Divination & Fortune-Telling in Robert Burns "Hallowe'en".

Image:"Dooking for Apples" in The Book of Days: A Miscellany of Popular Antiquities (1832).

Robert Burns, "Hallowe'en" (1785) is considered my many to be a work that helped to solidify the festivities of All Hallows Eve in Scotland (Nicholas, 2002,38). Burns poem forms part of a corpus of 18th century Scots poems that describe the customs and activities that Scots engaged in during Halloween night. These include: Robert Fergusson, "Hallow-Fair" (1772), John Mayne, "Halloween" (1780), and Janet Little, "On Halloween" (1792). Valentine Bold notes that what these poems tell us about Halloween in the Scottish context is that 'this is a time of misrule which lends itself to narrative relish as a storytelling occasion' and it should be viewed as a time 'both scary and fun and above all, fosters a renewed sense of community' (2009, 61-62).

According to scholars of Scottish literature, Burns was inspired by Mayne's work and there are many similarities between the two works. Of interest to this discussion are his numerous references to fortune-telling and divination practices mentioned by Burns throughout the poem. This is hardly surprising given Burns had a long held interest in folklore and the supernatural. Corey E. Andrews explains that the 'poem teems with rich, often confusing detail about these folk practices' and to aid the reader, 'Burns meticulously explains these customs by using footnotes throughout' the poem (2012, 25). The preservation of these Scottish practices by Burns has been acknowledged by David J. Skal who contents that the poem should be viewed as a 'valuable historical document' (2002, 25). So what are the practices that Burns describes in his footnotes?

Nut Burning

This tradition is believed to help couples know how successful their relationship will be. Two nuts are placed on a fire. If they burn evenly and quietly together the couple will have a happy future together. But if the nuts crack, jump apart, or hiss, this is a sign that a turbulent future is predicted.

Kale Pulling

Young, single people looking for love are blindfolded and enter the kale patch. They must pull the first stalk of kale they come to and then inspect the size. shape and even the root of the stalk which will tell them the height and stature of their true love. If earth sticks to the root it may indicate fortune. Tasting the stalk and its flavour will indicate the natural temper and disposition of the true love.

The "Three Luggies" Charm

Three luggies (dishes) are placed on the hearth, one with clean water, one with dirty water, and one left empty. A blindfolded person dips their left hand into one of the luggies. If they chose the clean water it predicts marriage to an available bachelor or maid. If they chose the dirty water, they will marry a widow/widower. However, if they touch the empty luggie then no marriage will ever occur. The luggies are rearranged before each turn is taken.

Winnowing the corn with a Wecht

A wecht is a winnowing instrument. The person takes the wecht and pretends to winnow corn three times. It is said that on the third time of winnowing the appariation of their future betrothed will appear to them.

Fathoming a Bear Stack

A person enters a barley stack and measures it three times with outstretched arms. On the third and final time the appearance of their future spouse is caught in their arms.

Mirror and Apple Ritual

In a candlelit room at midnight while alone, the person sits in front of a mirror and eats an apple. Some traditions say that you should comb your hair continuously while consuming the apple. Once the apple has been consumed, the face of their future spouse should appear in the mirror.

That all these practices are intended to aid in finding true love is in-keeping with the ideas found in all the poems mentioned above that Halloween is a time for the young, a time for fun and party games. In the poem these practices are viewed as entertainment rather than serious practices of divination or fortune-telling. They are a window into the past, to the folk traditions of old that were practiced on Halloween night and enjoyed by those who participated.

Kirsty Pattison

Sources:

• Andrews, Corey E. 'Footnoted Folklore: Robert Burns's "Hallowe'en",' Scholar Commons (2012), 24-37.

• Bold, Valentine. '"The Apple at the Glass": Halloween and Scottish Poetry', in Malcolm Foley and Hugh O'Donnell (eds.), Treat or Trick? Halloween in a Globalising World (Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009), 56-66.

• Nicolas, Roger, Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night (Oxford: Oxford University Press 2002).

• Skal, David J. Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween (New York: Bloomsbury, 2002).