A devilish Victorian Christmas parlor game played in the dark, SNAPDRAGON involved bobbing for raisins, almonds, grapes or plums in a flaming bowl of brandy. The flaming raisin was immediately consumed by popping it in your mouth.
The game was even celebrated in poetry-- "With his blue and lapping tongue Many of you will be stung, Snip! Snap! Dragon! For he snaps at all that comes Snatching at his feast of plums Snip ! Snap! Dragon!"
It was so popular it had a non-seasonal variant--FLAPDRAGON--in which a lighted candle was placed in a mug of ale. Participants sought to drink from the mug without setting fire to their beards, mustaches or hair.
The game was even celebrated in poetry-- "With his blue and lapping tongue Many of you will be stung, Snip! Snap! Dragon! For he snaps at all that comes Snatching at his feast of plums Snip ! Snap! Dragon!"
It was so popular it had a non-seasonal variant--FLAPDRAGON--in which a lighted candle was placed in a mug of ale. Participants sought to drink from the mug without setting fire to their beards, mustaches or hair.