I’ve had this lurking in my Drafts folder for so long that I’ve forgotten the original intent of the post. I think it was going to be part of a “themed party” idea, where the invitation text would tie into the overall party motif: A party with an Old World theme might use a relevant poem or superstition, and so on. However, that post apparently is never going to get off the ground, so here’s a bunch of poetry and folk sayings that might be useful for prettying up a party invitation.

If you hear footsteps following you on Halloween,
you must not look round,
for it is the dead who are following,
and you should not meet their glance.
— Old Irish Superstition

Go to the crossroads at Hallowe’en and listen
to hear the future whispered in the wind.
— Old Welsh Saying

Halloween will come, will come,
Witchcraft will be set agoing,
Fairies will be at full speed,
Running in every pass.
Avoid the road children, children.
— Old Scottish Saying

Last night was Hallowe’en, you know;
The cowbells rang, the horns did blow,
The goblins stalked o’er stones and planks
And small boys played their annual pranks.
— Hallowe’en, Charles Frederick White

For on Hallow-Mass Eve the Night-Hag will ride,
And all her nine-fold sweeping on by her side,
Whether the wind sing lowly or loud,
Sailing through moonshine or swathed in the cloud.
— Sir Walter Scott

“In order on the clean hearthstane,
The luggies three are ranged;
And ev’ry time great care is ta’en,
To see them duly changed…”
— Robert Burns

An’ all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire an’ has the mostest fun
A-list’nin’ to the witch-tales ‘at Annie tells about,
An’ the Gobble-uns ‘at gits you
Ef you
Don’t
Watch
Out!
— James Whitcomb Riley