All Soul's Night

All Soul's Night is when the walls between the worlds grow thin and spirits of the underworld walk the Earth.

On All Soul's Night a Rosary of fifteen decades was said, and food and drink were left on the kitchen table during the night for the departed souls of the family, who, it was believed, returned on this night. Mashed potatoes and spirits, such as poteen, were the normal offerings on such occasions. The people generally believed that the spirits of the dead remained in the household until twelve noon on the following day.

It was the custom on this night to sweep the kitchen floor carefully and put on a good fire to welcome the souls of dead relatives who were still in Purgatory. On the following morning the discerning eye could see the mark of feet in the ashes. If the footprints indicated a person facing the fire all was well but if they pointed towards the door a death would take place in the family during the coming year.

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