This column first appeared in November 2010.
While trolling the endless labyrinth known as Facebook, I ran across a page created by a coven of self-described “Solitary female witches in the Indianapolis area” known as “Ravensgrove”. The entry was titled, “Halloween Broom Lore and Superstitions” and it made me think, “What do witches think about Halloween superstitions?” I found the question irresistable and I think you will too. Much of what follows was taken directly from their page with additional content and commentary added by yours truly.
The most common media created superstition about brooms is that they were used by witches to fly on. The tradition might be traced back to ancient ceremonies where “witches” danced with a stick between their legs while jumping high in the air, giving the outward appearance of flight. However, the truth about witches brooms legend is rooted in a 14th century court case in Great Britain. At the close of the 18th century, the argument was settled once and for all in an English law court when Lord Mansfield declared that he “knew of no law that prohibited flying and, therefore, anyone so inclined was perfectly free to do so.” Shortly thereafter, reports of witches flying around the British Isles on broomsticks ceased.
Some of the old wives tales about brooms include: Never sweep after sunset since so doing will chase away happiness or hurt a wandering soul…Should a young girl inadvertently step over a broom handle she will become a mother before a wife…No good can come of carrying a broom across water, leaning a broom against a bed, or burning one…Brooms laid across the doorways are believed to keep out bad spirits…Never use a broom when there is a dead person in the house… Never sweep upstairs rooms in the afternoon….Never bring old brooms into new houses for a broom becomes attached to houses so always leave the old one behind…Always sweep dustballs into the middle of a room as they will protect against bad luck….Placing a broom across a doorway allows your departed friends and family to speak to you if they so choose — as long as the broom remains in place, they can communicate freely and lastly, If you feel as though you are being followed and haunted by unfriendly ghosts, stepping over a broomstick will prevent them from disturbing you.
Betcha didn’t know a lot of those fun broom facts, did you? Let’s see what witches consider to be the most prevalent superstitions connected to Halloween, listed here in no particular order.
1. Black cats are bad luck. Fun fact, In Britain, they believe white cats are bad luck!
2. Nuts on Halloween; some people believe that Satan was a nut-gatherer, so, on Halloween night, nuts were used as magic charms.
3. If a candle flame goes out on Halloween night, then a ghost will visit you.
4. One common belief is that if you put your clothes on inside out and then walked backwards on Halloween night at midnight, you would see a witch riding through the sky.
5. If you ring a bell on Halloween, all the scary, evil spirits will fly away.
6. One colorful belief is that owls would dive down and eat the souls of anyone dying on Halloween night. So, if you heard a hooting owl, quickly pull your pocket out and leave it hanging. Then you’d be safe from the diving owls.
7. If a bat flies into your house, beware! You may have some ghosts or spirits visiting! Or, if you see a bat flitting around early on Halloween night, you’ll have good weather the next day. And, last, but not least, if bats fly around your house on Halloween night 3 times, death is inevitable.
8. To ward off evil spirits, simply walk around your house backwards three times before sunset on Halloween and that would banish all evil.
9. If you happen to see a spider on Halloween, the spirit of a loved one is watching over you.
Finally, here’s a list of additional witch suggestions about warding off ghosts and evil spirits. These might just come in handy this time of year.
1. When getting ready for bed, place one shoe with the toe pointing under the bed and place the other shoe pointing in the opposite direction. Now you will be safe from ghosts, goblins, and evil spirits throughout the night.
2. Keep ghosts away by turning your pockets inside out.
3. Carry a piece of bread crust in your pocket to protect yourself from creatures that roam the night.
4. You can get rid of a ghost by throwing a key at it.
5. If you should meet a witch, cross your fingers and you will be safe.
6. Hang a mirror on the front porch. It will keep ghosts from coming into your house.
7. At the first light of day ghosts, goblins, evil spirits, witches, and zombies disappear.
8. If a candle flame suddenly turns blue, a ghost is near at hand.
9. Knocking on wood (preferably oak, which is sacred to the Celts) keeps evil away.
10. To prevent ghosts from coming into your house, especially on Halloween, bury animal bones near the doorway, or bury the image of an animal in a sealed box or jar.
11. A child that has teeth when it is born will grow up to be a vampire.
12. If there is a full moon on Halloween night, the spirit world is all the closer, so intuition and divination are stronger.
13. Any fire lit or left burning after sunset on Halloween should be kept burning until after midnight, or spirits may come around and do harm.
14. Wear a ring on Halloween, especially if you are sick, and you will be safe from harm.
15. Finally, if you make friends on Halloween, you will be one in spirit for the coming year. If you quarrel with someone on Halloween, make up before midnight or your estrangement will last for an entire year.
So folks, you’ve just read a smattering of some of the lesser known superstitions about Halloween. There’s so much more to Halloween superstitions than trick or treating! The Halloween tradition evolved from a long history of superstitions and beliefs based on regionalized folklore and fantasy. Most countries celebrate some form of Halloween but no place or region celebrates the holiday with as much gusto as the United States and no place on earth celebrates the Halloween season quite like Irvington.
Al Hunter is the author of the “Haunted Indianapolis” and co-author of the “Haunted Irvington” and “Indiana National Road” book series. His newest books are “Bumps in the Night. Stories from the Weekly View,” “Irvington Haunts. The Tour Guide,” and “The Mystery of the H.H. Holmes Collection.” Contact Al directly at Huntvault@aol.com or become a friend on Facebook.