Homes

Christmas Games

One & All Magazine: Whilst searching the archives in the Morrab Library in Penzance I came across a rare bound volume of a magazine produced in Penzance in 1868. The name of the publication was "One and All". This has provided some of the information given below. Miss M. A. Courtney, of Penzance published "Cornish Feasts and Folklore" in 1890. In this book she records a number of the Cornish Christmas traditions still in use in the late 19th century and others which were no longer practiced.

George Pritchard

After candlelight many games were played around the open fires. During the twelve days of Christmas card-playing was a very favourite amusement with all classes. In her book "Cornish Feasts and Folklore" Miss M. A. Courtney explained a number of card games played in Cornish homes at Christmas.

"Swabbers"

Whilst the old people enjoyed their game of whist with 'swabbers", the young ones had their round games. I will append the rules of two or three for those who would like to try them. Whist (or whisk, as I have heard an old lady call it and maintain that was its proper name) with 'swabbers'. This game, which was played as recently as 1880, nightly, by four maiden ladies at Falmouth, is like ordinary whist; but each player before beginning to play puts into the pool a fixed sum for 'swabs'. The "swab-cards" are - ace and deuce of trumps, ace of hearts and knave of clubs. The four cards are of equal value; but should hearts be trumps the ace would count double. [swab = a card entitling its holder to a share of the stakes]

 "Board-'em",

 A round game that can be played by any number of players, from two to eight; it is played for fish, and there must never be less than six fish in the pool. Six cards are dealt to each person; and the thirteenth, if two are playing, the nineteenth if three, and so on, is turned up for trumps. The fore-hand plays; the next player, if he has one, must follow suit, if not, he may play another suit, or trump. The highest card of the original suit, if not trumped, takes the trick and one or more fish, according to the number staked. If you have neither card in your hand that you think will make a trick you may decline to play, in which case you only lose your stake; but should you play and fail to take a trick you pay for the whole company, and are said to "be boarded". 

"Ranter-go-round"

Formerly played in four divisions marked with chalk upon a tea-tray; or even, in some cases, on a bellows - it is now played on a table, and is called "Miss Joan". Any number of players may join in it. The first player throws down any card of any suit, and says:- "Here's a ------- as you may see. 2nd player Here's another as good as he. 3rd player And here's the best of all the three. 4th player And here's Miss Joan, come tickle me." The holder of the fourth card wins the trick. He sometimes added the words wee-wee; but these are now generally omitted. If the person sitting next to the fore-hand has neither one of the cards demanded (one of the same value as the first played, in another suit, he pays one to the pool, as must all in turn who fail to produce the right cards. The player of the third may have the fourth in his hand, in which case all the others pay. The holder of the most tricks wins the game and takes the pool. 

"Pinny-ninny"

I once, about thirty years since, at this season of the year, joined some children at Camborne who were playing a very primitive game called by them "pinny-ninny". A basin turned upside down was placed in the centre of a not very large round table. The players were supplied with small piles of pins - not the well-made ones sold in papers, but clumsy things with wire heads -- "pound pins". A large bottle full of them might, then, always be seen in the general shop window of every little country village. Each in turn dropped a pin over the side of the basin, and he whose pin fell and formed a cross on top of the heap was entitled to add them to his own pile. This went on until one player had beggared all the others. Poor children before Christmas often begged pins to play this game, and their request was always granted by the gift of two. A wishing-well, near St. Austell, was sometimes called Pennameny Well, from the custom of dropping pins into it. Pedna-a-mean is the old Cornish for "heads-and-tails".  

Miss M. A. Courtney

Party Games

SHADOW-BUFF.

  This game is played as follows:- If there is a white curtain at the window it may be fastened at the bottom, so as to make a smooth surface; or in the absence of a white, curtain a table­cloth may be fastened upon the wall. The one chosen to act the part of shadow-buff sits before the curtain, with the back to the light and before the company. When all is arranged they pass by on the opposite side of the room, so as to cast their shadow on the white surface. Shawls or any other articles of dress may be put on and other means used to disguise them­selves, such as walking lame, &c. Buffy is to guess the name, and when correct the person named is to change places.

COPENHAGEN.

First procure a long piece of tape or twine sufficient to go round the whole company, who must stand in a circle, holding in each of their hands apart of the string, the last takes hold of the two ends of the tape. One remains standing in the center of the circle, who is called “the Dane,” and who must endeavor to slap the hands of one of those who are holding the string before they can be withdrawn. Whoever is not sufficiently alert, and allows the hands to be slapped, must take the place of the Dane, and in their turn try to slap the hands of some one else.

THE CAT AND THE MOUSE.

Let all the company join hand in hand in a circle, except one, who is placed inside, called the mouse, and another out­side, called the cat. They begin by running round, raising the arms; the cat springs in at one side, and the mouse jumps out at the other; they then suddenly lower the arms so that the cat cannot escape. The cat goes round mowing, trying to get out, and as the circle must keep dancing round all the time, she must try and find a weak place to break through. As soon as she gets out she chases the mouse, who tries to save herself by getting within the circle again. For this purpose they raise their arms. If she gets in without being followed by the cat, the cat must pay a forfeit, and try again; but If the mouse is caught she must pay a forfeit. Then they name who shall succeed them, they fall into the circle, and the game goes on as before.  

THUS SAYS THE GRAND MUFTI.

This favourite game is played as follows:- One of the party stands up in a chair who is called the “Grand Mufti,’ who makes whatever motion he pleases, such as putting his hand to his heart, stretching out his arms, smiting his forehead, making a sorrowful face, &c. At each movement he calls out, “Thus says the Grand Mufti,” or, “So says the Grand Mufti.” When he says, “Thus says the Grand Mufti,” every one must make the same motion; but when he says, “So says the Grand Mufti,” ever one must keep still. A forfeit for a mistake.

FETTERED FIGHT.

  This game is only fit for boys, and is played thus:- All clasp their hands under their knees, and, consequently, leave only their feet free; they arrange themselves in equal numbers in opposite lines, and try to upset their companions. When they are down it is almost impossible for them to rise, owing to their hands being under them. Their clumsy attempts to do so cause the fun of the game.  

MY LADY’S TOILET.

Each having taken the name of some article of dress, chairs are placed for all the party but one, so as to leave one chair too few. They all sit down but one, who is called the lady’s maid, and stands in the centre; she then calls out, “My lady’s up and wants her shoes,” when the one who has taken that name jumps up and calls, “Shoes,” sitting down directly. If they do not rise as soon as called, they must pay a forfeit. Sometimes she says, “My lady wants her whole toilet,” then every one must jump up and change chairs, and as there is a chair too few, of course it occasions a scramble, and whoever is left standing must be lady’s maid, and call to the others as before.

MAGIC MUSIC.

  While one is dismissed those remaining fix on something which he must do on his return, perhaps snuff the candles, or stir the fire. He is then called in, and another seats himself at the piano, and plays loudly or softly, as the actions of the person may seem to approach nearer or recede farther from the object he is to touch. It he seems to have an idea of what is expected of him, the player directly increases the loudness of the music, but begins playing softly again as soon as he appears to have lost it. If unable to guess he must forfeit.

FRENCH BLIND MAN.

  In this game, instead of blindfolding one of the players, his hands are tied behind him, and in that difficult way he must endeavor to catch one of his a companions, who must, when caught, submit to the same restraint.

PROVERBS.

  One of the company having left the room, the rest select some proverb in his absence, say, for instance, “Honesty is the best Policy.” On his re-admittance he must ask a random question of one of the party, who in his reply must contrive to introduce the word “honesty.” Thus, supposing the question. might say, “Yes, I have, and very nearly lost my purse but it was picked up by a boy, who ran after me with it, and whose ‘honesty’ I was very glad to reward.” He then passes on to the next who must bring in “is,” and so on, till the whole proverb has been mentioned. The person must then guess it, or forfeit, and those who have been unable to bring in their word must likewise forfeit. It is an extremely amusing game. from the laughable way in which some of the words are necessarily introduced.

The proverb selected should be a familiar one, and, if possible, to consist of as many words as there are persons composing the party.

BUFF WITH THE WAND.

Having blindfolded one of the party, the rest take hold of each other’s hands in a circle round him, be holding a stout stick. The players then skip round him once and stop. Buffy then stretches forth his wand and directs it by chance, and the person whom it touches must grasp the end presented, and call out three times in a feigned voice. If Buffy recognise him they change places, but if not he must continue blind till he makes a right guess.

 "Robin's alight"

 A piece of stick was set on fire, and whirled rapidly in the hands of the first player, who repeated the words -- "Robin's alight, and if he go out I'll saddle your back". It was then passed on, and the person who let the spark die had to pay a forfeit. - (West Cornwall.) This game in East Cornwall was known as "Jack's alive". "Jack's alive and likely to live, If he die in my hand a pawn I'll give." In Cornwall forfeits are always called "pawns"; they are cried by the holder of them, saying - "Here's a pawn and a very pretty pawn! And what shall the owner of this pawn do?" 

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