Halloween Romantic Customs Back to Blog
Update: Jillian’s winner is…Cories! Congrats, Cories! And Jillian, thank you for blogging with me!
Jillian and her favorite potions master
Thanks for inviting me to drop by, Cynthia. I’ve been following along since October 1st and this has been a wicked cool month so far on your blog. Such Fun!
When Cynthia asked me to guest blog today, I initially thought I’d tell some story about my ghost experiences and I may still do so at the end of this post. As I thought about what to say, I decided that since Cynthia writes Paranormal Romances and Romantic Suspense and I write what I like to call Romantic Adventures, I’d tell a little about old Halloween romantic customs. Ones that help determine your true love. These customs date back hundreds of years. I’m a Halloween Hound just like Cynthia and I love the lore as well as the lure of the holiday.
Customs:
1. Girls would put hazel nuts across the front of the fireplace. The girl would spread out a few on the grate, each one symbolizing a certain beau. She would then chant “If you love me, pop and fly; if you don’t burn and die.”
2. Cut an apple down the center to expose the five sided star, eat it by candlelight in front of a mirror and your future spouse will appear in the mirror.
3. Peel an apple in one long strand and toss the peel over your shoulder. The shape it lands in will be the initial of your true love.
4. Place an apple under your pillow and you’ll dream of your true love.
5. Comb your hair in front of a mirror by candlelight and the reflection of your future husband will appear behind you.
Seems like a lot of apple traditions. Wonder if the apple growers gathered together back in those days to start the world’s first advertising program? Sounds like the women would have flocked to the apple market for a chance to find their own true love. Wouldn’t you? And confess, if you’re single, you’ve stopped reading this post and are headed to the farmer’s market right now. You know you are.
As to my own ghost experiences, I have several to choose from but I’ll tell a little about the one where Cynthia and I went to the Pensacola Lighthouse. It was a hot night in July. Very hot. No breeze at all, really. We went down into the basement and I began to get nauseated. I thought it was the heat but I’d been there before on a cold October day and had the same sensation so I wasn’t sure. But then I smelled cigar smoke and knew it was all related to the lighthouse keeper that is rumored to still hang about the place. Cynthia smelled it, too and she actually felt some cold spots (wish I could have found some spook to cool me off- it was dreadfully hot). The people running the hunt had EMF meters that measure electromagnetic fields and it was very active that night. The meter is supposed to spike when there are spirits about. It did. A lot.
I enjoy going to haunted sites and checking them out. It’s a family tradition to do ghost walks in cities we visit. Check one out on your next vacation. It’s tons of fun. Who knows, you could have your own eerie experience.
On another note, my first book is coming out from Siren-Book Strand in January 2011. It’s called Solo Honeymoon. The story is based in London, Italy and New York City and the hero is a shoe designer from Milan (who also happens to be a Count). In celebration of this upcoming release, I’m giving away a shoe charm to one of Cynthia’s commentators here. Leave me a comment about your true love or a ghost encounter you’ve had and we’ll have Cynthia’s own personal goblin (her son) draw a name from the comments.
Visit me at http://jillianchantal.wordpress.com/ or on Saturdays on my group blog, the Southern Sizzlers http://southernsizzleromance.wordpress.com/
email: JillianChantal@gmail.com
Hi Jillian – I haven’t heard any of those customs before except the hair brushing one. All kind of cool. I think it’s great that you and Cynthia ghost hunt. How cool is that that the two of you smelled the smoke!
Thanks for coming by Viki- Ghost hunting is cool and I’m glad you learned some new customs.
Okay, the hazel nut one made me giggle. If you love me, pop and fly, if you don’t, burn and die. That is hilarious! Sorry…my brain is thinking ‘hell hath no fury’ and all that. I wonder if the burn and die beaus were given the cold shoulder the next day? Hm.
I’ve kind of thought about taking a ghost hunting continuing education class at the local university, but you know you’re supposed to run to the ghosts, not away from them and I have a feeling I’d be running away…as quickly as I could, which would just have to be faster than the slowest person. Yeah…*shudders*
Danica- I get creepy feelings but I keep going back- those ghosts are alluring.
And I agree about the “pop and die” – seems a bit harsh, huh?
Hi, Jillian! Thanks for blogging with me! 🙂 Now I’m gonna have to try some of those apple tricks. But what happens if I don’t see Nick? Hmmm…husband #2!
Thanks for asking me to come by- I love this party!
As for Nick, I’ll alert him to sneak up behind you in the mirror when you’re brushing your hair. Maybe that would cancel out any bad apple karma-
I never have had a ghost encounter, I well imagine I would be running from the room. I never heard of those customs, there does seem to be a lot that involve apples.
Jean- it is apple heavy, yeah? That’s why I wonder if it was a early ad campaign! LOL
Its a wonder anyone can sleep with an apple under their pillow lol I’m a working medium so I’ve got a bit accepting about seeing spirit people. Now that is scarey!!!
That’s awesome, Margaret, that you’re a working medium. It all fascinates me. AND yeah, I think you’d wake up with a sore head with an apple under the pillow!
Hi Jillian! Great post and I love the picture! Can’t wait to buy Solo Honeymoon. Interesting customs!
Thanks Sayde- I appreciate it- Glad you like the picture since you gave me such a hard time about my potions master! LOL!
Very fun, Jillian! Good thing I have lots of apples…
Thanks Jeffe- are you gonna be cutting apples later today? HEHE
Cool post, we can learn new things everyday!!! I didn’t know about those traditions.
The picture is great!!!
Valerie
in Germany
Hey Valerie- glad you dropped by and learned something new- I usually say that if you learn something new, you can go home but it never seems to work out. Thanks about the picture, too!
Hazel nuts were hilarious. You think it would work with boys. I got three sons and well they need to get some sort of tradition beat in to their little brains.
I was in the fourth grade and about 20 girls sharing ghost stories. After we got nice and scared we walked in to my dark hallway in a 100 year old house. And everyone swears we saw a man in a top hat and had a beard. We all screamed, amazingly we never woke my parents downstairs. But we were so scared we called 911 and told them. My parents woke up to cops circling our house with guns and flashlights. It was a great story for school on monday.
Desiree- that is a wicked cool story! I love it. I bet your folks were shocked!
As to boys, I have 2 of my own and I totally agree with you!
The only ghost I’ve ever had “contact” with was my dog. After he died, I heard whining and the sound of nails clicking on the hardwood floor. I didn’t see him though and he was gone in a couple of days. Does that count? I’m glad I never heard any of my dead hamsters; squeaky exercise wheels were bad enough when they were alive.
Cories5- I think that counts. I had a cat die and for years, I catch sight of him out of the corner of my eye- sitting in his favorite spot. I’m glad your dog was quieter than the hamsters would have been!
I’ve never heard those before. A ghost hunt would be fun and scarey at the same time. That is neat that something happened to you there.
Sue- It is scary but it is amazing when there is activity. This was not the first time I’ve had experiences and I keep going back for more- even though the last time I had to run out of the house because of the evil I felt. That part was not fun!
Hey, Jillian! Great post. I’m afraid I don’t have any ghost stories, but maybe in the future…
Thanks Cara. I know you say you don’t have a ghost story but I know you found your true love, apple or no apple!
Never been on a ghost hunt before. I have shared a home with one though. 🙂
And the pop and die? Oh, I can think of a guy that would be appropriate for. LMBO
I have my true love and best friend. My husband.
Kirsten – would love to get the story on your ghostly house mate. Sounds intriguing.
Good for you for losing the pop and die dude and finding your true love/husband.
Hey Jillian! Love the post! Some very interesting ‘true love’ tests. Congrats on Solo Honeymoon!
Even though I’ve had a number of experiences as a ghost hunter, I think the ones that affect me most are the personal interactions. The flashlight turning off and on in answer to questions at our last investigation was the most intriguing to date. Photographs fascinate me too. But I have to admit my most memorable ghost esperience— will always be the next one! lol Congrats on Solo Honeymoon! wonderful way to start off the New Year!
Hey there, Runere! Thanks re: Solo Honeymoon. AND you know, you’re my hero as far as ghost hunters go. You are leading the way, baby!
Thanks for the lesson on apples! I never knew those things. I can’t wait to read your new book.
Thanks Sunny! I can’t wait for it to be released OR to see the cover as I haven’t gotten it yet. Glad you came by!