This is relating to the various Hallowe'en discussions. There is a very detailed superstitious ritual described in this Child Ballad which is suitable for this time of year.

YOUNG BENJIE Child Ballad # 86A

Of all the maids in fair Scotland, the fairest was Marjorie,
Young Benjie was her own true love, and a dear true love was he.

And oh, but they were lovers dear, & they loved full constantly,
But aye the more when they fell out, the sorer was they're plea.

And they have quarreled on a day, 'til Marjorie's heart grew woe;
She swore she'd choose another lover and let Young Benjie go.

But he was stout and proud hearted, & he thought on it bitterly
And he has gone by the wan moonlight to meet with his Marjorie.

"Oh open, open my true love; come open and let me in!"
"I dare na' let you in, Benjie, my three brothers are within."

"Ye lied! Ye lied, ye bonny burd, so loud I hear ye lie!
As I came by the Lowden banks, they bade good e'en to me."

"Sp fare ye weel, my own fause love, that I have loved so lang;
If you will choose another lover and let your Benjie gang."

Then Marjorie turned round about, a tear blinding her ee;
"I dare na', dare na' let you in, but I'll come doon to thee."

Then soft she smiled and soft she said, "Oh what ill have I done?"
But he has ta'en her in his arms and thrown her into the linn.

The stream was strong, but the maid was stout, & loath she was to die;
But e're she reached the Lowden banks, her fair colour it was wan.

Then up ans spoke her eldest brother, "Oh look! See ye what I see?"
Then up and spake her second brother, "It's our sister Marjorie!"

Then up ans spoke her eldest brother, "Oh how shall we her ken?"
Then up and spake her youngest brother, "There's a honey-mark on her chin."

They have ta'en the comely corpse, and they've lain it on the ground.
"Oh who has killed our dear sister and how can he be found?"

"The night it is her low lykewake; the morn's her burial day.
We must watch 'til murk midnight to hear what she will say."

So with doors ajar, and candel light, and torches burning clear,
The streikit corpse, 'til still midnight, they watched, but nothing hear.

Then in the middle of the night, the cocks began to craw;
And in the dead hour of the night, corpse began to thraw.

"Oh who has done this wrong, sister, & has dared this deadly sin;
Who was sae stout, he feared no doubt as to throw ye into the linn?"

"Young Benjie was the very first man I laid me love upon;
He was sae stout, he feared no doubt, and he's thrown me into the linn."

"Shall we Young Benjie head, sister? Shall we Young Benjie hang?
Or shall we put out his bonny gray eyes, and punish him e'er he gang?"

"Ye mauna Benjie head, brothers, and ye mauna Benjie hang;
But ye put out his bonny gray eyes and punish him e'er he gang.

Tie a green cravat around hi neck to lead him out and in,
And the very best servant in my house to wait Young Banjie on.

And aya, at every seven year's end, ye'll tak him to the linn;
And that's the punishment he maun suffer to cure his deadly sin!"

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 23-May-02.