October Ends

Fill up the tub with water,
  Apple bobbin' time is here.
We're going to have a party,
  For it is that time of year.

The pumpkin pies are ready,
  New made cider, oh so sweet.
Autumn leaves are falling,
  This season can't be beat.

   Soon October will be over,
  Halloween will come and go.
It won't be long till Santa,
  Comes a riding through the snow.

©Joe Pielmeier SR.
10 / 15 / '02

 Bobbing for Apples: A Tasty Autumn Tradition

🍎 Bobbing for Apples: A Tasty Autumn Tradition

As the leaves change color, the air turns crisp, and pumpkin patches open across the country, families and friends gather to celebrate the return of autumn. Among the cozy sweaters, warm cider, and bonfire stories, one timeless party game has brought laughter and friendly competition to fall gatherings for generations: bobbing for apples.

But how did this simple game of catching floating fruit with your teeth become such a staple of the season?

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🍂 The Roots of the Ritual

While bobbing for apples is now a playful highlight of modern Halloween and autumn festivals, its origins stretch back thousands of years.

• The Roman Influence: When the Roman Empire expanded into Celtic territories, they brought along their own traditions, including celebrations honoring Pomona, the goddess of fruit trees and orchards. Her sacred symbol was the apple.
• A Matchmaking Mystery: Over time, these harvest rituals blended with local festivals, transforming apple bobbing into a popular courtship game. Young, unmarried participants would race to bite an apple floating in a tub or hanging from a string. It was believed that the first person to successfully catch an apple would be the next allowed to marry. If a player could get their chosen apple in just one try, it meant true love was in their future!

Famous poems about October and the end of the month include "October" by Robert Frost and "October's End" by Leslie Bell.

"October" by Robert Frost

This lyrical poem captures a mild October morning, describing the ripening leaves, the calls of crows, and a plea to slow down the day and gently release leaves to preserve the fading beauty of the season. You can find the full text of the poem in the referenced web document

"October's End" by Leslie Bell

This poem portrays the transition into the colder season, marked by frost, heavy rain clouds, the preparation of firewood for warmth, and the shifting balance of day and night as autumn concludes. You can find the full text of the poem in the referenced web document