Discover the Forgotten Pastime That Will Bring Peace to Your Day!
July 21, 2024
Source: 1st Dibs
Can you recall those long summer days when you would spend time with your grandparents, sitting in their living room, and listening to the radio? Maybe you were going through the attic and came across a chest with old items that have not been used for a long time. Of the treasures, there could have been a wooden solitaire set, marbles arranged in a row as if inviting to a silent game and a lonely victory. This primitive game, which is almost forgotten in the contemporary world, has the ability to take the audience back to those tranquil and happy moments that were once an essential part of life.
Solitaire or more popularly known as peg solitaire has a history as dynamic as the marble which is used to create its board. The game evolved in France in the last quarter of the seventeenth century and was popular with the nobility. It is said that the game was created by a French nobleman who was put in the Bastille and since there was nothing else to do, he created the game with pegs. For many centuries, it spread across the territory of Europe, while changing its shape, but preserving the idea of individual competition for intelligence and cunning.
Indeed, solitaire boards were not only a game; they were a main focal piece in most family rooms and a symbol of quiet entertainment. The beauty of the game lies in its simplicity: We also had a wooden board, marbles, and the human brain ready to crack the solution. This is a gentle reminder that entertainment doesn’t have be high concept or digital—sometimes the most enjoyable games are those that make us put our brains into idle mode.
Solitaire board is a cultural item itself and being an artifact, it cannot be denied that the one from Madagascar with marbles of different stones is exceptionally unique and beautiful. During the late 1900s, the time frame that this particular set was most probably created, Madagascar was resource-rich in minerals. Every marble is a piece of geology of the island, a work of art created by the nature. This game was entertaining but at the same time it was a link to the earth, a link to the humble materials of this earth.
Solitaire was not only a game to play; it was a societal indicator of the time. The game is about waiting, enduring and thinking; there is no loud and aggressive action in the game. In the world that has been drowned by the beeping of the phones and the interconnectivity of the world, solitaire was a game that was needed, to provide that short moment of peace and thinking. They depict a time when entertainment and learning went hand in hand and one had to challenge the mind to be entertained.
Discussing solitaire makes one feel as if he or she is talking to a friend from the past. The game is rather welcoming and casual, reminding you of sitting in front of the fireplace and telling stories and riddles. It is a message that despite the advanced society and the constant rush of the world, there is meaning in stopping, in linking with history and in the happiness of existence.
Solitaire as any other classic game has a certain ability to make us happy, to bring some colors in our monotonous lives. It is a symbol of ageless hobbies, a proof that there are still things that are entertaining even in this fast paced society. The best thing about solitaire is that it is a game that can be taken anywhere and played by anyone, giving a person a few minutes of peace in this fast pace world.
Think about holding a marble in your hand and the sound of it rolling into the slot on the wooden board. It will feel great to make a perfect move and watch the board slowly empty as you take out one marble at a time. Solitaire is a game and at the same time it is a form of history, a way to find some peace and a link with those who sat and played it before us.
In the world where people are surrounded by gadgets and fast games, the solitaire board is still a symbol of the previous generations, which encourages people to relax and enjoy a thoughtful game. So the next time you look at a solitaire board, find a chair, get a marble, and let yourself be taken away to those more innocent times.