Allhallows ___ - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Allhallows ___," is a classic fill-in-the-blank that relies on common cultural knowledge, specifically about a major holiday celebrated in October. It's a delightful clue that connects a modern celebration to its historical and linguistic roots.

Clue Analysis

The clue presents the first part of a well-known phrase: "Allhallows". The blank asks us to complete it. The term "Allhallows" is an older name for All Saints' Day, a Christian festival celebrated on November 1st. The word we're looking for is one that means "the evening or day before" a festival. When combined, "Allhallows' ___" forms the traditional name for the night of October 31st.

Thinking Approaches

For a fill-in-the-blank clue like this, the most direct path is to access your memory for the common phrase. Your brain might immediately supply the answer.

If it doesn't come to you right away, try these steps:

1. Word Association: What does "hallow" make you think of? For many, it will bring to mind Halloween.
2. Etymology: Consider the name "Halloween" itself. It's a contraction of the phrase we're trying to complete.
3. Pattern Recognition: The word for the night before a holiday is often a specific, short term. Think of "Christmas ___" or "New Year's ___." The same word fits here.
4. Use Crossings: Since the answer is very short, getting even one or two crossing letters from other clues will likely make the answer immediately obvious.

Background Context

The phrase "Allhallows' Eve" is the origin of the word "Halloween." Let's break it down:

• Hallow: An old English word for a holy person or saint.
• Allhallows: Literally "All Saints." This refers to All Saints' Day on November 1st.
• Eve: A shortened form of "evening," referring to the vigil or evening before a holy day.

So, "Allhallows' Eve" is simply "the evening before All Saints' Day." Over time, the phrase was contracted to "Hallowe'en" and eventually lost the apostrophe to become the modern "Halloween." This clue is a nice nod to the history of the holiday.

Conclusion

"Allhallows ___" is a perfect example of an easy-difficulty clue that rewards general knowledge. It's a satisfying 'aha' moment that connects a familiar holiday with its more archaic, formal name. Once you see the link between "Allhallows" and "Halloween," the answer falls right into place.

Hints

1. Hint 1: The missing word refers to the day or evening before a significant event.
2. Hint 2: This phrase is an older name for a popular October holiday.
3. Hint 3: The holiday in question is Halloween.
4. Hint 4: It's the same word that follows "Christmas" or "New Year's" to denote the preceding day.

The answer is... EVE