For my Halloween entry I thought I would enlighten you as to some of the traditions and games that people participated in back in the early 1900's. Enjoy~ and Happiest of Halloween to all of my readers!

A Party Of Departed Spirits: Ask each guest to come as the ghost of some famous deceased character. Each must bring a pumpkin lantern as their ticket of admission. When all guests are assembled, announce that the first game will be guessing the ghosts. Number each person, then furnish pen and paper for the contest. Award a prize to the one who guesses the most correctly.

Ducking For Apples: Place a dime in one apple, a ring in another and a button in the third. These denote fortune, marriage and single blessedness. Mix these apples in a large tub with as many others as will fit. Players try without the use of hands to secure an apple in their mouth. Everyone must then pare their apples, trying not to break the paring strip. The apple paring is thrown over the left shoulder and is then said to form the first initial of the parer's life mate.

Sailing Walnut Boats: Boats are made from the empty walnut shells. In each is fastened a short piece of brightly-colored candle, along with the name of someone at the party. Light the candle and set it afloat with others in a tub. The boat bearing the candle first extinguished on its own will denote a bachelor or an old maid.

Candle Blowing: Blindfold players and let them blow out a candle, the number of puffs required to extinguish the flame governing the number of years before the player's marriage.

The Luggies Or The Three Bowls: Place three dishes on the floor. One containing clean water, one containing milky water and one to be kept empty. Blindfold and the spin each player, asking the player to place his or her fingers in one dish. If clean water is touched, then there will be marriage to a gentleman or a maid. If milky water is touched, that signifies widowhood or separation. If the empty bowl is touched, then there will be no marriage at all.

The Looking-Glass: If a maid walks backwards down a stairway by candlelight, while gazing into a looking-glass, she may see the face of her future mate.

Pumpkin Fortress: "Twirl a Pumpkin, then strike true, For the name depends on you." Paste gummed letters on a pumpkin. Hand it by a string and twist it a few times before letting go. When it starts to spin, players stick it with a hat pin. Whatever letter they strike will be the initial of the player's intended.

Secret Messages: Stuff large, halved walnuts with fortunes written in lemon juice, which will become visible when held over a candle.

A Gift Of Charms And Talismans: Each guest picks a small sack tied with orange and black ribbon. Inside each bag is a strip of paper bearing an individual charm for each guest. They are told that the bags are blessed by Titania, Queen of the Fairies, and her blessing would serve to keep away the witches for a period of one year.

Mystery Cake: "Cut the Flour Cake of fate, It your fortune will dictate." Pack dry flour tightly in a deep cake tin and insert small fortune-telling charms attached to strips of paper. When ready to play, turn the cake out onto a board. Each player must cut a slice and remove what he or she finds with his or her teeth.

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)