Christmas Games

Continuing with yesterday's post about Christmas parties here are some game and party suggestions.

TOPSY-TURVY AND CHRISTMAS PARTY

MATERIALS REQUIRED : A miniature Christmas-tree, as many numbered cards in duplicate as there are guests.
Have you ever thought of giving a Topsyturvy party—one where everything is as it ought not to be Here is a programme for one which is a Christmas party as well, and if given in Christmas week is pretty sure to be a success. Every guest is asked to bring a simple Christmas present, appropriate for a lady or gentleman, as is preferred.

PROGRAMME
No. 1. The Unexpected.
No. 2. Little, but oh my!
No. 3. Have a Smile with me?
No. 4. A Freak of Fancy.
No. 5. A Draw Game.
No. 6, 2

“The Unexpected” is supper, a very light one, “Little, but oh my!” is the Christmas tree, the smallest possible tree, hung from the ceiling upside down. There should be a very tall and thin Santa Claus. The presents, neatly done up, each bear a number, and these numbers match others which were drawn by the players before the games began. As the numbers on the packages are called the players who hold the duplicate numbers claim their presents, which are sure to be malapropos, as there is no possibility of anyone getting what was intended for him. The rest of the evening is devoted to several games already described. No. 3 on the programme, “Have a Smile with me?” is “Nonsense Rhyming.” As a prize for the best rhyme that very curious and attractive book, “Topsys and Turvys,” by Peter Newell, seems particularly appropriate. “A Freak of Fancy” is the game called “Teapot.” “A Draw Game” is drawing pigs with the eyes shut; see “Blind Artists.” “?” is the second and bona-fide Supper. And after that, goodmorning, for it will surely be after twelve.

CHILDREN'S PARTY FOR GROWN PEOPLE
An entirely novel and funny plan is to ask fifteen or twenty grown people to a children's party, where they themselves are to be the children. Raids on the nursery can be made for blocks, puzzles, balls, battledore and shuttlecock, and other toys, and these, with such games as “A Spoonful of Fun,” “Hunt the Whistle,” “Teapot,” and “Here we go round the Barberry Bush,” will furnish amusement for the young people if it is the season for in-door games. “The Baby Show” should come just before supper. At Supper bibs are used instead of napkins—those printed with outline pictures and appropriate inscriptions, such as “Our Pet,” “For a Good Girl,” etc., will be particularly appreciated, and they need not be embroidered, but may easily be painted in water-colors. If the party is given in Summer, when out-of-door games are possible, “Hide and Seek,” “Tag,” “Prisoner's Base,” and “Base-ball” are only a few of the delightful and exciting amusements which will “make me a child again just for to-night,” even though the consequences may be “that tired feeling” to-morrow.
Source: The Book of Games ©1898


Mv Dear Myrtle : — My mamma says I may have a Christmas party, and ask the little people in our Sunday School. She is going to treat us on cake and apples. I would like to have some new games to tell them how to pi y. Couldn't you remember some you used to play, and write me about them? If you will, I shall be ever so much obliged. Your little friend, Eva.
Deak Little Eva : — Nothing in the world would delight us so much as to help make your Christmas party pleasant. It isn't so long ago that we played ourselves but that we can remember a good many games.
Here is one we children played at our vestry a couple of years ago Christmas. One ol the Deacons told all who wished to play, to choose some part of the outfit of a team, and when he mentioned the name they had chosen, they must imitate its motions as nearly as possible ; the whips
must thrash their arms, the sleigh bells must say Jingle, the blinders must put their hands up to their eyes, the rob:s must seem to pull something over them, the reins must shake, the horse run around, and so with all the parts chosen.
When all was ready, the Deacon stepped in the center ot the room, and told a story something like this, only longer: "I was going to Boston on business, so I went to the barn to harness my team. I took down the reins " — several little girls began shaking their hands —'' then I put on the blinders," — some other girls put their hands up to their eyes, and walked carefully around,— " I put on the bells,"—Jingle, Jingle, called out a few boys, — " I pulled up the robes,'' — several imitated the motion,— " touched the whip,"—thrash went the arms of half a dozen boys — " to the horses," —away ran the rest of the boys and girls around the room, and all ended in laughter and a good time. But to make this a good game, all must enter heartily into the fun.
Another game which we tried is called Mother Goose. One of the officers of the school gathered the children on one side of the room, and led them in single file, all clapping their hands and singing, '' Hi diddle, diddle, the cat and the fiddle." They stopped and all mewed. Then tbey repeated, "The cow jumped over the moon." The leader ran, and jumped over a cricket in the middle ot the roo.n. Ail followed. Then they marched around the room, singing, "The little dog laughed to see the sport," when they stopped and laughed heartily. They stood still while saying, " And the dish ran away with the spoon." At the last word, all ran, and whomsoever the leader caught had to be leader next time.
When they were tired of playing running games, they all sat down, and one chose an article in the room, and gave its initial while the others guessed what it could be. Whoever guessed right, selected the word the next time.
Here is another game to be played sitting. All who join it, assemble in a circle. The leader gives one of these syllables, "ash, ish, osh,'' to each one. Thus, to the first person, " ash;" the second, " ish ;" third, "osh ;'' fourth " ash," again, and so on through the company. The leader must then stand in the center and count four, slowly. When he pronounces four, all must sound their syllables at once. The effect Is very amusing, sounding like a prolonged sneeze.— N. H. Myrtle.
Source: The Myrtle ©1876