Most popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, Snip! Snap! Dragon! (a.k.a. Flap-Dragon!) long had been a common, parlour game of flames since the Medieval-era, an era well-known for flames in party, as well as everday, situations. As Victorian England began to set the standard of a festive Christmas - as opposed to one of purely religious or pagan rituals - Dragon! hits its zenith as, notably and weirdly, a children's holiday game. Flames, group chants, hard-acohol and children: what could go wrong? 

The set-up: Place a wide, shallow bowl or trough in the middle of a long table. Add copious amounts of raisins. No raisins on-hand? No worries. Bluberries, figs, currants, grapes, plums, candied fruits, almonds or gumdrops could be substituted. Pour heated brandy (or gin, scotch, petrol, whatever Mum and Dad, or Gran, had in the library in those lovely, lead-crystal decanters) over the fruits, being sure to soak them thoroughy ... for extra flammability, you know, for the kids. Now, set that booze on fire! Woohoo! Make sure to pull the tapestry draperies closed and light some candles, setting them on the table, around the trough. Finally, invite in a fidgety, sugar-hyped group of kiddos in capes, ruffles, feathers, masks and any other flowing and flammable costuming or fancy dress, to take their seats around the table.

*Seems like too much fire, right? False. Not for the Victorians. Super worth it, 'cause the extra-hot, blue flames of booze set alight is much prettier in the dark!

The game: With your tender, bare hands, snap a piece of brandy-soaked fruit from the blue flames, pop it in your mouth and, if you're lucky, its still aflame! Then, blow a touch of fire toward your closest, costumed  party-mates before closing your mouth and extinguishing the fire, much like a fire-breathing dragon. Yea!!! Next kid's turn ...

Fun by-products of Snip! Snap! Dragon!, besides second- and thrid-degree burns, included ensuring whoever snapped the most fruit would meet their true love in the New Year; and, if you snapped the “lucky raisin” you won the gold button, meaning you could choose an extra party favour, and maybe choke.

Best of all, children chanted throughout the exercise, turnng all the joy of flames and booze just a litte more demonic. (See chant below.) Happy Hallowe'en and Merry Christmas, kiddos!

As an aside, a supremely spooky dramatization of Snip! Snap! Dragon! in action can be seen in "Agatha Christie's Poirot": Hallowe'en Party (S12e2). Plus, as one expects with Agatha and Poirot, you get the party bonus of murrr-therrr. (Love spooky, Halloween TV and film? JennyPop's Halloween Viewing Recs is curated and update yearly, just for you, fair reader.)


*Hey, there. BTW, a Disclaimer: In case it's not obvious to you, this is NOT recommended, especially for the little ones, at least not since, like, 1933. Of course, I don't think kids are even allowed to dress up as dragons, or fire, or blueberries, or whatever anymore: you know, because of offending someone, somewhere. Maybe Veruca Salt would be offended? Because she turned herself into a blueberry in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? IDK. So, for our most litigious, and oft obtuse, society ... Do Not Attempt! For historical reference and written-entertainment purposes only. Duh. Jennypop.com and all intellectual properties therein are absolved and accept zero responsibility for this or any other silliness posted on this fun, fab, fantastical, pop-culture site. Sorry, but you did this, society; you made me be a bitch. Yet, if you, an adult of free-will, choose to play Snip! Snap! Dragon! with your adult friends, or create outsider-art with your Barbies and a package of Red Vines, or risk getting scratches by putting a Snow White dress on a feral cat for Hallowe'en, or vote Democrat, or even craft any one of JennyPop's holiday cocktail recipes this wondrous time of year, that's on you.

If you do any of that, LMK how it goes, though, @JennyPopCom!