Family, Christmas, Board Games and Cards

Perhaps it’s because I am a child of the 70’s and 80’s but for me family gathering always included some from of communal games, which were either card games or board games. To be fair it tended to be more about card games using a standard deck of cards or two decks depending on the game.

I have a clear memory of playing such games as 7-card and 10-card Rummy, 31 which we called “Trent’un” as well as “Bella Donna” (mostly) and at times the “Bella Donna Ħalliela” variant. If we did not play cards then most likely we would bring out some other classic game like draughts or chess and the ever present Monopoly. I did own some kid friendly games like Haunted House as well as other abstract strategy games like Mastermind and Backgammon but these were not played when we met with the rest of the family. At Christmas time, Tombola was also a favoured party game which invariably came out with reusable cardboard tickets and an assortment of small tokens to mark away your numbers. However quite frankly, while on occasion I do believe to have joined in, I never quite liked that game which felt too random for my growing tastes.

I remember my maternal grandfather, God bless his soul, playing exceptional checkers at the table while family gathered round or occasionally dropped by to see how a match was progressing. I remember my aunts and uncles playing loudly and dare I say happily, dealing out cards and making memories together.

Since then a number of those players have left us but I’d like to believe that they somehow found each other in a better place and that they are still dealing out cards, chatting and laughing together just as they did when they were with us.

Regardless, the fact remains that these games served a simple socialising purpose. Family would gather round, cards would be dealt and everyone would forget all about his or her day-to-day and just share space, idle chit-chat and companionship. Maybe the years have gilded my memories making them appear more memorable but I think it is that feeling of home and family that have fed into my board gaming hobby over years.

You see, there is nothing simpler and perhaps sweeter than sitting around a table with people you really care about and then bring out a board game or deck of cards, which in a few whimsical hours, successfully brings everyone together. There will be winners, losers but more importantly there will be chat, banter, laughter…and that is priceless.

Indeed Boardgames can, and actually do, sharpen your wit and teach you a lot about yourself and others, but boardgames are meaningless bits of plastic and cardboard unless there are people, friends or family gathered.

Please do not underestimate what these games can do for you. For one they help us disconnect from all the technology and information overload we experience daily through our always-on culture. They help us remember that play defines us as a species, help us grow as individuals and brings us altogether through friendly competition.

This will be my last Blog before Christmas, so dear friends, wherever you are, whatever you will be doing this Christmas, may you have a blessed day. May you find the time to dust an old boardgame from your personal stash or whip out a deck of cards for a friendly round or two.

 

From the Heart I wish a Happy Christmas to you all.