Apple Bobbing: Good Clean Fun Or Health Hazard?

Bobbing for apples is one of the most traditional Halloween games. It usually involves a tub of water, some towels, and an ample supply of apples. Contestants take turns trying to grab an apple with only their mouth by placing their heads in the tub.

Different rules for the game exist: The first one to get an apple wins or anyone who gets an apple wins.

It sounds simple but it's tricky—and usually pretty fun.

But, in recent years, this beloved tradition has been shattered in some places by concern over the safety of apple bobbing.

In England, for example, the Southampton University Hospital issued a warning last year that anyone bobbing for apples should wear goggles, remove stalks, and use bottled water.

The university issued a statement saying that "a high-velocity impact with an apple" had the potential to cause serious eye injury, while dirty water could lead to infection or blindness.

Some even suggested contestants remove the apples from the water with their hands instead of their mouths.

Meanwhile, in the English town of Manchester, hundreds of school children last year were ordered to use chopsticks to grab apples so that they wouldn't spread germs.

In this country, many children's Halloween parties still feature a good game of bobbing for apples.

"I see nothing wrong with bobbing for apples," said Montclair mom Melody Kettle.

And, indeed, it's a time-honored custom that's gone on for 2,000 years, dating back to the Celtic festival of Samhain.

In June 2010, New Yorker Ashrita Furman even set a world record by bobbing 34 apples in a minute.

And now there's even an iPhone variant of Apple Bobbing, the aim of which is to move apples floating on water from the start to finish point of a race track as fast as possible.

But if families are still concerned over sanitation they can always suspend apples from tree branches or tall poles with string.

As always, no hands allowed—but also no mixing of saliva. But is it as much fun?

Let us know in the comments. What do you think of apple bobbing?