Page:Book Of Halloween(1919).djvu/102

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CHAPTER IX

IN ENGLAND AND MAN

Man especially has a treasury of fairy tradition, Celtic and Norse combined. Manx fairies too dwell in the middle world, since they are fit for neither heaven nor hell. Even now Manx people think they see circles of light in the late October midnight, and little folk dancing within.

Longest of all in Man was Sauin (Samhain) considered New Year's Day. According to the old style of reckoning time it came on November 12.

"To-night is New Year's night.

Hogunnaa!"
Mummers' Song.

As in Scotland the servants' year ends with October.

New Year tests for finding out the future were tried on Sauin. To hear her sweet-

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