![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Blind_mans_bluff_1803.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nRing Around the Rosie Is About the Bubonic Plague<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\u201cRing around the Rosie, A pocket full of posies,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A-tissue! A-tissue! We all fall down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lyrics to the Ring Around the Rosie don\u2019t make much sense, but children have enjoyed playing this singing game for centuries. One child, who is assigned the \u201cRosie,\u201d stands at the center of the circle. The other players hold hands and sing the song while skipping in a circular direction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the end of the song, as the lyrics say, everybody falls down. The slowest player to fall down becomes the next Rosie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The true origins of the song remain a mystery, but a popular theory is that it was written about the bubonic plague in Europe and Asia<\/a>. Often referred to as the Black Death, this epidemic killed millions of people in Europe between 1347 and 1352.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBased on some interpretations, the ring around the Rosie refers to the red rash that portents the disease. The following line describes the flowers placed around the infected person for protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another symptom of the Black Death was the sniffles, which would explain the tissue. And the final line, \u201cWe all fall down,\u201d is an apt description of all the lives lost during the plague.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blind Man\u2019s Buff is Pretext for Copping a Feel <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThis game is played within a large room or even outdoors. The person who is \u201cit,\u201d or the so-called \u201cblind man,\u201d is blindfolded and tasked with catching another player and trying to identify them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the \u201ccaught\u201d person is correctly identified, they become the blind man in the next round.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Identifying another person while blindfolded typically requires touching their face and body. When malicious players join, the game can be a thin pretext to be inappropriate with others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Goosey Goosey Gander Is About Sex Workers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nGoose and Gander is a game of chase, where players form a line of \u201cgeese\u201d and hold on to the hips of the person in front of them. The game\u2019s \u201cit,\u201d or the \u201cgander,\u201d is tasked with capturing the goose at the end of the line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mother goose, or the player at the very front, should guide the rest of the line and run side to side to block the gander\u2019s advances. When the gander tags the final goose, the mother goose becomes the next \u201cit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The game\u2019s origin is said to be a nursery rhyme with the following lyrics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGoosey goosey gander, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whither shall I wander?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upstairs and downstairs<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And in my lady\u2019s chamber. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There, I met an old man<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who wouldn\u2019t say his prayers,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So I took him by his left leg<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And threw him down the stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is said to be about prostitutes, as \u201cgoose\u201d was slang for sex workers<\/a> in the 18th century. Other historians say the song was sung by children of prostitutes to entertain customers in brothels. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHot Cockles Is Simply Violent<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHot Cockles was a popular Christmas game in Regency era. A blindfolded player (the \u201cit\u201d) kneels and places their head on a seated player\u2019s lap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The \u201cit\u201d holds their hands on their lower back, with their palms facing upward. The other players take turns slapping the blindfolded player\u2019s hands, who will guess who hit them. The player guessed correctly becomes the next \u201cit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In more violent versions of the game, the players take turns slapping, kicking, or paddling the kneeling player\u2019s bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Girls Tried to Predict Their Future Husbands<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn the Victorian Era<\/a>, a popular pastime for girls was to try to predict their future husband\u2019s looks or professions in various ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Melted Lead<\/strong> – Girls would pour melted lead into a bowl of water and analyze the shape to predict their future husband\u2019s job.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Three Luggies<\/strong> – This involves three bowls: one filled with water, one with milk, and the last empty. Girls were blindfolded and put their hands in one of the bowls. If they get water, they would marry a bachelor. Milk signified a widower. And putting their hand in an empty bowl meant they were bound for spinsterhood.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Apple By Candlelight<\/strong> – Girls eat apples by candlelight while looking into the mirror in a bid to see the face of their future husband.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board Was Also About a Plague<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThis is a common slumber party game where children try to raise a child\u2019s body into the air using only their fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the earliest versions of this game, children took turns stating the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe is looking ill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe is looking worse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe is dying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the time the child is purportedly \u201cdead,\u201d the players then begin chanting, \u201cLight as a feather, stiff as a board,\u201d as they prepare to \u201clevitate\u201d the dead body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This game reportedly originated in the 17th century during the great plague in London<\/a>. Despite the deaths all around them, children still found ways to have fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHoop Rolling Reflects Greek Training Exercises<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThis popular game is played with two or more children racing one another while rolling a hoop with a stick. The game is fun and can be quite competitive. However, its backstory is a bit more serious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Based on some interpretations, the ring around the Rosie refers to the red rash that portents the disease. The following line describes the flowers placed around the infected person for protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another symptom of the Black Death was the sniffles, which would explain the tissue. And the final line, \u201cWe all fall down,\u201d is an apt description of all the lives lost during the plague.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blind Man\u2019s Buff is Pretext for Copping a Feel <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThis game is played within a large room or even outdoors. The person who is \u201cit,\u201d or the so-called \u201cblind man,\u201d is blindfolded and tasked with catching another player and trying to identify them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the \u201ccaught\u201d person is correctly identified, they become the blind man in the next round.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Identifying another person while blindfolded typically requires touching their face and body. When malicious players join, the game can be a thin pretext to be inappropriate with others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Goosey Goosey Gander Is About Sex Workers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nGoose and Gander is a game of chase, where players form a line of \u201cgeese\u201d and hold on to the hips of the person in front of them. The game\u2019s \u201cit,\u201d or the \u201cgander,\u201d is tasked with capturing the goose at the end of the line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mother goose, or the player at the very front, should guide the rest of the line and run side to side to block the gander\u2019s advances. When the gander tags the final goose, the mother goose becomes the next \u201cit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The game\u2019s origin is said to be a nursery rhyme with the following lyrics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGoosey goosey gander, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whither shall I wander?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upstairs and downstairs<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And in my lady\u2019s chamber. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There, I met an old man<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who wouldn\u2019t say his prayers,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So I took him by his left leg<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And threw him down the stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is said to be about prostitutes, as \u201cgoose\u201d was slang for sex workers<\/a> in the 18th century. Other historians say the song was sung by children of prostitutes to entertain customers in brothels. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHot Cockles Is Simply Violent<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHot Cockles was a popular Christmas game in Regency era. A blindfolded player (the \u201cit\u201d) kneels and places their head on a seated player\u2019s lap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The \u201cit\u201d holds their hands on their lower back, with their palms facing upward. The other players take turns slapping the blindfolded player\u2019s hands, who will guess who hit them. The player guessed correctly becomes the next \u201cit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In more violent versions of the game, the players take turns slapping, kicking, or paddling the kneeling player\u2019s bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Girls Tried to Predict Their Future Husbands<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn the Victorian Era<\/a>, a popular pastime for girls was to try to predict their future husband\u2019s looks or professions in various ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Melted Lead<\/strong> – Girls would pour melted lead into a bowl of water and analyze the shape to predict their future husband\u2019s job.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Three Luggies<\/strong> – This involves three bowls: one filled with water, one with milk, and the last empty. Girls were blindfolded and put their hands in one of the bowls. If they get water, they would marry a bachelor. Milk signified a widower. And putting their hand in an empty bowl meant they were bound for spinsterhood.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Apple By Candlelight<\/strong> – Girls eat apples by candlelight while looking into the mirror in a bid to see the face of their future husband.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board Was Also About a Plague<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThis is a common slumber party game where children try to raise a child\u2019s body into the air using only their fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the earliest versions of this game, children took turns stating the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe is looking ill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe is looking worse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe is dying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the time the child is purportedly \u201cdead,\u201d the players then begin chanting, \u201cLight as a feather, stiff as a board,\u201d as they prepare to \u201clevitate\u201d the dead body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This game reportedly originated in the 17th century during the great plague in London<\/a>. Despite the deaths all around them, children still found ways to have fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHoop Rolling Reflects Greek Training Exercises<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThis popular game is played with two or more children racing one another while rolling a hoop with a stick. The game is fun and can be quite competitive. However, its backstory is a bit more serious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Goose and Gander is a game of chase, where players form a line of \u201cgeese\u201d and hold on to the hips of the person in front of them. The game\u2019s \u201cit,\u201d or the \u201cgander,\u201d is tasked with capturing the goose at the end of the line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mother goose, or the player at the very front, should guide the rest of the line and run side to side to block the gander\u2019s advances. When the gander tags the final goose, the mother goose becomes the next \u201cit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The game\u2019s origin is said to be a nursery rhyme with the following lyrics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGoosey goosey gander, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whither shall I wander?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upstairs and downstairs<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And in my lady\u2019s chamber. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There, I met an old man<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who wouldn\u2019t say his prayers,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So I took him by his left leg<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And threw him down the stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is said to be about prostitutes, as \u201cgoose\u201d was slang for sex workers<\/a> in the 18th century. Other historians say the song was sung by children of prostitutes to entertain customers in brothels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hot Cockles was a popular Christmas game in Regency era. A blindfolded player (the \u201cit\u201d) kneels and places their head on a seated player\u2019s lap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201cit\u201d holds their hands on their lower back, with their palms facing upward. The other players take turns slapping the blindfolded player\u2019s hands, who will guess who hit them. The player guessed correctly becomes the next \u201cit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In more violent versions of the game, the players take turns slapping, kicking, or paddling the kneeling player\u2019s bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Victorian Era<\/a>, a popular pastime for girls was to try to predict their future husband\u2019s looks or professions in various ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a common slumber party game where children try to raise a child\u2019s body into the air using only their fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the earliest versions of this game, children took turns stating the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe is looking ill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe is looking worse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe is dying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the time the child is purportedly \u201cdead,\u201d the players then begin chanting, \u201cLight as a feather, stiff as a board,\u201d as they prepare to \u201clevitate\u201d the dead body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This game reportedly originated in the 17th century during the great plague in London<\/a>. Despite the deaths all around them, children still found ways to have fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This popular game is played with two or more children racing one another while rolling a hoop with a stick. The game is fun and can be quite competitive. However, its backstory is a bit more serious. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHot Cockles Is Simply Violent<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Girls Tried to Predict Their Future Husbands<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board Was Also About a Plague<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hoop Rolling Reflects Greek Training Exercises<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n