Okay, so I can’t resist a blog about Halloween. After all, it is October.
Earlier this month our very own fillie, Julie Benson, wrote about how much Halloween has changed over the years. And boy has it. But you don’t realize how much until you learn about some of the things they did in the past. I’m only going as far back as the 1800s when folks in America tried to make the holiday less scary and more about community and fun family get-togethers. In fact, by the late 1800’s Halloween parties were celebrated by children and adults alike. The media of the day wanted parents to take the “scary” out of Halloween celebrations and replace it with fun. So, parties became more focused on playing games. There were the familiar ones. Pin the Tail on The Donkey, Bobbing for Apples, Blind Man’s Bluff and scavenger hunts were always a popular pastime at children’s parties. There was even a game called Halloween Pudding. This game, was for young men and women. The host of the party baked a fruit cake with five different things hidden inside. A thimble, a coin, a button, a key, and a ring.

When nine o’clock rolled around, the oldest person in attendance quietly cut the cake then handed the pieces out. The first words spoken after the cake was cut would be prophetic for the year. As were the objects in the cake. Whomever got the ring was said to be getting married that year. The person who got the coin, would be wealthy, (for our time, that would be akin to winning the lottery), the person who got the thimble would become an old maid or a life-long bachelor, (you can bet no one wanted the blasted thimble) and the key meant you were going on a journey. And, if lucky, you got the button. It meant you would meet your true love.

Speaking of true love, there was also a game in which a single gal would go into a dark room with a mirror and a candle. She’d take an apple with her. She had to peel it in one long piece or slice the apple. And she had to watch the mirror while she was doing it. The Victorians believed your true love’s face would appear in the mirror as you watched. Unless of course you were going to die that year, then a skull would appear. Somehow, I don’t see that as being a very popular game, but those were the Victorians for you. They were really into that kind of stuff.

There was also the Victorian version of Green Ghost for those of you who remember that game. Young women would go into a dark room one by one. This was done after everyone told them the room was haunted. There was a dresser in the room with boxes hidden in the drawers. The object of the game was to go into the room in silence, reach into a drawer and retrieve a box from it. All without screaming. Those familiar with Green Ghost, remember reaching into little boxes or containers that were full of plastic rats, bats and what not, or for the adventurous types, gooey stuff that your mom mixed up in the kitchen. Our mom used Jello squares or cold oatmeal. Naturally we played Green Ghost in the dark, creepy attic of our house. In the 1800’s version, the hidden boxes held party favors for the other party guests. Personally, I think the Victorians would have failed at Green Ghost. We screamed like little banshees when we stuck our fingers in cold oatmeal. Only one container contained the plastic rats, bats and cats that came with the game. Oh, and a little green ghost.

I, myself, have never written a book centered around Halloween, but I do have a book that takes place around Harvest Moon. And my hero and heroine meet in a pumpkin patch. He’s also an undertaker.

What’s your favorite fun thing to do at this time of year? I know a lot of folks don’t celebrate Halloween but still like to carve a pumpkin or enjoy foods of the season. What’s your favorite thing about this time of year, whether it’s Halloween or something else? I’ll pick a random winner from the comments to receive a free e-copy of my book, Love at Harvest Moon.