By looking at some of the old photographs of the Victorians in the glory of days gone by...one might think that by the looks on their faces that they never had anything to laugh at or had any fun at all. But that simply is not true. The Victorians certainly did have fun. There were, of course, typical games such as cards, backgammon, checkers and chess. But some of the more exciting games were played at parties both large and small. I will list for you some of the parlor games that were played during the 19th century. Maybe you may want to try them out at one of your parties or gatherings.
Blindman's Bluff
Among the group of people playing one person would be chosen to be "it" and would be blind-folded. Everyone, in excitement, would scatter across the room. The blind-folded person chased someone 'till he could catch them. When he was able to identify him or her, by touch alone, then the next person would be "it".
Change Seats!
A circle of chairs is formed. One person is chosen to start the game out in the middle of the circle. He will say, "Change seats!" as often as he likes. But everyone is to stay seated until he says, "The king's come". Then everyone must get up and change seats but not with the persons to their immediate left or right. Of course, the person left standing is the next one to stand in the middle and call out, "Change seats!"
Charades
This is still a popular game. With the Victorians it was the most popular of all parlor games. Groups of participating players were divided up into teams. The first was given a word or word phrase to act out in silence. They proceeded to do so until one of the others guessed what they were trying to communicate.
Forfeits
This game was played amongst a group of people one person being selected to be the "caller".
Each participating player would take a small personal item and place it in the center of the room. The "caller" would then enter the room and pick up an item and attempt to describe it. Whomever that item belonged to had to recite poetry, tongue twisters, sing a lyric or do things silly and embarrassing, in order to get the item returned to them.
Hunt the Slipper
This was a simple game where everyone joined a circle as one person remained in the middle of the circle with her eyes shut. A slipper or maybe even a shoe or boot was passed around behind the backs of everyone while the chosen person in the middle kept her eyes shut. But when she opened her eyes the slipper stops passing between everyone. The center player then must guess who has the slipper. If the correct answer is given then another person will take the center of the circle.
Squeak, Piggy, Squeak!
This was a popular game with the Victorians. Amongst a group of people one person was chosen, blindfolded then they were handed a pillow. The other's sat in a circle as the blindfolded fellow stood in the center and was spun around. After he had lost all sense of direction he placed the pillow on someone's lap and said, "Squeak, Piggy, Squeak!" The person would squeak and then the blindfolded player had to guess whose lap he was sitting on, then he or she became the next player.
Throwing the Smile
In this game the object is to win by NOT smiling. Everyone will form a circle. The chosen person will stand in the middle going about with a smile on his face, trying desparately hard to make someone else laugh or giggle. Then he will hurridly wipe the smile from off his face and quickly throw his straight look toward someone trying to get them to laugh. This will continue until he can make someone laugh. Whomever laughs must sit out the rest of the game.
|
|
