Post by claddaghlass on Sept 16, 2010 15:55:31 GMT -5
Oh, almost every October I get asked about these. Heh.
I'm more familiar with the old fashioned ways than any new ones. I say that because I haven't gone off and tried any of the new ways they claim to find your future love.
My great-grandmother was a firm believer in that if you peeled an apple and it's skin came off all in one piece it was a good sign. She then said that if you threw it over your shoulder your future lover's name or initials would be found in the peelings.
Another version is Bonnach Samhthain/Bonnah Salainn. It is a Scottish Bannock usually baked on November 1st.
They believed eating this would fortell dreams of the future.
To dream of your future lover the individual would make the recipie and add lots of salt. No water was to be drunk, no words spoken during or after during the time it was eaten. They believed their future lover would bring them a glass of water to drink in their dreams.
I have this recepie if anyone is interested though I cannot guarantee it will work.
Another variation I have heard was to blow out the candle. A person is blind folded and spun around several times. They would then try to blow out the candle before them. The amount of puffs it would take before the candle was blown out meant the number of months it would take to meet their soulmate.
My great-grandmother once played matchmaking with apples in the early 20th century. The variation done was to tie ribbons on the apples and have the guests divide up. When the two players met the apple would be cut in half and they would count the seeds. The amount of seeds listed coresponded with a certain love fortune.
A very, very old way used was a girl would take two walnuts. She would give the walnuts names and toss them into the fire. Which ever walnut glowed brighter and the strongest was to be her love. If the walnuts cracked or broke it was a bad omen.
In the 1800's a common practice was for a young girl to hold a mirror up to her shoulder. Which ever man she saw first was her intended.
In the Victorian era this also expanded to looking into the fire. The person would supposedly see the face of their future lover appearing in the fire.
I can say the only one of these things I've ever really tried was throwing the apple peel over my shoulder and I was pretty young then. I don't remember if I saw anything but that apple in my hand was mighty tasty.
