What did Tudor families do at Christmas once the feasting slowed, the music quietened, and the Yule log glowed on the hearth?

They played games, and some of them are still incredibly fun today.

Welcome to Day 4 of my Tudor Christmas Advent series! I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and today we’re stepping into the warm, bustling world of Tudor fireside entertainment.

From nobles in great halls to sailors aboard the Mary Rose, people in Tudor England filled the long winter evenings with:

- Dice games like Cent, Raffles, and Passage

- Card games from gentle Noddy to high-stakes Primero — Henry VIII’s favourite

- Board games including backgammon (“tables”), chess, Fox and Geese, and Nine Men’s Morris

- Shove-board and early billiards for the elite

- And simple household fun like pick-up sticks

These games weren’t just entertainment.

They were connection - a way for families and communities to share laughter, competition, mischief, and companionship throughout the Twelve Days of Christmas.

If you’re enjoying this festive journey through Tudor history, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell - more Christmas magic is coming tomorrow!

 

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