Where did bobbing for apples originate?

The tradition of bobbing for apples began as a British courting game, and there were several different versions. In most versions the number of tries it took the participant to bite into the apple predicted how the couples' love would develop.

If the young lady was able to bite into the apple on the first try, it was predicted she would get her beau. If it took three tries or more, the relationship was supposed to be doomed. The game declined in popularity, and by the 1800s, it was commonly played only in Ireland and England. At the end of the century, Americans brought back this tradition during celebrations of Halloween and other fall festivals.