The Fiery Festive Game of Snap-dragon

 Nothing says we like to party like thrusting your hand into a plate of burning alcohol to snatch a piece of fruit or a nut and pop it in your mouth without getting burned. And that's just what some Victorian families did at this time of year, even the kids!

Snap-dragon, or Flap-dragon, is a parlor game that came into being in the 16th century. The game was usually played on Christmas Eve, and also on Halloween by some counts! You'd take a shallow bowl, drop in some raisins, almonds, grapes, or figs, pour in some brandy, light it up and see who can eat the most treats...presumably with the least amount of bodily harm. And kids today will complain when their phone battery runs out. Ha! 

 

Using a liquor around 50% proof creates blue flames which give off a lot of light but doesn't burn as hot as your average candle. An 18th century writer even said of the blue fire "the wantonness of the thing was to see each other look like a demon, as we burnt ourselves, and snatched out the fruit". That sort of ties the game into the tradition of telling Christmas ghost stories and would probably be a fun way to wrap up your Halloween night.

 

Here's a short video that explains a little more of the history and gives a demonstration.

If you decided to give Snap-dragon a whirl this year, please read up on it and take the necessary precautions for playing with fire in your house.

Have a great holiday!