I just completed a new program offering.

Before electricity, television and the internet, parlor games were a popular form of entertainment to put boredom at bay during the short days and long, dark evenings of winter. For those who could not afford to light the entirety of their home or to keep a fire lit for extended periods of time, these games were a good way to keep all the family and guests entertained. They also served significant social and cultural roles fostering unity and social interaction, teaching youth proper decorum and social graces, and facilitating courtship and matchmaking.

The sort of games played during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were varied and could be anything from mentally stimulating, to physically assertive or even somewhat messy and silly. Masters of postprandial entertainment, hosts of the late 18th and early 19th Centuries, simply refused to allow their guests to escape unamused. They played cards, exchanged riddles, solved puzzles, and developed amusements that drew the group together and created inclusive environments for all who were in attendance.

This workshop will explore several popular parlor and tavern games and allow participants to try their hands with at least two popular games. We will discuss the social, political, and educational value of these pastimes and consider how to reinvigorate our next dinner parties and family gatherings.

Proposed Agenda:
1. Introductory talk on parlor games and their importance.
a. Role of Parlor Game beyond entertainment and leisure
b. Types of poplar games
i. Party or Social Games
ii. Table Games
iii. Card and Tile Games
iv. Pub Games
v. Outdoor Games
c. Demise of gaming in modern society
2. HANDS ON ACTIVITY: Playing one social game, as large group, with discussions following.
3. HANDS ON ACTIVITY: Playing one card game, as table cohorts, with coaching.
4. OPTIONAL: Additional time for table cohorts to play games of their choosing (with or without coaching as appropriate).

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