Nut-Crack Night
[In the northern part of England, Hallowe’en is still called Nut-Crack Night.]
For a Nut-Crack Night Party, write invitations on a pumpkin-shaped booklet, cut double, with face of Jack-o’-Lantern painted outside; inside write:
On Nut-Crack Night you’ll meet your fate,
Please come at eight, do not be late;
What mysteries are to be seen,
You will not know ’til Hallowe’en.
Decorate your rooms with yellow and black tissue paper streamers, and hang from the ceiling by threads, cats, owls, bats and witches cut from black paper. Pinned on the curtains and screens they give a weird effect. Light the rooms with Jack-o’-Lanterns or electric candles.
The usual nut-cracking, floating walnut shells in tubs, throwing apple paring three times over head and at last on the floor, to show initials of name of future husband, may be indulged in. Have sets of letters of the alphabet in a basket, allow guest to take a handful and arrange name of lad or lass they will marry.
Walnut shells tied with ribbon will contain fortunes, or they may be attached to strings concealed in a paper pudding. Each guest draws a string for a fortune at the end.
Other fortunes may be obtained at a post office, received in the form of a letter, postal, package or paper.
To pay for the mail, require each guest to do some stunt, he must then undo his paper or whatever he receives, and reveal his fortune to the rest.
A palmist, astrologer or gipsy may also give fortunes.
Some of the fortunes will read:
1.
There is magic in your smile,
Use it every other mile.
2.
You’d better write a note to-night
On paper blue, or pink or white.
3.
When you meet a certain lass,
You should never let her pass.
4.
When you’re looking in brown eyes,
You will get a great surprise.
5.
On a journey you will go,
In a day, a week, or so.
6.
You’ll receive a charming letter,
It will leave you feeling better.
7.
You may think your fortune funny,
But you’re going to get some money.
8.
Your fortune is a good one, very,
Go search now in the dictionary.
9.
Back of the sofa pillow see,
A roll of good things wait for thee.
10.
Some eyes are hazel, some are blue,
a pleasant fortune waits for you.
Some stunts suggested are:
1.
Tell a story about a ghost,
Be sure you don’t alarm your host.
2.
Backward walk around the room,
You’ll walk into something soon.
3.
Kiss the shadow if you dare,
Of the black cat on the stair.
4.
With paper and scissors form the habit,
To cut a very cunning rabbit.
5.
Whistle a tune or sing a song,
Don’t keep the audience waiting long.
6.
Perform a dance or whistle very
Like a wild bird, or canary.
Hide nuts about the room, allow the guest three minutes to search, and the one with the most, obtains a prize.
Hide animal crackers also, give each guest a folded paper on which is written such a verse as:
“Soon you’ll hear the lion roar,
You never met the like before.”
He must search for the animal-cracker lion; if he finds any other animal he must leave it undisturbed for the right party to find. Jingles about the animals may readily be prepared by the hostess. A few are suggested:
The elephant’s gait is slow and steady,
You see his trunk is always ready.
The friendly cow is often seen,
On this night of Hallowe’en.
The tiger is often in a rage,
You’d better put him in a cage.
You may come from shores remote,
But you don’t want to be the goat.
Pass out cards with the questions and give guest a certain time to complete; those who have correct lists are presented with bags of peanuts.
The first part of this nut you drink,
Stop a minute, better think—Cocoanut.
Humpty Dumpty had a fall,
He sat so high on a big stone—Walnut.
If you name a color found in eyes,
The answer brings you a surprise—Hazelnut.
You like to spread it thick on bread,
You drop it on that side it’s said—Butternut.
On all the mighty oak trees grow
A nut whose name you surely know—Acorn.
Other little jingles can readily be made up like the above, naming such nuts as peanut, pecan, philbert, etc.