Halloween Traditions in Ireland Quiz

Answer: Your financial outlook looks gloomy

The Barmbrack is a type of fruit and bread mix eaten by family members in Ireland during Halloween. Several objects are cooked into it, with each having a special significance. These are a rag, spotlessly clean of course, a coin and a ring. The coin signifies a prosperous year ahead, the ring of course continued happiness, or a new romance if single, and the rag a gloomy ahead for finances. Be careful when chomping into a piece of Barmbrack cake that you don't break your teeth!

Answer: Colcannon

Colcannon, a word that translates to "cal ceannanan" in the Gaelic, means a white-headed cabbage. It is eaten with mashed potatoes and raw onion on Halloween in Ireland. After the potatoes are mashed, individual coins are wrapped up in greaseproof paper and put into each serving handed out to children. Imagine their delight upon spying same - and what a great way to ensure dinner is eaten.

Answer: Colluding with Old Nick

Irish tradition has it that the art of carving pumpkins began in that lovely country. Initially though, turnips were used instead of pumpkins. During the 1700s, one Jack the blacksmith was said to have colluded with the devil to obtain his objectives, and when this was revealed, he was forever after denied entry into heaven, and had to wander the earth eternally.

He asked his pitchforked cohort for some light to enable him to do this and was given a burning ember which he placed inside a hollowed out turnip.

When millions of Irish sailed to the United States to begin new lives in later years, this tradition went with them. Because of the scarcity of turnips there however, pumpkins were used instead. Today Jack O'Lanterns are placed in Irish windows on Halloween to keep Jack, that damned soul, away from the family home.

Answer: Samhain

Halloween is the shortened version of the words "All Hallowtide" a time of the year associated with the pagan festival, Samhain, which the ancient Celts celebrated to mark the Feast of the Dead. During this time of the year which occurred at the end of summer and the beginning of the colder months, it was believed that the dead returned to revisit the world in which they had once dwelt.

By the 8th century, this festival continued to be celebrated in many countries worldwide, including Ireland, even though that country had well and truly converted to Christianity by then - and the Pope, the head of the church at that time, had had enough.

He created All Saints Day to counteract it, a day that is still celebrated by different denominations worldwide, to take place on the day after Halloween, to more or less head the pagans off at the pass.

Answer: Dressing up in costumes

Because Halloween was the evening when the souls of the dead - and those still alive - were at their closest, and the belief that the devil also roamed about on that evening (you can't imagine how my Irish Catholic genes are quivering in terror here), the Irish began the tradition of dressing up in assorted costumes as a disguise so that that wicked person wouldn't recognise them and try to lure their souls away.

The spookier the costume, the better became the order of the day. Witches, ghouls and skeletons abounded.

These costumes, it was felt, would surely fool the wicked into thinking they belonged to them already.

Answer: A cup of water

On the evening of Halloween in Ireland, an ivy leaf is put into a cup of water. This is then left overnight and checked the following morning for the results. If the ivy leaf is bobbing about, still green and healthy-looking, you are assured of twelve months of good health ahead. If, however, that leaf has developed brown spots overnight and is looking decidedly sick, then it is time to begin worrying.

Answer: Suspended from a piece of string overhead

During the game of Snap Apple, a nice healthy apple is suspended from a piece of string over the heads of the children taking part in the game. They are then blindfolded, and, taking it in turns, have to try to take a bite out of the apple. The first child to get a decent bite out of the pome wins a prize.

This game can also be played by placing the apple in a large container of water, and, once again, blindfolded children have to try to get a bite from the elusive fruit.

Answer: Throwing the dust under your feet at them

Irish fairies and goblins also try to steal souls away during this Irish Halloween tradition, and are very skilled at this crime. If, however, you meet any of these diabolical kidnappers on this evening, and you quickly gather up the dust from under your feet and throw it at them, then they are forced to release all the souls they are holding prisoner. Animals can also be protected from being whisked away as well by sprinkling them with Holy Water on this night, or, if looking a little poorly - obviously the work of those diabolical fairies and goblins - then you must quickly spit on them to protect them.

Answer: A lock of their hair

Halloween bonfires are a delightful sight with the sparks flying high into air during a crisp cool evening, and in Ireland, these come with the added benefit of allowing young romantic hopefuls a vision of their future. By dropping a lock of their hair into the embers as the flames die down, it is believed that evening during sleep, they will dream of their future true love.

Answer: Uprooting a cabbage

This Irish Halloween tradition has it that, on this spooky evening, if one goes out to a field, and uproots the first cabbage they find (while avoiding the irate farmer), this reveals his or her future married life. If the cabbage has a lot of earth remaining on its roots, the future spouse will own land and be well off. Otherwise, just between you and me, I'd bury it again and pull up another. Eating the cabbage will then reveal the nature of one's future love as well. Depending on its taste, that future life's partner will be either sour, bitter, or sweet.

Happy Halloween everyone!