Home >> Games & Cards >> Games

Fun & Games of Plymouth Colony

The Pilgrims were some of the first Englishmen and Englishwomen to settle in America, forming the Plymouth Colony. They were members of a devout Christian sect who disagreed with the established British church and decided to cross the Atlantic to preserve the purity of their religion. Even though they were very religious, that didn't mean that the Pilgrims never enjoyed themselves. In fact, they had plenty of ways to entertain themselves, some of which are copied in American holidays today.

Children's Games
- Children in Plymouth Colony didn't have too much time to play because they were responsible for chores like farmwork and babysitting from a young age. When they did have time for fun, they played games similar to those that children play today. They had toys like tops, marbles and dolls and played games of checkers (called draughts). Tongue twisters and riddles were popular, as were foot races. Card games were banned, however, because the Pilgrims thought that they would lead their children into sinful gambling.
Entertainment
- Adults had their own games to play as well. Men wrestled and ran races. They also played football (what Americans call soccer), "stool ball" (a game similar to volleyball) and "pitching the bar," which involved seeing who could throw a pole or log the farthest. Despite their strict religious ways, Pilgrims enjoyed dancing.
Feasting
- The Pilgrims didn't celebrate the same holidays that most modern-day Christians observe. For example, they didn't celebrate Christmas because they thought it was pagan; however, they did celebrate certain times of year, like harvest time. The first harvest at Plymouth was the basis of the holiday Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims met up with their Wampanoag Indian neighbors and ate a feast of wildfowl, corn, venison, pumpkin and other foods. The feasting wasn't just one supper's worth--it lasted for three days.

Games