Halloween traditions

[rosewoods_muse]

Hello everyone

Comments

[scarletladyy]

Halloween isn't actually that big here, it's not really a tradition. The only people I know that go to Halloween parties are teenagers, and they're not really that Halloween-y. I don't even know if we have any proper Halloween traditions, let alone Halloween traditional games xD

Are you talking about when it gets dark? That'll be around 4.30/5.00pm ish. I know around that time when I came home from school it was dark :)

[rosewoods_muse]

That's kind of what I thought. My U.K. challenger has a twisted sense of humor apparently. (She's sly like that!) So far little Sev has a small lantern carved from a turnip. Are there any traditional (non-holiday) party games that children play?

Ah, it gets dark rather early! Excellent, at least that's something to work with. :)

Thank you!

[scarletladyy]

There's musical chairs, musical bumps, musical statues, pass the parcel :)

Yeah, it's a right pain in the arse! Even when I was going to school it was semi-dark! :P

[rosathome]

Yes, it is a tradition. It's not huge like it is in the US, but there are longstanding traditional games. Agatha Christie's Hallowe'en Party is set in the 1950's and features a children's party for Hallowe'en. The only game I actually remember from it was apple-bobbing.

[rumantic]

At Hallowe'en the sun would set at around 5pm, or 6pm if the clocks have not yet gone back. (I can never remember when they do!) Most primary school aged children in Britain go to bed around 8pm.

We might have a hallowe'en party as a one off, ie because the adults thought it might be fun for the children but we don't generally have them as a rule. Also it's worth noting that if children dress up they don't dress up in random costumes, it has to be something scary, so a werewolf, ghost, frankenstein's monster, witch (maybe not! :P) or vampire, etc. Children might go trick or treating but a lot of parents frown upon it and see it as begging.

The only game I can think of which I associate with Hallowe'en is apple-bobbing, which is where you float apples in a bucket of water and have to try and bite into one with your hands tied behind your back.

[rumantic]

Oh actually according to this:
http://www.halesowenweather.co.uk/sunrise_sunset_times.htm#oct

4.39pm is more accurate. And I've just looked up when the clocks go back this year and it's on Halowe'en itself.

You could indeed adapt other party games:
Pin the tail on the Grim :P
Hide and seek in the dark (We used to play this during power cuts. The adult supervisor would light a candle while the seeker counted giving the other children enough light to find a hiding space.)
Musical ghosts - like musical statues but instead of dancing you have to go around saying "wooooo" being ghostly

I'll come back if I think of any more!

[rosewoods_muse]

I've never heard of musical statues -- sounds intriguing!

Thanks for a bit of inspiration. :)

[rumantic]

Musical statues - the parent plays some music and all the children dance. The adult stops the music and everyone has to freeze. Whoever freezes last is out. Repeat until there is one child left, declare child the winner. To mix it up a bit you can add instructions like "everyone pretend to be aeroplanes!" rather than just plain dancing.

[lostmylipgloss]

I second bobbing for apples. You can hold a fork in your mouth too though and drop it into the bucket to try and pierce an apple.

Like others said, Halloween isn't as big a deal here. Although I remember going to Halloween parties when I was a kid, I don't remember any other games other than apple bobbing.

[rosewoods_muse]

Bobbing for apples is another game to consider. Don't know why I didn't think of that.

Thanks!

[sollersuk]

Definitely bobbing for apples. It was the only game we played. Being Welsh, my mother made a bit of a thing of Hallowe'en, and we did carve a turnip lantern every year. It goes easier if you use an apple corer to loosen the inside then hack the little cylinders out. The great thing about turnip lanterns is that they're strong enough to tie string to and hang up or carry round.

[naath]

OR you stick your head in the bucket of water and try to grab the apple with your teeth. Which is a different game but goes by the same name.

And yeah, not big here. Although there are parties, and we do sometimes dress up.

[torakowalski]

I can imagine kids bobbing for apples or maybe playing murder in the dark but, like other people have said, Hallowe'en isn't a big thing over here, especially not back when Lily and Snape were young.

Also, it's worth pointing out that Hallowe'en would never be referred to as a 'holiday' over here.

[makeanewworld]

I second the apple bobbing - I remember that from a Hallowe'en party I went to as a kid. Also second the concept that costumes will only be of scary things: it confused me when I first discovered American kids dress up as princesses or superheroes or whatever (actually, it still does confuse me...). Kids might also play traditional party games like musical statues, musical chairs, sleeping lions etc. But those would be played at any kids' party and aren't specific to any celebration

[rumantic]

Wouldn't that make it dark at 6pm the day before and 5pm on Halowe'en? :)

I second all the Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night/Fireworks night related stuff.

[makeanewworld]

You're right - I just came back to correct that when I realised I'd got it the wrong way round, but you beat me to it! :)

The clocks going back means it gets darker an hour earlier, not an hour later. I'm tired :P.

[makeanewworld]

Not a game, but another Hallowe'en/Guy Fawkes Night tradition is toffee apples. Sticky but delicious. :)