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Halloween

(From Page 34)

pea ranee in death, the priesta saw omens foretelling the

future.

DID THE4R omens foretell the Druid demise? Caesar conquered Gaul»'tind Britain and made it part of the Roman Empire, and subsequent Roman rulers outlawed human sacrifice and cut down the Dhiids’ sacred oak groves. They forbade the practice of the Druid religion as well and banished or killed many of the priests. Roman festivals, like the November harvesf festival honoring Pomona, goddess of fruit, blended \^h Samhain. Apples and nuts, not human beings, wergpiffered to Pomona. Nevertheless, many Druid customs lived on for hundreds of years until Christianity became a force in that corner of the world—and even beyond. Christianity gave Hallowe'en its name, if not its customs. In 835, Pope Gregory IV established the first day of November in the Christian calendar as All Saints' Day, or Allhallows. The festival honors all of the Christian saints and rqartyrs, known and unknown Oct. 31 is Allhallows Even (Eve), shortened to Hallowe’en. It was likely no accident that the very day chosen to honor Christian saints was the Druid Samhain. Old gods and beliefs are not willingly surrendered. The Christian church adopted the policy of incorporating what it considered harmless pagan folkways in an effort to win over the folk. New branches were thus grafted onto the old Druid Oak. In the Middle Ages, however, church opposition to nonChristian practices stiffened. In response, witchcraft and satanlc cults spread throughout Europe In defiance of the church. On Halldfte’en, especially, the witches and warlocks gathered in eerie rites at sabbaths to mock the festival of All Saints. The first execution for witchcraft in New England was not, as might be believed, in Salem, Mass., but in Hartford, Conn., where Alse Young was hanged on May 26, 1647. From the first settlement to the end of the 17th century, 34 people died as a result of the witchcraft persecutions in New England. The Salem witchcraft trials began in February 1692 and ended in January 1693, having claimed 22 lives. More than 400 others, including John Alden of Boston, 70-year-old son of the Priscilla and John Alden of Plyhiouth, were accused but survived the ordeal. In the end, a trial judge, a group of jurymen and one of the accused recanted. A short and unhappy chapter in American history was near its close. If the Puritans brought an abiding belief in witchcraft to America, they didn't bring Hallowe’en. The Puritans rejected church holidays such as Allhallows and would have branded the boisterous antics of the folk holiday as the work of the Devil. However, other English colonists kept old world Hallowe’en customs like apple ducking and telling ghost stories. Hallowe’en became a nationally observed holiday in America only after the great Irish and Scottish immigration in the mid-19th century. These newcomers brought their Hallowe’en celebration as a bonus—a Hallowe'en treat. Americans learned to play games of divination with the apples and nuts of Pomona's festival. Hallowe’en partygoers bobbed for apples to find out if love were true, tossed apple peelings over their shoulders to ^ead in their shapes the initials of future husbands and placed seeds on their palms to tell fortunes. Couples carefully watched blazing nuts in the fire; if a pair of nuts burned to ashes together, a couple could expect a happy life, but if they crackled or flew opart, quarrels and separation were in the offing. After 2,000 years, people were still looking for omens in the fire. THE IRISH and Scottish brought a bagful of Hallowe’en tricks as well—some of them the shadowy survivals of Druid rites. In the late 1800s, Hallowe'en pranks reached new highs—goblins and evil spirits were blamed for buggies on the roofs, front gates in the treetops and overturned outhouses—and new lows, as teachers found snakes Instead of apples in their desk drawers. At the turn of the century, young people built bonfires, rang doorbells repeatedly, threw unmentionable objects in front halls a»d flour in people’s faces Inevitably, civic conscience reared its righteous head. Communities all over America started \6 organize Hallowe’en. By the 1930s, Hallowe'en ha<f become a regular safe and sane epidemic. Los Angelti. naturally, offered dramatic events at its playgrounds. Chicago's municipal playground regulations required directors to provide games, costumes and a big bonfire. With barely an autumn leaf in sight, Miami Beach presented its annual Hallowe'en Frolic. , Druing World War II, the Army warned Hallowe'en celebrants off city streets. Jack-o’-lanterns violated the dim-outs. Revelers might be taken for saboteurs. Today, in spite of new urban dangers, costumed figures are back on city streets ih full force—but with a difference. In the last few years, the pint-sized witches and ghosts have been joined by lots of grown-ups. Major thoroughfares of such citids as New York, Boston, Washington. D.C., and San Francisco have swelled with adults staging impromptu Hallowe'en parades. "Hallowe’en is no longer Just for kids,folklorist Santino says.. "In some urban areas, Hallowe’en is becoming very much an adult holiday." "Hallowe’en gets bigger and bigger each year, even in the recession,” Kensington, Md., costumer Genevieve Showalter says. "It costs, on the average, $50 to rent a costume for a night, but by close of business on Hallowe'en, I’m cleaned out of Clcopalras, Jddy Garlands. Southern belles, riverboat gamblers and Roman soldiers.'\ For children and adults alike, Hallowe'en today is Jusl for fun In spite of it's frightening beginnings. Certainly, no one believes in witches, goblins, ghosts or other super natural creatures anymore. Well, perhaps only in fairies. Et Tu. E.T.?

(Ink Mendelsohn is a writer for the Smithsonian News

Service.)

Mews Notes from The Cape Mays Dolly Stango

IT’S CALLED "Donut Haven", open at 7:30 a.m., waiting to serve you a Continental breakfast. It's an all year-round delicious little shop located on Carpenter’s Lane, next to Stumpo’s Pizzeria. Joseph Rlederer is the proprietor and he's ever so anxious to satisfy your "sweet tooth" with sticky buns, donuts, muffins of all kinds, blueberry et al, fruit nut roll, Danish, and whatever else suits your fancy. Tell it to Joe and he’ll have it all ready for you. All are home-made with orders taken for pies and special cakes for all occasions.

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CAPE MAY RESCUE Squad Auxiliary is at it again! This time its president, Julie Cinder, along with her sisters offering a Baked Ham Luncheon, Thursday, Oct. 28 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Kiwanis Club House, Beach n drive. Cape May. Donation

readers forum

is $3.50 ...all proceeds going to the Cape May Rescue Squad for whatever it is they need in the Way of equipment and supplies. Want to make a reservation for a group* of your , family or friends? It’s Julie Ginder at 884-3848 and a table Will be set aside for your particular needs No matter what, please ■do patronize the Cape May Rescue Squad Auxiliary in its dedicated attempts to raise money for our own Rescue Team. • • • • AT THE VICTORIAN Towers there’s a special program in the honor of the late Charles Quinn, noted dancer, musician, and first-rate Bridge player

who resided in West Cape May up to his demise. His friends have not forgotten Charles. He was usually. the first to offer his talents, no matter what the cause might be. Bernadette Gabriel and Catherine Dwyer are both singing a special assortment of songs dedicated especially to Charles Quinn’s memory.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ^Suzanne Smeltzcr of Cape May City Hall... also to Sheila Hollander and

Charles Bernard...

Cape May Point's Commissioner Ed Jarvis is proudly awaiting the dedication of one of the Point’s buildings Saturday, Nov. 6. Plans arc underway and more will be aald^bobt the

particulars here. \

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EVERY ONCE in a while another beautiful voice comes out of the blue — so meone you never even knew could sing. In this instance it’s Pauline Burke of West Cape May Indeed it's surely a lovely voice and pleasing to the ear. Newly appointed ' secretary of the Altar and Rosary Society of Our l.ody Star of the Sea Church, Cape May, is Marie Roeifrenheck Retiring

(From Page 34) When you come to the brook on your way out, do stop! Look around! There are Magnolia trees and Royal ferns and Cinnamon. That big Cedar, partially gnawed through, we call "The Beaver Tree.” They’ve been working on it for 10 years! I know if they stuck at it it would have fallen long ago, but evidently they can’t quite decide whether to fell it or not. Skim a few stones in the brook. Choose flat ones and use an underhand toss and they'll dance on the surface and you’ll feel very accomplished. The meadow ride is wonderfully soothing to one’s nerves and never have we traveled it without knowing how fortunate we are to be privileged to sec so many of God’s wonders so close to home. (Clare Campbell is a freelance write and poet.)

secretary isj Mary White who has served diligently. BEST STKKYBUNS are still those taade by Bea Lanzi (mother of former Cape May {Mayor Frank Gauvry). She’ll gladly give you the recipb too, or better still, invite yhu over and let you watch aji she produces the finest. Just yummy. GET WEJf WISHES to Granville ■•||cte" Stile* of Cape May, who is now hospitalized, j and all good wishes are going his way for a speedy recovery To Mary Weinberger too! All good wishes for a short

hospital stay!

Restaurant Contract l,et

ELWOOD — The Commissioners of the New Jersey Expressway Authority have awarded the contract Ifor renovation and constnjction of expanded rjestaurant facilities at '.lie Farley Service Plaza to Arthur Roberts In c , o f Hammontonj v Clyde D. Fear, executive director, said work on the project* should take about four monlh<| for complc tion. The new facility will have a fast-food service format, replbring the less efficient cafeteria service.

. » The mortgage specialists want to help you build your horr from scratch this winter. Now available:

16

i3Va% home mortgages

for new construction t property owners off Cape May county* - 1 ' 1 ) This is a limited fund offer on accepted frioltgages, ’ and restricted to approved construction which must be commenced before Dec. 31,1982 and completed before June 30,1983. Annual interest rate of 13’/!% and 2 points will be effective for 2 years or until Dec. 31,1984. During that period, monthly payments of interest only will be made based upon amount disbursed to applicant. Effective with payment due Jan. 1,1985, borrower will be offered a 25 year mortgage at' the then current . rate and. policy of Cape May County Savings & loan Association. At atlme when mortgages rates are raising the roof, Cape May county Savings & Loan Is helping to floor them with a 1S’/i% Interest, limited fund, if you're ready, we re ready to deliver. Together we ll build your future fh T r hon i l ^ u l :» " Cape May County Savings & Loan A '. ,''i ■ Mum Office ’ *< vi'i’.r .!n»V’, ui m 4 •«' ]• ■ Drive m . v • * • v i, ■• •• nrknrnr \ /«> M'iVin V Cato w»v HMOWW < HOI *«• W'"iwv'l ,1V ' ‘•i . ,- .... .•••* . VNtrffVa V.I'rtKlM t<M4Vm Astmry Ayr ’ i ifif.'y . •

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•Pci,ites to smcjir family and duplex residences No mortqaqes 10 exceed 07 r >000 00 on 'iryiir 5100,00000 on duplex residences Amount loaned will be a-maitonim of 70 ■ of value of land building as determined by our appraisal ^ *

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