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in serious injury . Nonetheless , many parents assumed that such heinous practices were rampant because of the mass media . At the peak of the hysteria , some hospitals offered free X-rays of children ’ s Halloween hauls in order to find evidence of tampering . Virtually all of the few known candy poisoning incidents involved parents who poisoned their own children ’ s candy .
One custom that persists in modern-day Ireland is the baking ( or more often nowadays , the purchase ) of a barmbrack ( Irish : báirín breac ), which is a light fruitcake , into which a plain ring , a coin and other charms are placed before baking . It is said that those who get a ring will find their true love in the ensuing year . This is similar to the tradition of king cake at the festival of Epiphany .
7 foods associated with Halloween :
Barmbrack ( Ireland ) Bonfire toffee ( Great Britain ) Candy apples / toffee apples ( Great Britain and Ireland ) Candy apples , Candy corn , candy pumpkins ( North America ) Monkey nuts ( peanuts in their shells ) ( Scotland and Ireland ) Caramel apples Caramel corn Colcannon ( Ireland ; see below ) Novelty candy shaped like skulls , pumpkins , bats , worms , etc . Pumpkin , pumpkin pie , pumpkin bread Roasted pumpkin seeds Roasted sweet corn Soul cakes
8 Religious observances
8.1 Perspectives
The Vigil of All Hallows ’ is being celebrated at an Episcopal Christian church on Hallowe ’ en .
On Hallowe ’ en ( All Hallows ’ Eve ), in Poland , believers are taught to pray out loud as they walk through the forests in order that the souls of the dead might find comfort ; in Spain , Christian priests toll their church bells in order to remind their congregants to remember the dead on All Hallows ’ Eve . In Ireland , and among immigrants in Canada , a custom includes the Christian practice of abstinence , keeping All Hallows ’ Eve “ as a meatless day with pancakes or Callcannon ” being served instead . In Mexico , on “ All Hallows Eve , the children make a children ’ s altar to invite the angelitos ( spirits of dead children ) to come back for a visit .” The Christian Church traditionally observed Hallowe ’ en through a vigil “ when worshippers would prepare themselves with prayers and fasting prior to the feast day itself .” This church service is known as the Vigil of All Hallows or the Vigil of All Saints ; an initiative known as Night of Light seeks to further spread the
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