Apple and Candle Night

Halloween in Swansea is traditionally called ‘Apple and Candle Night’, although this like many other traditions is dying out. My mother can remember it being called so, but even by my own childhood It was rarely referred to by this name.



The name ‘Apple and Candle Night’ refers to the old game of apples and candles. A sturdy twig would be chosen which would be suspended in its middle by a string, upon one end was tied an apple so that it dangled on another string and on the other end of the twig would be secured a lit candle. The trick was to eat the apple, with your hands behind your back, without getting burnt by the candle. To make the game more difficult, if a hot flame and dripping wax was not difficult enough, the challenger could also be blindfolded, and the stick spun so that you didn’t know if it was the apple or the candle in front of you.

Unsurprisingly this game has died out although the remnants of it can still be found. Some apple bobbing is done with the apples floating in a bowl of water with the challenger having to retrieve one by their teeth alone, the echoes of the hands behind the hands behind the back rule still remaining. Whilst other apple games dangle the apples from string with the same no hand rule applying.

The candles it seems now stay more safely away in the lanterns which traditionally would have been turnips or swedes hollowed out with carved faces. These too have been largely replaced by pumpkins, which have only become popular in the last twenty years or so.

It is sad to think that ‘Apple and Candle Night’ has all but died out and in a generation or two it will probably be forgotten completely. But as I light my candles tonight and wait for the trick or treaters to knock the door, instead of saying “Happy Halloween” I might say “Happy Apple and Candle Night” in hope of a revival.

Well I am off to bob for apples.

Happy Apple and Candle Night this Halloween!

J & M