Apple Games

Bobbing for apples is one of the most popular traditional Halloween games. According to Lisa Morten’s Halloween Encyclopedia, references to the game have been found in literature as early as the 14th century, although it is believed that the game was played far before even then. The objective is simple – players attempt to retrieve an apple from a bucket filled with water without using their hands. 

The most common way to play is as follows:

• Fill a clean, large tub or basin with water. Usually filling it about 3/4 to the top is best; if you overfill, water will splash on the floor.
• The tub/basin can be placed on the floor and participants can kneel. Or the tub can be placed on a waist-high table.
• Float several apples in the water. You should ultimately plan 1-2 per player, but depending on the number of players, you may not add them all at once. It is best to allow the apples some room for movement.
• Players take turns trying to grab an apple without using their hands. 

In some versions of the game, the apple itself is the prize. Sometimes each player is timed and the fastest one to grab an apple is the winner. Other versions of the game serve as fortune-telling, with the first to grab an apple to be the first to marry, or a happy life predicted for anyone who could grab one.