Sampling of Historical Group Activities for 3 Sun Fun
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Stool-ball Tournaments
In one of only two known source documents that talk about the famous fall feast of 1621, we learn that a game called “Stool-ball” was played in the street of Plimoth (Plymouth) on Christmas Day of that same year. Given that the fall picnic of 1621 lasted three days, and that Stool-ball would have been easy for Native guests to pick up in spite of language barriers, we can reasonably guess it was played during the fall event as well.
Rules of play from that period are not known to exist, however in England they still play a game called Stool-ball. Based on the modern version, we have included plausible 1621-era rules of play in The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas.
Stool-ball tournaments in period-correct costumes, played against local police and fire fighters, are a fun way for communities to collect dry goods for holiday food banks. Just set the admission price for spectators at a can or two of food, and you’ll be set for great community service!
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Clay Pot Making and Outdoor Cookoffs
One very fun group activity is learning how to make and use the egg-shaped Wampanoag-style clay pots of the 1621 era. We supply both modern and historical techniques for clay pot production in The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas, and through our membership e-magazine. (Note: Outdoor firing can only be done during dry months.)
Something that is both historically fun and challenging to modern culinary talent, is to hold an old-world New-England style cook-off using only era foods and era-styled “Wampanoag” pots. The food and/or the pots themselves can be auctioned off to raise money for a good cause.
Or you can simply do a “clay-pot-luck” for community sampling. If you are able to secure them, large clam shells make fun soup dishes at this type of event! (The 3 Sun historical how-to guide offers more suggestions for old-world eating and cooking utensils.)
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Word-Play Group Theatre
In the time period of the Mayflower crossing, the English had an absolute fetish for word-play and drama. Wit and impromptu acting ability were highly prized, and Sundays after church were spent by many a commoner on the outskirts of town where indoor and outdoor theaters gave rise to hilarity and public performances.
This sort of English culture is a blast to re-create for fall group activities. You just volunteer the goofiest, wittiest, and most charming among you, and give them riddles to solve or “talk” about, and impromptu acts to perform.
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Native Maize Thanks-giving
Something that would be fun to see more of are Native maize thanks-giving celebrations. Through dance, flutes, prayer songs, fire, and other forms of celebration, we could collectively enjoy and love much of what was almost lost forever (in the way of American Native tradition and culture).
Related activities might include legend-telling by master Native storytellers, corn-husk doll-making, corn grinding with authentically re-created mortars and pestles, and authentic Native food tasting. How-to instructions for these kinds of activities are provided in our member e-magazine, and in The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas.
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Bow and Arrow Making and Competitions
There is nothing like making your own long bows and arrows from scratch, then using them in fall competitions with pumpkins for targets.
We provide historical instructions for making arrows, as well as basic instructions for making your own long bows, or having them made for you, in our membership e-magazine, and in The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas.
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Matchlock Competitions
In The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas you get the name of a supplier for period-authentic matchlock musket kits that actually work (not shown – the picture here is of a 1650 blunderbuss pistol). The muskets kits are expensive, but WOW are the finished muskets ever gorgeous!
Great fun for Thanksgiving remembrances out in the country!
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Mawe Card Game Tournaments
Mawe is reported to have been King James’ favorite card game. It is not the easiest card game to learn as the instructions for play are not as clear as one would hope (found in The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas). The good news is, however, that in the 16th and 17th centuries there were no standardized rules. Adlibbing was the norm!
Besides the interest and difficulties of playing with period reproduction cards (ordering source provided in the book), the part that makes playing period games so much fun is the opportunity to use Old English insults, jests, and threats. With a little before-hand practice, we promise you’ll have each other in stitches!
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Kidnapping, Ransom and Auction (Algerian Slave Trade)
(This picture depicts a 13th century Yamen slave market. Courtesy Wiki Commons.)
Few people realize it, but when the Mayflower sailed she was just as likely to give up her Anglo occupants to the slave trade as any vessel carrying Africans. The Barbary Coast pirates, also called Corsairs, were famous in this time period for trafficking in white slaves. They were especially notorious for their night raids on coastal European towns, where they would take hostages for ransom, and if that proved unfruitful, for trade as slaves via north African ports.
Yes, in this time period wealthy black Algerians could own white slaves, as could wealthy persons of the far east.
Night time kidnappings are fun to stage, and auctioning off abductees as slaves for a day (a great fundraiser) can provide both a labor service, as well as a humorous holiday tradition!
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Sugar Art Competitions
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Using a period recipe provided in The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas, it’s fun to experiment and re-create sugar dough for making holiday decorations. It was a popular art form in early 17th century England, with many festival books of that time period mentioning sugar sculptures as festival décor.
While it is doubtful that the Pilgrims of 1621 Plimoth had any sugar left by the time of the fall feast, it is still fun to play with the historical possibilities.
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Sewing Circles
Once people realize those unappealing black-and-white Puritan clothes are not accurate for Thanksgiving, and that Musketeer-type clothing is accurate, then the making of era costumes becomes more fun, and adds a tremendous amount of charm to 3 Sun Thanksgiving-related group activities. With sewing courses being cut from many public school budgets, young folks, especially, need outside support in learning how to sew.
In steps the old-fashioned sewing circle! Most any sewing course is simple enough to complete when you have a group of ladies (and sometimes gentlemen) you can call on for regular support. (See our free sewing lessons webpage at http://Squidoo.com/sewinginstruction101, as well as our free historical sewing webpage at http://Squidoo.com/historicalsewing. )
In addition to helping beginning sewers, a sewing circle can also become a venue where guests can be invited to come and share historical garment construction techniques, including garments made of leather or metal. (Be aware that some Amerindians are reluctant to encourage mainstream Americans to don Native attire for fear Native Peoples will be misrepresented.)
Since Halloween creates a fall season need for sewing circles anyway, why not start or join one this season? Church groups are a great place to start!
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