According to primary source document Of Plimoth Plantation, the English played stool-ball in the “street” of Plymouth on Christmas day 1621. (Brrrr! That had to be cold!) The infamous feast had preceded this by just a couple months, in either September or October.
I am using Craigslist this year to find like-minded families in my area who would like to picnic and play stool-ball during the month of October. Very easy. You just need a large grassy field to play. (You can play on a baseball diamond, but I think that takes away from the heirloom feel.)
Complete instructions for making the needed equipment, along with the rules of play, are in The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas, Second Edition.
Note: You can get scrap leather for making your wool-stuffed leather ball on eBay for cheap. You’ll need just under a square foot. You’ll also need an awl and sinew, or faux sinew for stitching the ball. (Real sinew preparation instructions are found in the Historical Thanksgiving guide.)
It’s even more fun to play the game when the ladies are wearing period clothes… Hike it up ladies! You can do it!
Tags: ideas thanksgiving, family thanksgiving games, sports thanksgiving, activities for kids thanksgiving
Stool-ball components
Tags: activities for kids thanksgiving, family thanksgiving games, Ideas Thanksgiving, sports thanksgiving
Posted September 9, 2009 by Admin under Activities
