The Cornish people have their own version of Halloween, held on the 31st of October every year. The Cornish Culture Association hold a campaign every year encouraging people to "Mix a little Allantide in your Halloween". So what is Allantide? Allantide is part of world wide group of traditions which include Mexico's Day of the Dead, Halloween, Hop-Tu-Naa and many others. It has a great number of customs many of which are associated with Apples. First and foremost the large red apples known as "Allan Apples" are given to friends and family. These are eaten the day after on All Saints Day or Allan Day and are used by younger females to discover the identity of the their future husbands. This is done by placing the Allan Apple under your pillow with the hope that dreams would be of a future spouse. Other members of the family receive them as a luck gift. The traditional apples were aromatic, large red apples, no variety can be definitely identified and in the modern era any red apples are used. These apples were sold at large Allan Apple Markets which were particularly popular in St Ives and Penzance. A game is also played at Allantide using apples, a sort of reverse apple bobbing. A wooden cross piece is nailed together and four apples hung from each end. Candles are secured on the of the wood. The idea is to grab and apple with your mouth without getting splashed with hot wax. There are also a tradition of throwing a chestnut into a fire, in the modern era we do this emphasize our desire that the twelve months ahead will be a good while. The former tradition was that if the chestnut popped in the fire then you would expect to die in the next 12 months. So this year why don't you mix a little Allantide with your celebration of Halloween? Why not for example make a Allantide candle game and use it as a decoration, or give an apple to your loved ones. The Cornish Culture Penzance Allantide event is on the 31st of October at 8pm Penzance Cricket club. (Below Allantide videos).
