Month: October 2022

Bobbing for Apples (also “ducking for apples,” “dookin’ for apples,” “Bob-apple”)— The most popular of all Halloween GAMES. Although it’s been claimed that bobbing for…

Blackberries—A particular Irish and Cornwall fairy tradition has it that blackberries and sloes can’t be gathered and eaten on NOVEMBER EVE or after for as…

Black Vespers—Refers to the custom (especially practiced in France) of draping churches in black on ALL SOULS’ DAY for the evening mass; worshippers also usually…

Belsnickling—A CHRISTMAS mumming custom found in areas of German settlement throughout North America, its name derives from a German MUMMING tradition known as Peltznickel. Similar…

Bells—It was once common practice to ring church bells for all Christian souls on Halloween. King Henry VIII (who ruled from 1509 to 1547) once…

Beggar’s Night—In some areas of the United States, Beggar’s Night is October 30, the night before Halloween (and was sometimes used interchangeably with MISCHIEF NIGHT),…

Bats— Traditional Halloween symbol, mainly in the United States. The connection of bats to Halloween may be as simple as the fact that bats are…

Barm Brack— An Irish loaf or CAKE made with dried fruit, popular during the Halloween season. Quite often the barm brack serves as a FORTUNE…

Barley—In Shetland, a small stack of “bere,” or barley, was set apart in an annual offering to “Broonie” (the origin or real meaning of this…

Bannatyne, Lesley—Lesley Bannatyne is an American author of five books on Halloween, including Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History (1990), which inaugurated contemporary Halloween…