pfaat Isore, Isegef^t)/, ani. bijrlc/. 22 1 



peel it carefully, and pass the long strip of peel thrice sunwise round 

 your head, after which you throw it over your shoulder, and it 

 falls to the ground in the shape of the initial letter of your true 

 love's name. 



In some places, on this mystic night, a stick is suspended 

 horizontally from the ceiling, with a candle at one end and an Apple 

 at the other. While it is made to revolve rapidly, the revellers 

 successively leap up, and endeavour to grasp the Apple with their 

 teeth (the hands must not be used) ; if they fail, the candle gene- 

 rally swings round in time to salute them disagreeably. Another 

 amusement is to dive for Apples in a tub of water. 



In Sussex, on this eve, every person present fastens an Apple 

 on a string, and hangs and twirls it before the fire. The owner of 

 the Apple that first falls ofT is declared to be upon the point of 

 marriage ; and as they fall successively, the order in which the rest 

 of the party will attain to matrimonial honours is clearly indicated, 

 single blessedness being the lot of the one whose Apple is the last 

 to drop. 



The custom of throwing the peel of an Apple over the head, 

 marriage or celibacy being foretold by its remaining whole or 

 breaking, is well known, as is also that of finding in a peel so cast 

 the initial of the coming sweetheart. 



Mr. Dyer, in his ' English Folk-lore,' details a form of divina- 

 tion by means of an Apple-pip. " In Lancashire," he says, " in 

 order to ascertain the abode of a lover, the anxious inquirer moves 

 round in a circle, at the same time squeezing an Apple-pippin be- 

 tween his finger and thumb. This, on being subjed\ed to pressure, 

 flies from the rind, in the supposed direction of the lover's residence. 

 Meanwhile, the following rhyme is repeated : — 



' Pippin, pippin, paradise, 

 Tell me where my true love lies ; 

 East, west, north, and south, 

 Pilling brig or Cocker mouth.' " 



It was formerly customary for Apples to be blessed by priests 

 on July 25th ; and in the manual of the Church of Sarum is pre- 

 served an especial form for this purpose. In Derbyshire, there is a 

 saying that if the sun shines through the trees on Christmas Day, 

 It ensures a good crop. In Northamptonshire, if the Apple-tree 

 should bloom after the fruit is ripe, it is regarded as a sure omen of 

 death. In the Apple-growing districts, there is an old saying that if 

 it rains on St. Swithin's Day, it is the Saint christening the Apples. 



De Gubernatis, in his Mythologie des Plaiites, gives several 

 curious customs connecfted with the Apple, which are still extant 

 in foreign countries. In Serbia, when a maiden accepts from her 

 lover an Apple, she is engaged. In Hungary, a betrothed maiden, 

 after having received from her lover the " engaged" ring, presents 

 him with an Apple, the special symbol of all nuptial gifts. Young 

 Greek girls never cease to invoke, upon marriage, the golden 



