ct-game

After Christmas lunch the families of the Middle Ages would be dashing about playing Christmas games. Besides the fun of playing them for their own sakes, the games must have helped to shake down one meal before the revelers started on the next.

In Normandy, seventy years ago, they actually made a thing of this shaking down process. In between courses everyone would stand up, hold hands and dance round and round the table singing 'En sacant! En sacant!', a literal translation of which might be 'Put it in the sack! Put it in the sack!'

Playing games at Christmas was traditional until the Puritans banned them in 1652. In fact it was the only time the working population was allowed to play games. Henry the Eighth issued a proclamation forbidding them at any other time:

Any Artificer, or Craftsman of any handicraft or occupation, Husbandman, Apprentice, Labourer, Servant at Husbandry, Journeyman, Servant of Artificer, Mariner, Fisherman, Waterman, or Serving-man; playing at Tables, Tennis, Dice, Cards, Bowls, Clash, Coyting, Logating or any other unlawful game out of Christmas, shall under pain of twenty shillings be forfeit for every time; and forfeit also in Christmas to play at any of the said games in their Master's house, or in their Master's presence.