Want to get your neighbours in the Halloween spirit? Be sure to engage them in a little game known as the “Boo!” Game. It’s a popular game in some parts of the country, while in others, nobody has heard of it.
You might live in a neighbourhood where you think nobody will participate in an event like this, but you might be surprised. During the holidays people will step up and get involved in activities that never would any other time of year.
The “Boo!” game goes something like this. You print up a few poems and instructions on colourful paper. Get a treat bucket, or bowl and fill it with candy. You can also “Boo” people with candles, Halloween socks, and really whatever your imagination comes up with. The idea is to “Boo” two people at a time, leaving the items anonymously on their doorstep. You leave it with the instructions and the poem and hope they “Boo” other neighbours. Once you are done, tape a large “Boo!” on your door so that your neighbours know not to hit you again.
Start The Boo Game
Here’s how you start it. The ideal time to begin this game is around the end of September or the very beginning of October. If you wait until everyone has decorated for Halloween, it will likely be too late. The idea is for this to spread around the neighbourhood and that can take time. This means that the ideal time to start it is right as the season starts (or a little before, perhaps), just as people are starting to think about Halloween. If you start too early, however, you might have trouble finding suitable items to purchase for your bowls and so might your friends.
The Poem
So, it’s the right time of the year and you’re ready to go. Find a “Boo” poem and photocopy it. There are many variations of the poem. Here is a sampling:
Or it might be a bit longer, something like this:
Be sure to include a cute graphic of a ghost or something else that looks like it might say “Boo!”. You will have to include some details on the flyer about what is next, in case the poem itself isn’t clear enough. Then attach the poem to the goodie bag, basket, or whatever you have created, and run out one night dropping your goodies on peoples’ doorsteps. If you are just getting this started in your neighbourhood, be sure to do more than 2 houses. You might find that some people don’t participate. In that case, you want to have “Boo”ed enough people that you will get adequate participation.
What you’re striving for is a neighbourhood full of “Boo” doors by Halloween night!
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