A lesson learned on the eve of All Hallows Eve

Today we're even more confused than usual, and this year that's going some. Back in our much younger folkie days we remember listening to Peter, Paul and Mary performing A Soalin'. In fact, we have several different recordings of that song. Based on the last verse, we've always thought it a Christmas song. Its inclusion on their album A Christmas Celebration didn't hurt that impression. It was only today, as we were poking around the corners of the internets, looking for information about All Hallows Eve, that we came across reference to "soul cakes" being handed out at Halloween.

may only friendly spirits visit your home

Photo by J. Harrington

The American Halloween tradition of trick-or-treating probably dates back to the early All Souls’ Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called “soul cakes” in return for their promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives.

The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. The practice, which was referred to as “going a-souling,” was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food and money.

This is far from suggesting that soul cakes are, or should be, exclusive to either All Hallows Eve or the Christmas season. In fact, we're more than a little pleased to have learned what we did today. Next on our agenda will be to see if we can find one or more recipes for soul cakes and then to try to bake some using kernza sourdough. If we get sorted out in time and have a modicum of success, we'll add Thanksgiving as a holiday associated with soul cakes, as least in our family. Meanwhile, if you follow the lyrics carefully, we believe you'll find a number of phrases that can easily fit Halloween.

[UPDATE: The Better Half, in a demonstration of why that term is appropriate, has already found and followed a recipe for soul cakes. She allowed us to add some kernza flour to the dough. The cakes are now baking and will be ready for All Hallows Eve. This was largely accomplished wile Yr ob't sv't was poking about reading through recipes online.]

A SOALIN'

(Stookey/Batteaste/Mezzetti)- Neworld Media Music Publishers -ASCAP

 Hey ho, nobody home, meat nor drink nor money have I none
Yet shall we be merry, Hey ho, nobody home.
Hey ho, nobody home, Meat nor drink nor money have I none
Yet shall we be merry, Hey ho, nobody home.
Hey Ho, nobody home.

 Soal, a soal, a soal cake, please good missus a soul cake.
An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry, 
any good thing to make us all merry,
One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all.

God bless the master of this house, and the mistress also
And all the little children that round your table grow.
The cattle in your stable and the dog by your front door
And all that dwell within your gates 
we wish you ten times more.

 Soal, a soal, a soal cake, please good missus a soul cake.
An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry, 
any good thing to make us all merry,
One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all.

Go down into the cellar and see what you can find
If the barrels are not empty we hope you will be kind
We hope you will be kind with your apple and strawber'
For we'll come no more a 'soalin' till this time next year.

 Soal, a soal, a soal cake, please good missus a soul cake.
An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry, 
any good thing to make us all merry,
One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all.

The streets are very dirty, my shoes are very thin.
I have a little pocket to put a penny in.
If you haven't got a penny, a ha' penny will do.
If you haven't got a ha' penny then God bless you.

 Soal, a soal, a soal cake, please good missus a soul cake.
An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry, 
any good thing to make us all merry,
One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all.

Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace..
This holy tide of Christmas of beauty and of grace,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy.

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