Souling

The old English tradition of souling dates back to the Middle Ages, when small fruit-filled cakes - each representing a soul trapped in Purgatory - were given to children who went from house to house singing in return for alms. Sometimes money or skins of wine were given in lieu of soulcakes, but the intention on the part of the householders was always the same: to keep the dead at rest, and prevent any unwanted countenances appearing from the deep darkness.

The tradition died out gradually in England, only to be revived under post-war cultural influences from America, where it had evolved into "trick-or-treating". Of course, given that the number of souls in our modern world living and dying in torment far exceeds the number of cakes that even the most hyperactive housewife could bake, the dead now have to rely on Quality Street to bail them out. Thus, we are entrusting our eternal salvation to Nestle. And if that isn't a grisly thought for All Hallows Eve, I don't know what is.

Here's a good live performance of the traditional English souling song, as heard in streets and lanes for centuries on this night to keep the dead at bay.


A soul, a soul, a soulcake,
Please, good missis, a soulcake,
An apple, a pear, a plum or a cherry,
Any good thing to make us merry.
One for Peter, two for Paul,
Three for Him that made us all.

God bless the master of this house and the mistress also
And all the little children that around your table grow,
Likewise your men and maidens, your cattle and your store
And all that dwells within your gates,
We wish you ten times more.

The lanes are very dirty and me shoes are very thin,
I've got a little pocket I can 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.

A soul, a soul, a soulcake
Please, good missis, a soulcake
An apple, a pear, a plum or a cherry
Any good thing to make us merry
One for Peter, two for Paul
Three for Him that made us all