Growing up in rural New England, Halloween was not just about candy and costumes. It was an entire season a  feeling that took over as soon as the first leaves started changing. My grandmother used to say that Halloween games were not just for fun they connected us to generations past who celebrated the harvest and honored their ancestors through playful rituals. I never quite appreciated what she meant until I started hosting my own Halloween gatherings as an adult.

The Ancient Roots of Halloween Entertainment

Halloween party games have origins far deeper than most of us realize. The holiday itself evolved from the Celtic festival of Samhain, when people believed the boundary between the living and dead worlds thinned. Many traditional Halloween games actually began as fortune telling  rituals, particularly focused on romance and marriage prospects. These were not simply diversions but meaningful cultural practices.

I remember learning this while researching for a neighborhood Halloween block party I organized a few years back. Everyone assumes Halloween traditions are mostly American inventions, but they could not be more wrong. The roots stretch back thousands of years across multiple continents.

Apple Bobbing: The Surprising History Behind the Classic Game

Did you know that bobbing for apples was originally a divination game for young unmarried people? In old Britain and Ireland, it was believed that the first person to successfully bite an apple would be the next to marry. Sometimes, young women would secretly mark an apple before placing it in the water, hoping their sweetheart would choose it.

The first time I attempted apple bobbing at a college Halloween party, I ended up soaking wet with nothing to show for it. My roommate, however, emerged triumphant with an apple in her teeth. She did end up getting engaged the following year  coincidence, or ancient magic at work?

Nut Roasting and Mirror Gazing: Forgotten Halloween Traditions

One Halloween tradition that has largely disappeared involved placing hazelnuts near a fire. Young couples would name nuts after themselves, and if the nuts roasted quietly together, it predicted a harmonious relationship. If they jumped and cracked, well not such good news for the couple.

Another  tradition involves  looking into mirrors at midnight on Halloween. Young women would walk backward down a staircase holding a candle and a hand mirror, hoping to glimpse the face of their future husband in the reflection. I actually tried this at a sleepover when I was thirteen. Did I see anything? No, but I nearly fell down the stairs and woke up my friend’s parents. Not my finest moment.

Evolution of Halloween Games in Modern America

Halloween party games transformed significantly through the 20th century. As trick or treating became the dominant Halloween activity for children in the 1950s, adult Halloween parties began featuring their own evolving set of games.

The costume contest has become perhaps the most universal Halloween party game, with categories expanding beyond “scariest” to include “most creative,” “best couple,” and “funniest.” When I hosted my first grown up  Halloween party in my twenties, I was unprepared for how seriously my friends would take the costume competition. The friendly rivalry continues to this day.

Digital Age Halloween: How Technology Changed Party Games

In  recent years, Halloween games have embraced technology. Murder mystery apps, digital scavenger hunts, and horror-themed video games have all become part of modern Halloween celebrations.

I noticed this shift dramatically during the pandemic when in person gatherings were limited. My friend group pivoted to virtual Halloween parties with online versions of classic games. We did digital costume contests, virtual escape rooms with Halloween themes, and even remote pumpkin carving competitions. It was not the same as being together, but it preserved our Halloween traditions during a difficult time.

Keeping the Spirit Alive: Why Halloween Games Still Matter

In our fast-paced world, Halloween games provide something increasingly rare genuine face to face  interaction and playful connection. Last Halloween, I watched my niece and nephew play many of the same games I enjoyed as a child. Their laughter as they tried to eat donuts hanging from strings without using their hands sounded exactly like mine did decades ago. Some traditions are worth preserving, not just for nostalgia but for the joy they continue to bring.

Halloween games connect us  to our past,and to the playful spirit that makes this holiday so beloved. So this October 31st, between the candy distribution and costume admiration, maybe try an old fashioned  Halloween game.And is not that what Halloween is really about? Not just frights and candy, but creating memories that last long after the jack-o’-lanterns  have gone dark.

Reference

Rogers, Nicholas. (2002). Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night. Oxford University Press.

Santino, Jack. (1994). Halloween and Other Festivals of Death and Life.  University of Tennessee Press.

Bannatyne, Lesley Pratt. (1990). Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History.  Facts on File.

Morton, Lisa. (2012). Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween.  Reaktion Books.

The History Channel. (2009). “The History of Halloween.” Retrieved from www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween