Christmas Diversions: Christmas games, amusements and forfeits

Christmas games, amusements and forfeits [page: front cover]

Description

19th century Christmas celebrations among family and friends typically featured games and parlour entertainments. This slim paperback book, Christmas Diversions, provides a guide to a variety of games designed to be played in groups during the holiday season. The book also suggests forfeits for the losing participants – many of which appear to be thinly disguised opportunities for flirting. It is therefore unsurprising that the book declares, ‘Crying the forfeits is generally considered as the most important part of the amusement of a Christmas party’.

Full title:: Christmas Diversions / Evening amusements; or, A new book of games and forfeits ... with full and plain directions for crying the forfeits, and numerous amusing and diverting penances, for ladies as well as gentlemen.
Published:: estimated 1826, London
Format:: Book / Illustration / Image
Creator:: Unknown
Usage terms: Public Domain
Held by: British Library
Shelfmark:: RB.23.a.13590

Full catalogue details

This item is featured in:

Discovering Literature: Romantics & Victorians

Queen Victoria's Christmas tree painting cropped

Victorian Christmas

Article by:: Judith Flanders
Themes:: The middle classes, Popular culture

Judith Flanders describes how many of our own Christmas traditions – from trees and crackers to cards and carols – have their origins in 19th-century industrial and commercial interests.