Ale for Shony

31 October · Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides

No longer kept

At Hallowtide the people of Lewis met at the church of St Mulvay, each family bringing malt that was brewed into ale. At night one man waded into the sea up to his waist with a cup of ale and offered it to a sea spirit called Shony, asking for plenty of seaweed to manure the land, then threw the cup into the sea. Afterwards they went into the church, put out the candle on the altar and spent the rest of the night drinking, dancing and singing in the fields. Hone took the account from Martin’s description of the Western Isles.

Shony, I give you this cup of ale, hoping that you'll be so kind as to send us plenty of sea-ware, for enriching our ground the ensuing year

From Hone's Every-Day Book, vol. 1, col. 1414. Read the original

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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.
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 Still kept Northern EnglandIn the north of England Hallowe'en was called Nutcrack Night, from the nuts cracked, eaten and thrown on the fire.

Ale for Shony

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