V18 N29

CAN’T MISS!
We aren’t the first generation to
require new ways to entertain
ourselves. As we face another
season of limited activity, take a
lesson from the ancestors — get
busy having fun.
In the Victorian era, when leisure became
a mark of status, merchants, teachers and
other “white collar” workers had to find
acceptable ways to amuse themselves. Many
having “risen above their station” — children
of servants who now had their own
servants — were unaccustomed to leisure.
Industrialization led to growth in the class
between laborers and the idle rich. This new
middle class faced a challenge — free time. In
rural areas, it was common to play games like
quoits on the village green, or stage theatricals
in the village hall. In cities, however, members
of the middle class had to learn to entertain
themselves, and they did it by inviting friends
into their parlors. “Parlor games” were an
excuse to get together and spark conversation.
The experts at MAC explore the history
The Activity Column
Catherine Dugan’s guide to staying in... this week, challenge yourself with a puzzle!
of Victorian parlor games. Some were board
games, often smaller versions of the outdoor
games their parents had played, like miniature
bowling. Other games incorporated geography,
mathematics or moral lessons. There
were also games like charades, which require
teams to work together, or “Sardines,” which
is hide and seek, but you join the hiders you
find, resulting in crowded closets and giggles.
“Pass the Slipper” required one person to close
their eyes while a small item, usually a slipper,
was hidden behind someone’s back. The idea
was to guess who had it, without falling for
any bluffs. “Forfeits” was like a combination
of “Pass the Slipper” and “Truth or Dare” — if
you didn’t find the item, you had to bark like a
dog, sing a song, or otherwise act silly. Most
of these would work well over Zoom!
Jigsaw puzzles are another throwback
activity. As we’re spending more time in our
houses, jigsaw puzzles are a way to challenge
our brains and help us to relax. Your blood
pressure likely drops as you work, and you
get a hit of dopamine when you find the
right piece. Science says we can enter an
almost dreamlike state while working on puzzles,
allowing our brains to achieve moments
of insight that were blocked by our rational
minds. Puzzles also offer the chance to connect
with others on a deeper level. There’s
room for quiet, so you may find it easier to bite
your tongue, or to broach a difficult subject,
and the puzzle is a visual reminder that not
everything needs a quick solution.
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