Nutcrack Night

31 October · Northern England

Still kept

In the north of England Hallowe’en was called Nutcrack Night, from the nuts cracked, eaten and thrown on the fire. Young people dived for apples in a tub of water, or snatched with their mouths at an apple on one end of a hanging stick with a lit candle on the other, their hands tied behind them. Ducking or bobbing for apples is still a common Hallowe’en game across the UK.

On this night young people in the north of England dive for apples, or catch at them, when stuck upon one end of a kind of hanging beam, at the other extremity of which is fixed a lighted candle.

From Hone's Every-Day Book, vol. 1, col. 1408; Chambers's Book of Days, vol. 2, pp. 519-520. Read the original

Get Chambers's Book of Days: Amazon · Bookshop.org · AbeBooks
Get Hone's Every-Day Book: Amazon · Bookshop.org · AbeBooks

We may earn a small commission if you buy through these links.

Also on this day

Folklore from the old calendars

The Luck of Edenhall Lore and belief CumberlandThe Musgrave family of Edenhall kept an old painted glass drinking cup as a treasured heirloom.
Lating the Witches No longer kept LancashireOn Hallowe'en a party led by an old woman went round the bigger houses near Longridge Fell asking for lating candles, one for each person in the household.
Ale for Shony No longer kept Outer HebridesAt Hallowtide the people of Lewis met at the church of St Mulvay, each family bringing malt that was brewed into ale.
Coel Coeth No longer kept North WalesOn All Saints' Eve every family in North Wales lit a large bonfire, called Coel Coeth, in the most prominent spot near the house.
The Apple and the Looking-Glass Lore and belief ScotlandA girl who wanted to see her future husband went alone with a candle to a looking-glass on Hallowe'en and ate an apple in front of it, some said while combing her hair.
Pulling the Kail Stocks No longer kept ScotlandThe first rite of a Scottish Hallowe'en was to go out hand in hand, eyes shut, into the kailyard and each pull the first cabbage stalk they touched.
Burning the Nuts Lore and belief England, Ireland, ScotlandOn Hallowe'en a pair of nuts was named for a lad and a lass and laid in the fire.

Nutcrack Night

Also on this day

Questions and comments

Image credits