November first as All Saints Day, when spirits good and evil were believed to be on earth. The Druids celebrated their harvest festival about the same time. After the pagans adopted Christianity they still observed many of their old customs. This is how our Hallowe’en cus'

toms originated.

In my boyhood this was a simple form of jollification, and af. forded lots of fun, and sometimes a good deal of annoyance. The young folk used the occasion to take unusual liberties with the neigh- bours, and things about their places. All manner of pranks they could play were indulge-d in. Some of these were funny and ridicu‘ lous. Some gave their victims much labour and embarrassment. Gates were taken away and bid, or put on trees or barn roofs, where it was difficult to find them, or get them down. Wheels were taken from carts and hid where in some cases, days were lost searching for them. But as it was a friendly custom these tricks were seldom resented with lasting bad feeling. Parties were in order. The tables were trimmed with amusing pictures: cats, bats, owls, and other laugh- able oddities. We had games and simple contests. One of the cone tests was to get an apple out of a tub of water with one’s teeth. Some times when one made a bite at an apple a mischief-maker gave his head a push down into the water. This had to be taken as part of the fun, but it was trying on a hot temper. It was good discipline in self. control and in helping us play the game of life agreeably and happily.

The Prize in the Mask

Another contest was for a prize hidden in a mash made of pota' toes and turnips. The prize was usually a ring or a piece of money. The mash was well prepared, butter or cream was added to make i1 taste good. A large platter or plate, heaped up with this mash witl the prize hidden in its depths, was placed on the table, and we were provided with forks. When the word was given to begin eating, we started digging for the prize. We all had to eat off the one dish, anc each one had an equal space in which to work. Each had to eat whai mash he dug out. Whoever came across the prize won it. One nigh1 I was at one of these contests, and I had a good appetite as well as at ambition to get the prize. I dug an immense tunnel into the centre

96