"Stand in front of a mirror in a dimly lighted room and eat an apple. If your lover reciprocates your love he will appear behind you, look over your right shoulder and ask for a piece of apple."
Someone could easily say that the above lines are taken from a modern guide of how to cast a spell. The truth is that they refer to Burns' famous poem "Halloween", written back in 1785. There, he gives a fascinating insight into some of the ancient customs and beliefs related to that time of the year, mainly relying on stories and tales narrated to him when he was a child.
Halloween, celebrated on the last day of October, marks the last day of the year on the ancient Celtic calendar and it was a night when witches and warlocks were supposed to reign in Scotland. In Christian times, the feast was renamed into "the Eve of All Saints". The poem is living proof that a lot of the Halloween beliefs and traditions managed to remain almost untouched from the pre-Christian era to the Christian one.
On Halloween, there was a general desire to discover what's in store for the future. According to Burns, "The passion of prying into futurity makes a striking part of the history of human nature in its rude state, in all ages and nations". The charms and spells described here are only an indication of the principal charms and spells of that night, so big with prophecy to the peasantry in the west of Scotland.
The story takes place on the romantic shores of Ayr, at a farmer's fireside, and the main heroes are the whole household, including supernumerary reapers and bandsmen about to be discharged from the engagements of harvest.
In any case, the poem creates a lively and striking picture of the superstitious observances of old Scotland and presents the heroes enjoying Halloween. And maybe this is the message we should keep. Just make sure you stay away from unwrapped candy, stalks of corn and hempseed.
...As for Burns, he can definitely bewitch his readers. No need for candles, stones and magic wands!
You can read the full poem with a translation to Standard English here
« Go back.