8-5Sport

henry 12. WHAT WERE POPULAR FORMS OF SPORT, AMUSEMENT, AND ENTERTAINMENT IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND?

People in Elizabethan England did many things to entertain themselves. A lot of these things are very similar to what we do today, like singing, dancing and playing games. But of course a lot of these activities depended on their class. According to the elizabethan-era organization The rich would play tennis. These games were usually held indoors or in a high walled outdoor court. The ball was made of leather and stuffed with hair. They even had a version of the game where they wouldn't use rackets just the palm of there hand. They also played many lawn bowling games or as they would say "bowls." These bowling Allys would be grass lanes. The game was so popular that King Henry Viii even set up an alley at White Hall. The White Hall was the main place that English Monarchs lived. Another activity that the english enjoyed was Bear and Bull bating. Nearly every town had a bear or bull baiting ring. Bull baiting was more common in England because bears were very expensive. In bull baiting trained bulldogs would attack a bull that was tied on a leash to a steak one by one. Bear fighting was similar but they would usually attack the Bear with many dogs at once. Even Queen Elizabeth occasionally liked to spend her afternoons watching the gruesome sport.

Ordinary English people enjoyed bowl games too. Alleys existed around London for the commoners. A huge part of old English culture was going to the theaters. Because there was only natural lighting the plays usually took place in the afternoon. People would go to an inn yard or playhouse to see a play (real playhouses didn't emerge until 1576.) Ladies were allowed into plays but were usually wore masks or vales. Plays were put on by companies. Companies were groups of people; actors/directors, that work to preform plays together. In an average companies season they would put on 4-6 plays. The normal play season length was around 8 weeks. When people couldn't get out or couldn't afford to do other things, they would pass the time gossiping and flirting with their friends.

People in Elizabethan England also did things that is a problem in our modern society. They would pass the time by drinking at ale houses and taverns. Gambling was very common. They played games like Hazard (similar to craps) backgammon or "tables" and different dice games known as "dicing." People lost a lot of money of these games. Prostitution also existed. The houses were this existed were know as a "bawdy houses" a "leaping house" or a shugging den. People in Elizabethan England created many forms of amusement that we still know of and use to this day.

Fun Links: [|more games] [|how to play some elizabethian card games]