Pumpkin carving is, of course, lots of fun and a very traditional October activity. Orignally turnips were used instead.  Here are some other ideas for celebrating with your little ones:

 

Bobbing for Apples

Probably the most well known and favourite Halloween game of all. Float apples in a large basin filled with water. The object of this game is to grab one of the apples and remove it from the water using only your mouth. Hands must be kept behind player’s backs.  Be prepared with towels as the players generally get quite wet.

 

Pass the apple

This relay Halloween game can also be played with oranges.  Line up the children in two rows, the same number of children in each line. They have to pass the apple to the person behind them only using their chin, without using hands or dropping the apple. If the apple drops a team must start from the beginning again.

 

Snap Apple

Tie strings around apples and suspend them from the ceiling, a tree branch, or even use the washing line. You may need to adjust the length once your players arrive so they are at mouth height or lower.  Each player must attempt to eat the entire apple without touching it with their hands. Another prize can be given to the person who gets the first bite out of their apple. It is quite tricky, and you may want to change apples for donuts for younger children.

 

Apple Paring

Each child gets an apple, fruit knife and a plate with all being as close as possible in size and quality.  The children each have to peel their apple, with the winner being the one who produces the longest and narrowest peeling. In times past the person then threw the apple peel over their left shoulder and the letter which the peel resembled was the first initial of the person’s future husband or wife.

 

Ghost Stories

Setting the scene for a scary story is what is needed for maximum effect. Your story could be a real life haunting, a classic ghost story, or an urban legend.  Candles, strange noises and even a hidden prankster (to jump out at the right moment, or squeak some floorboards) will all provide suitable ‘fright’.

 

Post Mortem/Autopsy

This Halloween game is well known and can be made much creepier by blindfolding the guests and passing around the contents of the ‘corpse’ (something gooey) while all of your guests cringe at the feel of their gooey hands!

 

Ghost in the Graveyard

One player, the ghost, hides. Meanwhile, the other players stay together at a spot designated “base” or “safety” (such as a lighted porch), and count loudly in unison, “One o’clock, two o’clock, three o’clock,” and so on, all the way up to “midnight,” at which point they all head off in search of the hiding ghost. When a seeker spots the ghost, he yells, “Ghost in the graveyard!” and, along with everyone else, runs back toward base. The ghost lets loose a ghostly scream and chases after the seekers, trying to tag as many as he can before they all reach base. Who gets to play the part of the ghost next depends on which version of the game your group prefers, but usually it’s the first player tagged.

 

If you’re handy in the kitchen, here are some tasty Hallowe’en ideas:

 

Bairín Breac

 

Various things are baked into the loaf, including of course a ring. It is seen as a form of divination for the year ahead. This is a traditional game and the hidden objects signify different things:

• Ring – marriage

• Coin – wealth

• Rag – poverty

• Thimble – old maid

 

Pumpkin Pie

If you’ve been carving pumpkins, you’ll have a lot of flesh left over. Put it to good use in this pumpkin pie.

Ingredients

• 225 grams pumpkin puree (fresh pumpkin stewed)

• 175 grams sugar

• 1 teaspoon plain flour

• 2 eggs, lightly beaten

• 250ml evaporated milk

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 2 tablespoons water

• ½ teaspoon vanilla essence

• Pastry shell

Method

1. Combine pumpkin, sugar, salt, spices and flour in medium sized mixing bowl.

2. Add eggs and mix well.

3. Add evaporated milk, water and vanilla, mix well.

4. Pour into pastry-lined pan.

5. Bake at 200°C for 15 minutes

6. Reduce to 180°C and bake for another 35mins.

 

Marshmallow Spiders

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These sweet treats are minimum fuss, and maximum fun.

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Ingredients:

•  20 pink and white marshmallows

• 2 bars milk chocolate

• 15 firm liquorice sticks, such as Bassetti

• 40 chocolate drops

 

Method:

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1.  Break the chocolate into pieces and melt in a bowl over a pan of boiling water.

2. Individually dip the marshmallows into the chocolate ensuring all are evenly coated. Put onto greaseproof paper.

3. Cut the liquorice into 5cm legs, slice lengthways into two or four, depending on thickness, so that you end up with 160 thin legs. Gently push 8 legs into the body of the marshmallow spider, add two chocolate drops for the eyes, then leave to set.

 

Toffee Apples

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Apples are a traditional Hallowe’en favourite – add a toffee coating to entice your little monsters.

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Ingredients:

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For the toffee coating:

• 225g demerara sugar

• 25g Butter

• 2 tbsp golden syrup

• 110ml water

• 0.5 tsp vinegar

 

For the apples:

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• 6 dessert apples

• 6 wooden skewers, for holding the apples – lollypop sticks will do

 

Method:

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1.  Dissolve the sugar in the water over a moderate heat. When it has dissolved, stir in the vinegar, syrup and butter. Bring to a boil and cook without stirring until it reaches hard-crack stage (138C) or hardens into a ball when dropped in a jug of cold water. This should take around 10 minutes boiling time.

2. While the syrup is cooking, pierce each apple with a wooden stick. Once the toffee is ready, dip each apple into the hot toffee, turning it around in the syrup so that each one is fully coated.

3. Leave to harden on a lightly oiled tray before serving. If you’re planning to keep them for a day or two, wrap the apples in cellophane.