Children trick or treating at Halloween is a mid-20th century custom. It began in a small way in the mid-1930s world tired of children playing pranks on that night, but did not become hugely popular until after World War II. The usual entertainment for the Hallowe'en—note the spelling!—of old was a party.For real, rollicking, frolicking fun, there is nothing more jolly than a Hallowe'en party.
The observance of Hallowe'en, or All-Hallow Eve, is a tradition handed down from the ancient Druids, who celebrated their harvest festival on the last day of October. The next day was AllHallows', or All-Saints' Day, and so they called the festival All-Hallow E'en.
The gay games of modern times are not much like the solemn rites of the Druids, but a connection may be traced between the supernatural beliefs of the ancients, and the burlesque attempts to pry into the mysteries of the future, which our own Hallowe'en fun represents.
Long after the time of the Druids, simpleminded country people continued to believe in charms and witchcraft, and especially claimed that on the night of October 31 witches and goblins held revel, and fairies danced about in the woods. From thse spirits, or their manifestations, it was believed that the future could be foretold and human destinies discovered. As our celebration of the occasion is merely a whimsical adaptation of all this, there is one thing clear at the outset: To a successful Hallowe'en party, the young guests must bring a large stock of imagination, a zest for merriment, and an unfailing fund of good humor. For many Hallowe'en tricks result in turning the laugh on one or another, and this must be accepted in a gay, good-natured spirit. Old-fashioned Hallowe'en parties were held in the kitchen, and where this is practicable, it is a good plan for many of the games. But all of the rooms used should be decorated with trophies of the harvest. Pumpkins, apples, grain stalks, and autumn leaves, offer materials for beautiful and effective trimming; and, if desired, draperies of red and yellow cheese-cloth, and ornamentations of red and yellow crepe paper, may be added. Jack-o'-lanterns are, of course, a necessity. All boys know how to scoop out pumpkins, cut grotesque faces on them and insert candles. But don't stop with the pumpkins. Make lanterns also of queer-shaped squashes, turnips, cucumbers, and even apples.
For invitations to a Hallowe'en party, find a large oak or maple leaf in bright autumn tints. Lay this on a paper and trace the shape, then tint it in gay colors, and write the invitation thereon; or. use cards decorated with tiny sketches of Jack-o'-lanterns, witches on broomsticks or black cats. Some such verse as this may appear on the card:
Hallowe'en will tell you trueWhen the guests arrive, the house should be but dimly lighted, and a weird and mysterious atmosphere should prevail. Red shades on the lights, or a red screen before the open fire, give a soft, rich glow. The guests may be received by some one dressed as a witch, or garbed in a white sheet to represent a ghost. Welcome should be spoken in sepulchral tones and accompanied by groans or wails. Some one may play snatches of wild, weird music on the piano or strike occasional clanging notes from muffled gongs. Jack-o'-lanterns peer from unexpected places and, if convenient, an Aeolian harp may be arranged in an open window. The awesomeness of effect will be sufficiently relieved by the irrepressible laughter of the merry guests as they arrive.
What the Future holds for you.
Thursday evening, just at eight,
Come, prepared to learn your Fate.
It is well to begin with the simpler sort of Hallowe'en games. First comes the Initial Letter. Pare an apple in one continuous piece. Swing it slowly around your head three times, and let it fall on the floor. The letter it forms as it falls will be the initial of your future Fate. This incantation should be pronounced as the experiment is tried:
Paring, paring, long and green,The Mirror is another test. A girl must stand with her back to a mirror, and, looking over her shoulder, repeat this charm:
Tell my Fate for Hallowe'en.
Mirror, mirror, tell to meA merry trick is Blowing out the Candle. A boy and a girl may try this at the same time. Each must be blindfolded, and after turning around three times may try to blow out a lighted candle. A prize may be given to the one who succeeds. Hallowe'en prizes should be plentiful and of trifling value. Also, let them be, as far as possible, appropriate to the occasion. Penwipers may be in the shape of witches' peaked hats, bats, brooms, black cats, autumn leaves, or wee white ghosts. Pin-cushions may represent tiny pumpkins, tomatoes, apples, or radishes. Peanut owls, black velvet witches, chenille imps, and other weird or grotesque figures will suggest themselves, and in the shops may be found inexpensive trinkets suggestive of the day.
Who my future Fate may be.
Ere the magic moments pass,
Frame his picture in the glass.
Another prize game is Biting the Apple. A large apple is suspended by a string, and two or more players try to catch it and take a bite. It is not permissible to touch the apple with the hands, and if the merry contestants forget this, their hands may be tied behind their backs.A good variation of this game is to take a barrel hoop and suspend it from the ceiling so that it will swing and revolve freely. From it, at intervals, suspend by short strings, apples, nuts, candies, cakes, and candle-ends. Who gets by chance a candle-end, must pay a forfeit, while the dainties are considered prizes of themselves. Another rollicking form of this game is called Bobbing for Apples. A large tub is half-filled with water, and in it a number of apples are set floating. Previously the initials of each one of the guests have been cut upon an apple. All those with girls' initials are put in at one time and the boys endeavor to draw out the apples with their teeth while their hands are tied behind them Then the girls bob likewise for the apples which bear the boys' initials The apple secured is supposed to represent the future Fate of the lad or lassie.
A true Hallowe'en game is the Fateful Ice-cream. In a mound or brick of ice-cream are hidden a dime, a ring, and a thimble. The dish is passed around and each guest eats a spoonful. Whoever chances to get the dime is destined to great wealth; the ring betokens matrimony, and the thimble single blessedness for life.
Popping corn, though of no fateful significance, is an indispensable part of the program, and must not on any account be omitted. Pop-corn, somehow, seems to belong to Hallowe'en.
Popping Chestnuts is a more serious matter. Two chestnuts are laid on an open fire or hot stove, and the inquiring maiden names each for a youth of her acquaintance. According to the Hallowe'en superstition, if one nut pops or bursts, that suitor is the unlucky one, but if it burns with a steady glow until consumed to ashes, it shows a true and faithful lover. So old is this particular ceremony, that no less a poet than John Gay thus writes of it:
Two hazel-nuts I throw into the flame,Threading the Needle is a test of a steady hand. A boy or a girl may hold a needle while the other tries to thread it. Each must use but one hand, and sometimes he or she is to hold in the other hand a full cup of water which must not be spilled. If the needle is finally threaded the two are presumably destined for each other. The other young people help or hinder the pair by chanting this charm:
And to each nut I give a sweetheart's name,
This, with the loudest bounce me sore amazed;
That, in a flame of brightest color blazed.
As blazed the nut, so may thy passion glow,
For't was thy nut that did so brightly glow.
Needly, thready, Steady! Steady!Needless to say, the last line often rings out most appropriately.
Where's the thread? The needle's ready.
Now you have it, and now you don't!
Now she will, and now she won't!
Aim it true, and aim it straight,
And behold your future Fate!
Now it's here, and now it's there,
Changing, ranging everywhere.
Watch more carefully, and then
You may see it! Fooled again!
The Bowl of Flour is a pretty test of who shall he the first bride or bridegroom of the group. Pack a bowl very tightly with flour, and in it drop a wedding-ring. Invert the bowl on a platter, and remove it carefully, leaving a compact mound of flour. With a broad, silver knife, let each guest cut off a slice of the flour. As it crumbles, if it contain the ring, it is an omen of approaching marriage.
Counting the Seeds is a game all may play at once. Each is given an apple, which is at once cut in two, crossways, and the seeds counted. If two seeds are found, it portends an early marriage; three indicates a legacy; four, great wealth; five, an ocean trip; six, great public fame: seven, the possession of any gift most desired by the finder.
Nutshell Boats make a pretty test of Fortune. In the half shells of English walnuts are fitted masts made of matches, and tiny, paper sails. On each sail is written the name of a guest, and the boats are set afloat in a tub of water. If two glide together, it indicates a similar fate for their owners; if one sails alone, it means a lonely life. A gentle stirring up of the water will make the boats behave in an amusing manner.
The Three Saucers is said to be an unerring revelation of Fate. One saucer must contain clear water, another soapy water or water into which a drop of ink has been spilled, and the third saucer is empty
A girl is blindfolded, and must dip her finger into one saucer. If the empty one, she will always remain single; if the soapy water, she will marry a widower: but if she touch the clear water, her Fate will be a handsome and wealthy husband.
And as a parting peep into the mysteries of the Future, let the hostess, or some grown-up read the palms of the young people. This need not be scientific palmistry, but a merry make-believe, wherein the fortune-teller can gravely assure the young inquirers of astounding events or fabulous delights which may come into their future lives.
After merry and rollicking games, it is a welcome rest to sit down to Fagot stories. The hostess should have in readiness a number of small fagots or bunches of small dry twigs tied together with a bit of ribbon. One should be given to each guest. These, in turn, are thrown on the fire, and each guest must tell a story that shall last as long as his or her fagot is blazing.
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