night, one of the oldest customs still in vogue being as follows: Desiring to ascertain if one's sweetheart is faithful, let each one place a nut upon the grate, naming it after a lover; if the nut cracks or jumps, the swain or maiden is proved false, but if it blazes and burns merrily, he or she loves. If nuts named after a girl and her lover burn together, the pair will be married.

But the greatest sport of all, which is indulged in now in this country as well, was the diving for apples. It being difficult to bite the bobbing fruit, they were usually caught by the stems, or forced to the bottom of the tub and then seized. Some preferred to harpoon them by dropping a fork from above.

Another popular custom was to tie a stick up to the ceiling by a string around the middle, then a lighted candle was stuck on one end and an apple on the other. The stick was rapidly twirled while the merrymakers in turn strove desperately to catch the apple by their teeth (without using the hands) while avoiding the candle.

Implicit reliance was placed upon the results, fancied or real, of peering into the matrimonial future. "Pulling Kale Stalks" was devoutly observed by the Scotch. Couples would go into the field hand in hand, blindfolded; each person was to pull the first stalk that came to hand. The future partner was bound to be stout or slender, short or tall, according to size of stalk selected. The amount of earth clinging to root furnished a suggestion as to dowry or fortune. The taste of the pith indicated the character of the temper. Finally, the stalks were placed in a row over the door, and it was supposed that the Christian names of all those who entered afterward in succession during the evening would be identical with those of the future mates.

Another Scottish observance was that of the "Three Dishes," or "Luggies." Two of these were filled respectively with clean and dirty water; the third was left empty. They were then ranged along the hearth. Each palpitating swain, being blindfolded, advanced in turn and trembling dipped his hand. If it was in clean water, he would surely wed a maiden; if in the foul, a widow; but if, sad fate, he struck the empty one, single blessedness was his doom.

Burns refers to two of these ancient observances in his poem of Halloween:

"The auld guid wife's weal-hoarded nits
Are round an' round divided.
An' monie lads' and lassies' fates'
Are there that night decided.
Some kindle, coothie, side by side
An' burn thegither trimly;
Some start awa, wi' sancy pride.
And jump out-owre the chimile,
Fu'high that night.

...in order, on the clean hearthstone
The luggies three are ranged,
And every time great care is ta'en',
To see them duly changed:
Auld Uncle John, was wedlock's joys
Sin' Mar's year did desire,
Because he gat the toom dish thrice,
He heaved them on the fire
In wrath that night."

The true fortune teller has the following infallible receipts for maidens anxious to question the future: To learn if she will get the man she wishes, wear two lemon peels, one in each pocket, all day: at night rub the four posts of the bedstead carefully before retiring. If happiness is in store for you, the apparition of your intended will appear in a dream and quietly present you with a couple of lemons.

To ascertain if the future husband will be a gentleman, trademan, or traveler, grate a walnut, hazelnut, and nutmeg, and mix together will butter and sugar, in pills; take before going to bed. If golden roseate dreams ensue, you will wed a gentleman; if odd noises and tumults disturb your slumbers your lot will be east with a tradesman, and if thunder and lightning bewilder you it will be, alas! - a traveler.

"Drummers" evidently were not rated highly in those days. Many of these old customs were weird and uncanny to the last degree. When performed in solitude, as was often necessary, spasms of nervous fright sometimes ensued, which frequently developed into insanity.

There was a gruesome observance in Wales called the "Coel Coeth bonfire." When a fire was nearly out, each member of the family would throw a white stone into the ashes, marked for identification. Prayers were said around the dying members, then all retired. In the morning, if any of these stones were missing, the owner could not escape death before another Halloween. Then there was the custom of eating an apple before a glass: the future husband was expected to look over your shoulder in the reflection. The wet shirt sleeve hung before the fire to dry was very popular in Scotland. The owner was to lie awake until midnight, watching for the future partner to come in and turn it.

Burns says, somewhere:

"The last Halloween I was waukin'
My dronkit sark-sleeve as ye ken.
His likeness cam' up the house staukin
And the very gray breeks o'Tam Glen."

It was a general superstition that children born on Halloween possessed mysterious faculties, such as the ability to see and converse with spirits. Scott makes mention of this in The Monastery. Dumb cakes were made of wheat flour and salt. After being kneaded and spread out flat, each girl marked the initials of her name in the cake with a pin. Then it was placed before the fire, the maidens gathering around it in perfect silence. Just after the stroke of 12, the husband of the girl first to be married appeared and pointed to her initials.

The strangest custom of all was that peculiar to the Isle of Lewis - a veritable pagan institution styled the sacrifice to the sea god Shony. The inhabitants assembled in St. Mulvay Church, each man with a peck of malt to be brewed into ale. After a while, one of their number would wade into the sea up to his middle, bearing a cup of ale. Then he invoked the sea god as follows:
"Shony, I give you this cup of ale, hoping that you'll be so kind as to send as plenty of sea ware for enriching our ground the ensuring year."
Forthwith, the libation was thrown into the sea and all returned to the church to worship in silence until a given signal, when the single candle before the altar was extinguished, and everybody adjourned to the fields for singing and dancing and drinking of the ale.