Independence Day Celebrations in 1905!
by Brenda Hyde
We love our modern Independence Day fireworks displays and small town
parades in the 21st Century, but what did they do in the
early 1900's?
These ideas are adapted
from Bright Ideas for Entertaining which was published in 1905.
Drape the room for the occasion with red, white and blue ribbon,
crepe paper or material. Fill tall vases with red and white carnations
and deep blue larkspur. Decorate as well with banners, streamers,
red, white and blue lamp shades, large copies of state seals or
other symbols.
The host and hostess could consider dressing up as Lady Liberty
and Uncle Sam, standing in the middle of the room to greet guests.
If this is a club function, other board members or officers could dress
up as representing different states in the U.S.A. and could act as
ushers, presenting guests to the hostess and host.
Ask each guest to come bearing a symbol of a past president. This
would be a picture games of sorts--example: fasten a pin with the
words G.A.R. to a picture of a field to represent Garfield....Hand each
guest a list of each person who is attending. The guests should
go around the room, or yard depending on location, and meet
each person-jotting down who they think the guest is representing.
Collect all the papers, making sure the owner's name is on each
one and have someone check them over. The person with the
most correct wins a prize!
Here is another game that can be played as well:
Geographical Game
Set the players in a ring. Let the first one say aloud the name
of a city, mountain, river, lake, etc. located in any part of the
world; the next player gives a name beginning with the final
letter of the previously said name, and the third supply one
beginning with the final letter of the second and so on around
the ring. Thus: America, Athens, Santiago, Ohio. Each player
is allowed thirty seconds in which to think. If, by the end of that
time, he has failed to supply a name, he must drop out of the
game. The one who keeps up the longest is the champion. Any
player, at any time, may be challenged to give the geographical
location of the place he has named. If, on demand, he cannot
do so he must pay a forfeit.
About the author
Brenda Hyde is a mom to three, wife, writer and Regional Recipe editor here at Standbesideher.com. She lives in the rural midwest with her family.
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