NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY
The decorations for the room are holly and mistletoe. The guests are attired in white to represent snow, or they may appear in fur-trimmed garments. At midnight all sing "Auld Lang Syne," and shake hands. Calendars are appropriate souvenirs for the occasion. At midnight all wish each other "A Happy New Year."
CHILDREN'S NEW YEAR GAMES
Give the children pencils and paper. Let them write out their resolutions for the New Year. These may be grave or funny as desired. Give calendars as souvenirs.
LINCOLN'S DAY
Recite poems about Lincoln. Tell stories about him. Explain why "Uncle
Tom's Cabin" is a suitable book to read on this day.
If possible give tableaux suited to the occasion. Those taken from
Uncle Tom's Cabin are eminently suitable.
VALENTINE PARTY
The evening is opened with the playing of a game of hearts. Each lady receives a red paper heart, and is requested to write her name on the back of it. The hearts are shuffled and put in a bowl; the men's hearts are put in another bowl. A lady chooses a heart from the men's bowl, then a man chooses from the ladies' bowl. The lady is partner for the evening of the man whose heart she drew and vice versa.
Valentines are given, and are read aloud by the recipient. Comic ones are admissible if not vulgar. Valentine mottoes also are given.
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY
A Martha Washington party in costume with a supper in Colonial time style. Dance the Minuet and old-time dances.
FOR APRIL FIRST
This is April Fool's Day. It may be made the occasion of a party. Games suitable to the occasion are played; among them pinning a tail to the picture of a tailless donkey fastened on the wall. This may be drawn by one of the children. Tails are slightly pinned on the children among themselves. April fool candy is served, and glasses are offered which appear to have lemonade in them, but which are so made that no liquor can be drunk from them, etc. The one who is not fooled all evening receives a prize—the funnier it is the better. It may be a "nigger doll" or the like. A donkey is given as a booby prize to the one most often fooled. This fooling can be done in any way which suggests itself.
EASTER EGG PARTIES
Color hard-boiled eggs and hide them. Give your little guests pretty baskets and let them hunt for the eggs, or give each a large wooden spoon to spoon them up. If you live in the country roll eggs down hill at one place as a target at the foot of it.
Draw a bunny holding an egg. Pin it to the wall. The one who, blindfolded, succeeds in putting a pin in the egg receives eggs as presents.
FLAG DAY
Display flags liberally. Tell stories about the American Flag. Sing
"America," "Star-Spangled Banner," etc. Salute "Old Glory."
A HALLOWE'EN PARTY
The usual Hallowe'en tricks are tried such as the following: A ring, a piece of money and a thimble are hidden; the player who finds the ring will be first married, or these articles may be baked in a cake which is cut and distributed. The one getting the money will be prosperous, the getter of the thimble industrious, the getter of the ring will soon be married.
BOBBING FOR APPLES
Bobbing for apples. All children like this. In a tub of water several apples float. The children try to capture them with their teeth.
FLOATING NEEDLES
Grease needles and let them float in a bowl of water, upon which tissue paper is laid. Each child has his, or her, own needle. It is amusing to watch the action of the needle when the paper sinks—as it does when it becomes saturated—the needles rush about.
CANDLE AND LOOKING-GLASS
Each person in turn walks downstairs backwards, alone in the dark, with a looking-glass in one hand and a lighted candle in the other. The future husband or wife will be seen—? Or, run around the house three times with your mouth full of water—at midnight.
Melted lead poured into water results in queer figures which sometimes resemble initials; these are supposed to be those of the future husband or wife.
The water charm: put three dishes on a table—one empty, one containing clean water, one soapy water; the blindfolded ones put a finger into one of the dishes, the position of which are changed after the blindfolding. If he puts his finger in clear water a happy marriage will result.
APPLE GAMES
Put a basket on the wall halfway up. The players stand at a distance and throw apples into the basket. A score is kept, the one putting the greatest number of apples into the basket receiving the prize.
THANKSGIVING PARTY
This may be held in a barn. The stalls may be draped with bright-colored goods and decorated with greens, or autumn leaves. Japanese lanterns are strung about. Chrysanthemums should be the table flowers. Old-time dances are danced, such as the Virginia Reel, Money Musk, etc. Pumpkin pies, grapes, nuts and cider are served as a part of the collation.
KRIS KRINGLE PARTY
A Kris Kringle party may be taken in the open—in sleighs. The driver is dressed as Kris Kringle. After a sleigh ride in large sleighs drawn by horses decorated to represent reindeer, the party returns to an elaborate Christmas supper.
Christmas songs should be sung, well-known Christmas carols, as "'Tis the Eve of Christmas Day," "Merry Bells," "The Christmas Tree," etc.
Shadow pantomimes are a good form of entertainment for Christmas. They should carry out the idea of the festival. Any of the Merry Games given in the book may be played. The winter games are especially recommended.
SNOWBALL BATTLE
Throw ball at a target and keep a score, or build a snow fort and make it the target.
CHRISTMAS GUESSES
Suspend mistletoe from a chandelier. Let the children in turn guess how many berries are on the suspended bush. The one guessing most correctly wins a prize.
"The Night Before Christmas" is read. As the names are named the children arise and turn around, then sit down again. Santa Claus is mentioned last. When he is spoken of all change seats. The story teller tries to secure a seat. If she succeeds there is an odd player. He must tell a funny story.
JACK FROST
Sing and act out the Jack Frost song,—"Jack Frost is a roguish little fellow," etc., etc. The music and words may be obtained at a music store.
Jesus Bids Us Shine. Christmas Is Coming. Christmas Greeting.
LEAD TEST
Drop melted lead into cold water. It assumes queer shapes. Hallowe'en stories are told.
APPLE TESTS
Peel an apple without breaking the peeling. Throw the skin over your shoulder and see what shape it assumes.
Apples are tied to a string and hung from the chandelier. The boys and girls try to bite these without touching them with their hands.
A PUMPKIN GAME
A pumpkin is scooped out and a candle is placed inside; the light shines through the holes in the pumpkin. Pumpkin favors are given.
All dance around the pumpkin and sing "Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater," etc.
THE CHRISTMAS DINNER
The Christmas dinner is a family reunion, generally; sometimes a friend is invited. If he be a homeless one so much the better. The turkey, of course, is part of the dinner, and pumpkin and mince pies and plum pudding are served, each guest making a choice; rosy-cheeked apples, grapes, nuts and cider form a last course. The Christmas presents may be laid at the plates or may be dispensed from the Christmas tree—preferably the latter.
One of the party impersonates Santa Claus. Yule-tide songs are sung and old-time Christmas games are played. Stockings hung behind curtains and in odd places hold candy, nuts, raisins, etc. These may be made of silk or any pretty material. The guests hunt for these.
SUGGESTIONS FOR GAMES TO BE PLAYED AT CHRISTMAS TIME OR AT THANKSGIVING
Put a very large pumpkin in the center of the room or on a grass plot. The players stand at a distance. Each one runs and jumps over the pumpkin, using both feet. In so doing a score is kept. The one jumping over with both feet together the oftenest wins the pumpkin. Or dance about the pumpkin; when a small child sitting on it claps or whistles all stop. She selects a player with whom she changes place. This game may be played by adults, the player standing near the pumpkin.