Celtic Mythology and Religion

170 CELTIC MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGION
by that stone is devoted or fey, and is supposed not
to live twelve months from that day." A somewhat
similar custom is recorded by Pennant as existing
in North Wales, where every family made a
great bonfire in the most conspicuous place near
the house, and when the fire was extinguished, every
one threw a white stone into the ashes, having first
marked it. If next morning any of these stones is
found wanting, they have a notion that the person
who threw it in will die before next Hallowe'en.
We can only refer to the various laughable and serious
methods of divination resorted to on Hallowe'en
night to read into the future ; our national poet
Burns has left us a graphic picture of the night and
its ceremonies in " Hallowe'en." It may be remarked
that the mystic apple plays an important part in
these ceremonies, as it also does in so many Celtic
fairy tales. The custom in various parts of keeping
a heap of cakes, called soul-cakes, to give away to allcomers,
and more especially to the poor, clearly
commemorates the ancient offering to the dead of
food on this night. What was dedicated in Pagan
times to the manes of the dead, is in modern times
converted into doles of bread to the poor, as Mr.
Tylor points out.
Martin records a religious rite of the Lews people
that must not be passed over here. " The inhabitants
of this island had an ancient custom to sacrifice
to a sea-god called Shony, at Hallotide, in the
following manner :—The inhabitants round the