All-Hallows' Eve
Preserved but no longer current.
Many old folklore cus- toms are connected with All-Hallows' Eve (October 31st), such as bobbing for apples, cracking nuts (mentioned in the Vicar o Wakefield), finding by various "tests" whether one's lover is true, etc. Buras's Hallowe'en gives a good picture of Scottish customs; and there is a tradition in Scotland that those born on All-Hallows' Eve have the gift of double sight, and commanding powers over spirits.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “All-Hallows' Eve” mean?
Many old folklore cus- toms are connected with All-Hallows' Eve (October 31st), such as bobbing for apples, cracking nuts (mentioned in the Vicar o Wakefield), finding by various "tests" whether one's lover is true, etc. Buras's Hallowe'en gives a good picture of Scottish customs; and there is a tradition in Scotland that those born on All-Hallows' Eve have the gift of double sight, and commanding powers over spirits.
Is “All-Hallows' Eve” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.