Special dream nights
In English, Scottish and Irish folk tradition, a handful of nights throughout the year were thought to be special. On these nights, young people tried small charms before bed, hoping to see a future sweetheart in a dream. Collectors of folklore wrote them down between the 1600s and the 1900s, and some of the customs made their way to North America too. Here you'll find what they recorded, night by night, and where each custom comes from.
Winter nights
St. Thomas's Eve (December 20)
Known as the longest night of the year. A peeled onion under the pillow was meant to bring a dream of a future husband.
St. Agnes' Eve (January 20)
The best-known dream night in English folklore. Young women fasted all day and went to bed hoping to dream of their future husband.
St. Valentine's Eve (February 13)
Bay leaves pinned to the pillow, a salted egg at bedtime, or a name drawn by lot and tucked under the pillow.
Fastern's E'en (Shrove Tuesday)
In Scotland, a ring hidden in the broth and "dreaming bannocks" baked in silence. The date moves with Easter every year.
Spring, summer and autumn nights
May Eve (April 30)
In Ireland, yarrow picked on the night before May Day and placed under the pillow was meant to bring a dream of a sweetheart.
Midsummer Eve (June 23)
Also called St. John's Eve. A silent "dumb cake," oak blossom or yarrow under the pillow, close to the shortest night of the year.
Halloween (October 31)
The great fortune-telling night of the year. Ivy leaves, yarrow, salt or an apple under the pillow, from Ireland to Cornwall and Pennsylvania.
How to see these nights today
These customs tell of hope, curiosity and plenty of fun among friends. A dream can't show you the future, but it can show what's on your mind. If a dream from one of these nights stays with you, write it down in the morning. It's nice to look back on it later.
Related symbols
Sources
- J. Brand, "Observations on Popular Antiquities of Great Britain", ed. H. Ellis, vol. 1, London 1849
- R. Chambers (ed.), "The Book of Days", 1864, vol. 1 (online transcription)
- W. Henderson, "Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders", Folk-Lore Society, London 1879
- W. Gregor, "Notes on the Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland", Folk-Lore Society, London 1881
- "Mother Bunch's Closet Newly Broke Open" (chapbook, 1685), ed. G. L. Gomme, 1885 (Project Gutenberg)
- The Schools' Collection, National Folklore Collection, University College Dublin (duchas.ie)
- "The Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore", vol. 6, ed. W. D. Hand, Duke University Press 1961
Dream interpretations are for entertainment.