Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/10-fall-traditions-from-the-1970s-and-80s-from-apple-bobbing-to-hayrides/
Ask anyone who grew up in those decades what autumn felt like, and the answers tend to arrive fast: scratchy costumes, cold hands, the smell of woodsmoke. Fall then was less planned and more improvised, built from whatever the neighborhood, the school, or the nearest farm happened to offer.
Many of these customs are still around, though often reshaped by safety rules, schedules, and screens. Here are ten that defined the season for kids and families in the 1970s and 1980s.
Apple Bobbing
A tub of water, a pile of floating apples, and hands tucked firmly behind the back. That was the whole game, and it showed up at school parties, church socials, and Halloween gatherings alike. The goal was simple: catch an apple with your teeth, and try not to soak your sleeves.
The custom has old roots in Halloween folklore, often linked to British and Irish harvest games. By the 1970s it was a familiar party staple in America. Shared tubs have faded in many places over hygiene concerns, but the game hasn’t disappeared.
Hayrides
A tractor, a wagon stacked with straw bales, and a bumpy trip through a field. Hayrides were a fall outing for church groups, scout troops, and families, usually ending with cider or a bonfire. Nobody minded the itchy straw down their collar.
Farms offered them as a way to bring in visitors during harvest season, and many still do. The modern versions often…
—-
Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-10-12 08:16:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
—-
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8