Backwards—Doing things in reverse order or backwards is a common theme in Halloween FORTUNE-TELLING customs and protective charms. For example, while on the road, wearing one’s coat inside-out was protection against Halloween FAIRIES.

An American custom instructed a girl to walk into a room backwards at MIDNIGHT on Halloween while looking over her left shoulder, and she would see her future husband. A Pennsylvania divination suggested that one walk out the front door backwards on Halloween night and pick THREE blades of grass. The grass was then wrapped in orange paper and placed beneath the pillow to ensure that the evening’s DREAMS would come true (in a variation of this, dust was used in place of grass).

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The Halloween Encyclopedia Second Edition written by Lisa Morton © 2011 Lisa Morton. All rights reserved