The Minister's Cat, Blind Man's Bluff, Hide the Thimble. No these aren't the ramblings of an Editor who has enjoyed a little too much mulled wine. These are, of course, just a few of the many parlour games enjoyed at this time of year.
Popular in the Victorian era, parlour games enjoyed something of a renaissance thanks to the increasing amount of free time afforded to the middle and upper classes. A game of Charades, 'Are you there, Moriarty?', or Consequences, would often be played after dinner or at parties in the parlour, a tradition that has survived at Christmas time to this day, despite the rise of board games, radio, TV, and other forms of modern entertainment.
In fact, several new games have found popularity more recently, reviving the genre, such as Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon and Cards Against Humanity, although some are less family friendly than others! Often relying on logic, word-play, dramatic skill or quick thinking, make sure you try out a new game this year that you haven't played before.
To get in the spirit of things, try acting out your favourite Christmas film for your nearest and dearest. It works perfectly over Zoom even if you're not able to spend Christmas with your loved ones this year.
