HALLOWEEN - Ancient Superstitions and Rituals

Whilst researching my book AROMATHERAPY & HERBALISM - the complete home user's guide I came across some of the most outlandish and the most believed superstitions. I would like to share a few superstitions/rituals about HALLOWEEN:

* To ward off evil on Halloween you should walk around your home three times clockwise and three times counterclockwise
* To see a spider on Halloween means it is a relative returning from the dead to check on you
* Knives were hidden on Halloween night so that returning spirits would not come to any harm
* If you place a turnip on your gatepost on Halloween then no evil spirits can harm you or your home
* Originally children would ask for food (soulcakes) and money when they went from door to door-for every cake a prayer was said for the dead
* If a bat flies around your house on Halloween it is a death omen
* Trick or Treat came from the ancient idea that you must be nice to your deceased ancestors on Halloween or they will play a trick on you
* Single girls should scatter hempseed in a field on Halloween night and they will dream of their future husband
* Light a candle to remember your departed loved ones on Halloween night
* If the flame of a candle goes out on Halloween then you are in the company of a ghost
* People used to lock up their cats on Halloween as an elf could travel on your cats back into your home and create havoc
* In ancient times a person always rang a bell (not a doorbell) which would ward off evil spirits for the entire year
* If you see an Owl diving then he/she is coming to take your soul away
* To see a black cat on Halloween is very good luck for the next year
* To see a white cat on Halloween is very bad luck for the next year

Hope you enjoy!
ROCHELLE MOORE
METAPHYSICAL AUTHOR