"Olden-Day" Party Etiquette

As mentioned previously, many of Victoriana Halloween parties served either as ways to define one's future, fortunes, or marriage prospects. Perhaps not coincidentally, then, many of the games during these parties had some element of divination to it. Some translate well, even today, and carry a charming appeal.
Below, we've listed some of these intriguing pursuits. Please note that you should use common sense and good judement when trying some of them....If nothing else, these past Halloween recreations make for interesting, if curious, atmosphere for you, or any willing guest you may have.

Apple Divination
The Victorian affinity for apple games and charms is infinite. Here are a few:

*Gather your guests amongst a table of apples. Each takes his or her turn and, with a knife, tries to peel the apple skin in one continuous motion. If, and when, the apple peel falls try to decipher the letter shape it makes once it hits the floor. The letter that the long peel makes will be the first initial of that person's true love.

*Take several apples, and cut one letter per apple onto the sides of each. You may use letters as many times as you wish. Have your guests participate in an apple bobbing game, using these apples. For the person who gets an apple, the initial will stand for their future husband or wife's name.

Nuts
Nuts were associated with the Pagan Celts as a fertility symbol, and was utilized by the Victorians in matters of love. They were used to determine future husbands and loves, and were used in Halloween dishes (see the food section for more information) and games.

*Take the shells of pistachios and give one to each guest. Have them initial the inside of the nuts with a marker, for identification purposes. Gather your partiers around a shallow basin or bucket and encourage them to float the nut shells with the insides facing upwards, sort of like small boats. Those whose boats meet will probably marry, those whose boats capsize quickly will face misfortune, those whos boats travel far from the place they began will travel.

*You can prepare these nuts before your guests arrive: take walnuts and open them, being careful not to crack the outer shell. Remove the nut's fleshy part. In the meantime, take several small strips of paper, and write enchanted fortunes on them. Roll them into small cylinders and place one into each nut shell. Put the nut back together and, using fancy or foiled ribbon, tie the nuts together. Place into a basket and allow your guests to take one and read their "fortunes". These make great party favors!

Other Games
The vastness of the games of Halloween encapsuled anything as curious or clever as the host or hostess could think up. It seems that the spririt of magic and the unusual was the only requisite. Here are some that we liked:

* Place a "seeker" (someone seeking his/her fortune for the upcoming year) in front of a table, and blindfold him/her. Place three bowls onto the table. The first has milk (good fortune), the second water (a comfortable living), the third stays empty (poverty). The outcome of his life's status depends on which bowl the blindfolded guest places his finger into.

* Create a spider web of yarn: Take 6 or so yarn strings and intersect each so that they meet in the middle, and form a star formatin. Take another few strings and weave in a circular pattern around the star formation. Leave a few inches at the end so that they can be grabbed. Allow to stay on the floor in this formation (to avoid tangling) until your guest are ready to play "spiderweb." Have each guest grab one thread of the web, and slowly unwind. Eventually, each person should unwind to find another person at the other end. The two people holding different ends of the same thread are destined to be involved romantically (a Victorian "Spin the Bottle," perhaps?).

* This is perhaps less of a game than an old superstition. One can't be sure of the results, but it may be interesting to try. It is said that a woman will see the man she will marry if she walks backwards, at midnight on Halloween, carrying a hand-mirror. Supposedly, the intended man's face will show up in the mirror.
Several versions of this same notion exist: A woman should walk backwards UP a STAIRCASE at midnight on Halloween, while holding a mirror and candle. Another states that one should brush their hair in a large mirror on Halloween night and the figure of a future love should appear to them at this time. Ahh, love!