The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World - Judika Illes 2005

Mash of Nine Sorts
Food and Drink

Mash of Nine Sorts is a traditional British Halloween Supper. Ingredients include potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, leeks, and peas. These are boiled or otherwise cooked. Milk or cream is added and everything is mashed together and seasoned to taste with salt and pepper. If you dislike one ingredient, omit it but then incorporate something else as a substitution. It is crucial to maintain the lucky number of nine ingredients.

This dish was traditionally served to a group of unmarried people; only one token was hidden: a wedding ring. Whoever found it was destined to be married first, however other tokens can also be substituted as desired.

Not all Halloween dishes are intended to be eaten; some serve purely for divination instead. One of the most famous Halloween rituals involves apple peels:

1. Begin to peel an apple; the peel must come off in one piece.

2. If and when the apple peel breaks, stop peeling and work with whatever you have.

3. Toss the apple peel over your left shoulder.

When the peel falls it will allegedly form the initial of your true love (or the one you’re destined to marry—ideally one and the same).

To determine the future of a partnership or romantic relationship, carefully place two chestnuts on hot coals or within a burning fireplace. If the chestnuts sputter loudly, this is auspicious; if they jump apart, however, it’s time to reconsider the relationship. (This ritual may also be performed with bay leaves instead of chestnuts.)