Wink Murder;
was always a favourite, played in a darkened room, sometimes only lit by individual players candles. There are a few variations including one version named 'vampire',
take a look at the rules..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wink_Murder.
Apple Bobbing;
Apples were such a powerful symbol in ancient times that the paradise of Celtic mythology, Avalon, literally means Apple-land. The apple is linked with both the Celtic festivals that gave rise to Halloween celebrations and the Roman goddess Pomona, who became associated with Halloween later on.
To bob for apples requires only a large tub or bucket filled with water and plenty of apples. During the Victorian era, it was believed that the first to catch an apple in her teeth would be the first to marry, or that after she snagged an apple, the first name spoken in her presence would be that of her future spouse. Sometimes Victorian hosts would insert charms into the apples, each predicting a different fortune. For example, capturing an apple with a coin in it would mean future wealth. A creative host could come up with many different types of fortune telling charms
Carving pumpkins..
Jack-O’-Lanterns may have been named for the story of a sinful man named Jack who managed to trap Satan in a tree and refused to set him free unless he promised to spare Jack from an eternity in hell. Unable to enter heaven or hell, Jack was given a hellfire ember to place inside either a carrot or turnip so that he could find his way around earth’s dark places. Later, pumpkins were used to make these lanterns, as their size made them more suited to carrying a flame
Snuff out the candle..
Bewarned not without an element of risk of catching your trousers or other apparel on fire, so hitch loose clothing out of the way before playing this game, it is totally hilarious though..
Tie a large spoon on a piece of string long enough to reach to lower calf level on each participant, tie the rest around their waist. The spoon is now dangling between their legs from the string entending from the handle. The spoon must be hanging down from the back of the player. The player now has to position themselves over a lighted candle and scoop down over it and snuff out the candle with the dangling spoon face. Failure to snuff it out, in say 2 minutes, will of course result in a one of a selection of appropriate silly forfeits.
Its not as easy as it seems..:)
Tell Ghost Stories or go Ghost Hunting...
Here is one of many of our local ones concerning the manor of Knighton.
Knighton is a hamlet near to Sandown on the Isle of Wight.
It is usually pronounced as Kay-nighton by local people, to avoid confusion with the larger, village of Niton, near Ventnor.
Knighton Gorges
Knighton manor house used to be the grandest manor house on the Isle of Wight. Sir Hugh de Morville fled to the house after killing Thomas Becket of Canterbury. The house was owned by the de Morvilles until 1256 when Ralf de Gorges which is where the name Knighton Gorges comes from.
All that is now left of the house is the two stone gateposts. The house was demolished in 1821 by George Maurice Bisset in order to prevent his daughter inheriting it after she had married a clergyman without Bisset's consent.
Knighton Gorges is a cornerstone of many unearthly tales, as the house has long been said to reappear at times in ghostly form, Lit up in all its former glory once a year on New Years Eve and entertaining a party in full swing, which to the unsuspecting observer seems like a period fancydress. Locals have also reported seeing animal-like gargoyles on top of each gatepost; these figures, if ever they existed, were removed many years ago and all that is left is plain stone.
The area is haunted by various ghosts and is a must stop for ghost hunters. One such tale is that of Sir Tristram Dillington, who is thought to have committed suicide after taking to gambling heavily after tragedy struck with smallpox killing his children and the death of his wife. His valet is said to have concealed the nature of his death by placing his corpse upon his horse, Thunderbolt, and driving it into the lake, ensuring that the property was not forfeited. The story is that the ghost of Sir Tristram rides a ghostly horse each year on the anniversary of his death, which occurred on 7 July 1721
Want another Story,... of Love, Crusades and Time Travel, pop over to this fabulous link IOWRock and read another of our Island's Tales, Its really worth it.
http://www.iowrock.demon.co.uk/clearspot/blimp_lucy.html
Have fun. Happy Halloween.
Two more Ravens witch wands , or Batons. I found this vintage emphemera reference after I had made all the batons I thought you might like to see, and in the text greeting it says.....
