1889.] 4.Uj [Mooney. 



nection with the modern celebration in Ireland is in the use of lighted 

 candles, but in Scotland and Wales bonfires wer stil kindled "with mystic 

 rites a generation ago, while the same custom prevaild also in England at 

 an earlier day.* Smiddy states that the ancient Irish celebrated the day 

 with sacrifices and feasts, and that "the horse was ofTered as a victim to 

 the sun, and perhaps the human being, too." On this occasion, also, 

 special honors wer paid to the great idol of Croni Cruach, which was set 

 up at a place calld Magh Sleachia, supposed to hav been in the County 

 Leitrim, and which is described as a stone capt with gold and silver, and 

 surrounded by twelv other rough stones. To this idol, until its destruction 

 by Saint Patrick, wer sacrificed the first born of every species, and on the 

 great day of Samhan the people prostrated themselvs before it until the 

 blood streamd from their lacerated faces, knees and elbows. The figure 

 evidently had an astronomic significance. The festival partook of the 

 character of a thanksgiving for the ripeud fruits, f 



The feast of Samhan was the occasion of the convening of the Feis, or 

 great national assembly of ancient Ireland, which was held every three years 

 at the palace of Tara and lasted for a week, being convoked by the monarch 

 himself three days before the day of Samhan (November 1) and continuing 

 three days after. According to the annalists, this assembly was instituted 

 by Ollamh Fodhla (pronounced Ollav Fola), the first monarch of Ire- 

 land and builder of the palace of Tara, who is said to hav flourishd nine 

 hundred years before Christ. The purpose of the convocation, which was 

 attended by all the druids, bards, rulers and scholars of Ireland, was to 

 enact laws and revise the annals of the country. The first two days wer 

 devoted to friendly intercourse, and on the third the assembly was 

 formally opend by the chief bard with music and the recitation of poetry. 

 The sacred flre of Samhan was then lighted and the favor of the gods 

 invoked, after which the regular business of the convention began. 

 Whoever was convicted of murder, theft or quarreling during this period 

 suflferd death, tho at other times punishd only by a fine. $ 



With regard to the modern celebration of November eve,§ it may be 

 stated briefly that almost every practice or belief found in Ireland is com- 

 mon as wel to England, Scotland, Germany and other countries of Europe, 

 while, as on May eve, the chief purpose of the mystic rites is to discover 

 to the girls the names and characters of their destind partners. Unless 

 otherwise noted, it may be assumed that the customs about to be described 

 exist in some form throughout the country. The apple is the great feature 

 of the occasion, and is made to contribute in a number of ways to the gen- 

 eral enjoyment. Apples ar provided in abundance in every farmer's 

 house, and a favorit pastime is ducking for them in a tub of water. The 

 apple floats upon the water, and each one who makes the trial must kneei 



* Brand, Antiquities, i, 388-390. 



t Vallaucey, Collectanea, iii, Part li, 457-8. 



t Smiddj', Druids, 106-11 \ 



i, Hall, Ireland, ii, £87 note. 



