by buggal1989

Hobo is a term referring to certain wanderers, particularly those who make a habit of hopping freight trains or "riding the rails". The word hobo invokes an image of a downtrodden, shabbily-dressed and perhaps slightly drunken male.  This term came to be in American culture during the Great Depression. Hobos are often depicted carrying a sign that they are willing to work when offered the chance, distinguishing them from a "bum" who will not work and their belongings tied in a "bindle".

What is a Hobo Supper?

A Hobo Supper is a get together Hobo Style.  This is a fun party to host at Halloween or anytime of the year you are looking for a fun party.  Can even be used as a Birthday Party.  You can also charge an "admission" in the form of a donation to homeless shelters and have a good time raising money.

Years ago Hobos would put up symbols to pass on information to each other.  These symbols signified  if this is a good house for a handout or to watch out for mean dog and many other things.  These signs would be written in chalk or coal on a trestle, fence, building or sidewalk, letting others know what they could expect in the neighborhood. 

Look up hobo signs in the library or on the internet and paint them on signs to hang around your party.  Slackaction.com and geocities.com/ctesibos/symbols/hobo have some hobo signs and their meanings.  Be sure to put a Hobo Welcome Symbol on the front door.

See wikipedia for some suggestions on how the name Hobo came to be, some history of hobos and the annual Hobo convention.

Good Place For a Handout

What to Do

1. Set a date and invite your hobos.
2. Design the invitation.  Invite the Hobos to your Jungle  (area off a railroad that hobos camp and congregate in).  Type or write out info, then tear the page edges and glue to a torn peice of newspaper.
3. On the invitation state Hobo dress is mandatory. May want to include some suggestions on the back of the invite (wear a sign around your neck "Will work for fud", old clothes, 3 day "beard", carry a "bindle" (belongings wrapped in cloth and tied around a stick.)  And don't forget to tell your Hobos to come up with a Moniker / Monica (nickname).
4. Be sure to have name tags and offer a prize for the best nickname and the best costume.  
5. Vote on a Hobo King and Hobo Queen. 
6. A game could be draw some symbols on a peice of paper and have your guest try to match the symbol to the meaning.
7. Look up hobo signs in the library or on the internet and paint them on signs to hang all over the place.  Be sure to put a Hobo Welcome Symbol on the front door.
8. Use newspapers as tablecloths and put flowers in old tin cans.
9. Have every on bring a can of something and throw it all together with cooked hamburger meat and you have hobo stew.  You may want to start the party early to allow the stew to simmer while you are socializing or showing a Hobo movie while the stew is cooking and playing Hobo tunes (wikipedia at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobo#Hobo_code has suggestions for a movie and songs.
10. Serve stew with rice and cornbread on tin plates or mugs and drink out of glass jars.
11. You may want to have a bonfire to eat around.