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Halloween is a time for spooky costumes, eerie decorations, and enough candy to keep dentists in business for a lifetime. But there's one quirky tradition that often gets overlooked amidst the pumpkin carving and ghost stories: bobbing for apples. This delightful game has been a Halloween staple for generations, but have you ever wondered where it all began?
What is Bobbing for Apples?
Bobbing for apples is a game that can be played year-round, but it’s primarily played around autumn and Halloween. It's a fun and somewhat challenging activity that is usually enjoyed at parties and gatherings. Here’s how to play:
A large container, such as a tub or a large basin, is filled with water.
Apples are then placed in the water, and they float on the surface because they are less dense than water.
Participants take turns trying to catch an apple with their teeth without using their hands. This is usually done by leaning over the container, submerging their face into the water, and attempting to grab an apple with their teeth while their hands are behind their backs.
Unearthing the Mysterious Origins of Bobbing for Apples
Our story starts not with pumpkins or black cats but with love in Europe hundreds of years ago. Bobbing for apples started as a common way for young lovers to court one another. While there existed many game variations, every apple had a special person associated with it. If the bobber successfully bit into the apple with the name of a love interest in one try, then fate and fortune favored the lucky couple. If the bobber took two attempts, then they could still try it out, but their love wouldn't last a very long time. Unfortunately, if the bobber took three attempts to bite into the apple, then it just wasn't meant to be for this couple and it would probably be best not to pursue it at all.
Another variation of bobbing for apples is the first person to bite an apple would be the next one in the group to have a marriage. Another superstition is that if a girl bit into an apple and placed the fruit beneath her pillow, she would see her true love in a dream.
Halloween History
To get a better understanding of modern Halloween traditions, you should first understand Halloween history. The Celtic holiday Samhain is typically celebrated from October 31 to November 1 to mark the end of summer and welcome in the new fall harvest, as well as "the dark half of the year." The Romans and later the Christian Church assimilated Samhain, endeavoring to transform it into a Christian observance. In summary, in the 9th century, Pope Gregory designated November 1 as All Saints' Day and November 2 as All Souls' Day. Traditional pagan practices can still be seen on modern-day Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, on October 31.