human
Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Historic Society, have furnished some curious information of a local character with reference to this ancient fire-worship. The latter says:--
gpt
Such fires are still lighted in Lancashire, on Hallowe'en, under the names of Beltains or Teanleas; and even the _cakes_ which the Jews are said to have made in honour of the Queen of Heaven, are yet to be found at this season amongst the inhabitants of the banks of the Ribble.... Both the fires and cakes, however, are now connected with superstitious notions respecting purgatory, &c., but their origin and perpetuation will scarcely admit of doubt. He further observes:--
human
The practice of 'causing children to pass through the fire to Moloch,' so strongly reprobated by the prophet of old, may be cited as an instance in which Christianity has not yet been able to efface all traces of one of the oldest forms of heathen worship.