Helps and Hints
for
Hallowe’en

By
Laura Rountree Smith

MARCH BROTHERS, Publishers
208, 210, 212 Wright Ave., Lebanon, Ohio

COPYRIGHT, 1920, By
MARCH BROTHERS

Contents

NOTE

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March Brothers, Publishers
208, 210, 212 Wright Ave., Lebanon, Ohio

Introduction

Hist! be still! ’tis Hallowe’en,

When fairies troop across the green!

On Hallowe’en when elves and witches are abroad, we find it the custom over all the world to build bonfires, to keep off evil spirits; and this is the night of all nights to entertain friends with stunts similar to those performed two hundred years ago. On this night fortunes are told, games are played, and if it so happens that your birthday falls on this night, you may even be able to hold converse with fairies—so goes the ancient superstition!

So, careful be on Hallowe’en,

Whenever you come out;

So, careful be on Hallowe’en,

The witches are about!

Hallowe’en had its origin in the old Druid festival. The Druids kept fires burning all the year in honor of the sun-god. On the last night of October, they met at the altars where their fires were burning, put them out with much pomp and ceremony, and again relighted them. They took embers from the new fires, returned home and kindled fires on their own hearths. Superstition had it, that a home where one of these fires burned constantly, throughout the year, was protected from all evil. Later on, any fire kept evil spirits away. While each country still has its own witches, fairies and ghosts, they all agree the night of October 31st is a great time for celebrations.

This little book will be found useful in school, church and home, in planning celebrations for Hallowe’en.

The very air is full of magic, so,

LET’S WRITE AN INVITATION HEARTY,

ON HALLOWE’EN NIGHT, TO A NUT-CRACK PARTY.

Party Suggestions

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.

Hallowe’en Stunts

A Shadow Play for Hallowe’en

A person standing out of view, recites the following verses as pictures appear. The pictures may be cut from dark tag board and lowered from above or shifted in from the side, or real people may pose back of the sheet if desired. To make a screen, have a sheet stretched between a doorway, back of which a bright light is placed. Have the other room dark, in which the audience is assembled. The performers in posing between the light and the sheet make the shadows.

1.

Suppose at night, on Hallowe’en,

The Witch appears upon the screen—

Tell me, would anybody scream?

[Witch appears.]

2.

Suppose the Owl, who’s very wise,

Should wink and blink his great round eyes,

Would he take you by surprise?

[Owl cut from cardboard with eyes cut out so that light shines through.]

3.

Suppose the Cat grew larger by half;

I wonder would it make you laugh,

So you would lean upon a staff?

[Cat cut from cardboard. Move same nearer light to produce enlarging effect.]

4.

Suppose Jack-o’-Lantern spoke to you,

And in accents crisp and new,

Said, “Ho, ho, ho, I’ve come for you!”

[Jack-o’-Lantern cut from cardboard with eyes, nose and mouth cut out so that light shines through.]

5.

Suppose the Brownie’s beckoning hand,

Lured you out to Fairyland,

His language would you understand?

[Have a hand extended back of screen in the act of beckoning.]

6.

A Ghost you see, scary as can be,

He eats superstitions regularly,

He’s looking for you, looking for me.

[Ghost appears.]

7.

Throw the apple paring round,

Gently three times, on the ground,

My lover’s initials I have found.

[A girl throws paring.]

8.

Mirror, mirror, tell me true,

On Hallowe’en what can I do,

If you reflect a face that’s new?

[A girl with mirror, someone looking over her shoulder.]

9.

Oh, fortune cake, make no mistake,

Before the party is over;

Of your sweetness, I’ll partake,

My true love to discover.

[A boy with an enormous cake.]

10.

On this palm-leaf fan, I see

A maiden smiling merrily,

On Hallowe’en she smiles at me.

[A boy looking at large palm-leaf fan.]

11.

Druid of the long ago,

Leaning on your staff you go.

Will your fire burn a year or so?

[A boy in bent position, leaning on a cane.]

12.

Ho, ho, little boy, run, oh, run!

Ho, ho, on Hallowe’en have your fun.

Ho, ho, ho, ho, our play is done.

[Little boys with real Jack-o’-Lanterns, run back of sheet, then come out in front and bow.]

The Black Cat Stunt

A student in cap and gown, stands across from a table where a very quiet, gentle cat is held still by a child. Children in a row at the back of stage hold up books, as though studying. The student recites:

THE STUFFED CAT

Who stuffed that cat? No one spoke in school,

For ’twas study time and against the rule.

The children in their seats might stare,

The visitor, little did he care.

What a very ridiculous nose!

What an exceedingly awkward pose!

Such extremely pointed ears

Have never belonged to a cat, my dears.

And those big, round, shining eyes

Never belonged to a cat that size!

If a real cat on the table sat,

He’d be inclined to laugh at that!

Who stuffed that cat? Was it a clown?

Who always jokes in striped gown?

Tho’ I’m not old or very wise,

For a cat you’ve made an odd disguise.

When anything you want to do,

It’s well to learn the thing, ’tis true;

Excuse me, if I laugh at that,

Your very funny, old STUFFED CAT!

[The child holding the cat pokes it, the cat rises and walks about, the children laugh, while the student shows his surprise, and walks off in an indignant manner.]

A Pumpkin Climbing Game

The children are shown a room with half a dozen pumpkins on the floor. They practice walking about, stepping over them. One is blindfolded. The pumpkins are quickly removed and the rest laugh at his efforts to step over them. Apples or candles in candlesticks may be used, instead of pumpkins. This game makes much laughter.

Exercises

A Hallowe’en Acrostic

[For ten children, either boys or girls.]

A witch comes on the stage with a basket full of letters to spell the word “Hallowe’en.” She pins one on each child, and they dance about and stand in groups; as she calls for the letters, one by one they arrange themselves in a line, come forward, hold up letter and recite.

All:

Witches, witches, leaping ditches,

Everywhere are seen;

Witches, witches, with their switches,

Late on Hallowe’en.

H.:

Hold your head up high, for passing by

The cat and owl do often cry.

All:

Meow, meow! Who, who!

A.:

Autumn time brings jolly fun,

From Jack-o’-Lantern we won’t run.

All:

He has terrible eyes, oh, my! oh, my!

L.:

Look for charm, and look for token,

Witches’ spell will then be broken.

All:

Four-leaf clover, four-leaf clover,

Look for it the wide world over.

L.:

Late at night upon the post

You may see a solemn ghost.

All:

Whist! be still, a ghost! a ghost!

O.:

Once a year you may discover,

In a mirror, friend or lover!

All:

Mirror, mirror, smile at me.

W.:

Well for you to say your prayers,

If you’re all alone upstairs.

All:

The wind may call for me and you,

OOO—OOO—OOO!

E.:

Every year, I always fear,

When the goblins are drawing near.

All:

They may be afraid of you—

Just bow and say, “How—do—you do?”

E.:

Echo hear the ghost’s shrill cry,

“It’s Hallowe’en—I’m passing by.”

All:

A ghostly cry, oh, my!

N.:

Now we all will say good night,

I hope, we gave no one a fright!

Witch:

Oh, no, my dears, you’re most polite,

It just takes me to scare you quite;

The witches often sigh, ’tis true,

Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye to you!

[All march off.]

Take Care, Tables Are Turned!

[The children enter, stand in line and recite. After each recitation is given, the object they mention is seen, shown over a screen at the back of stage. The Witch, Owl, etc., may wear masks, the Bat may be made of paper and swung from above.]

All:

We all have frolicked on Hallowe’en.

We hear strange sounds, what can they mean?

First:

What if my Jack-o’-Lantern came to life?

I made his mouth so big and wide,

And put a candle bright inside!

All:

What if he came to life?

Second:

What if my Witches made of black paper,

On Hallowe’en should cut up a caper?

All:

What if they came to life?

Third:

What if the Owl I stuffed this year

Should very suddenly appear,