50 traditional games and pastimes from France
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Writer AndyKim
Hit 4,320 Hits
Date 25-01-17 19:09
Content
50 traditional games and pastimes from France. These activities often reflect France's rich cultural heritage and are enjoyed by people of various regions and age groups.
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### **Traditional Outdoor Games**
1. **Petanque**: A popular boules game, especially in Provence. Players throw metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden target ball called the "cochonnet."
2. **Jeu de Paume**: An ancestor of modern tennis, players used their hands to hit a ball over a net or against a wall.
3. **La Thèque**: Similar to baseball, this game involves hitting a ball with a bat and running to bases to score points.
4. **Palet Vendéen**: A traditional game from Vendée, where players throw metal or wooden discs onto a board.
5. **Quilles de Neuf**: A bowling game played with nine wooden pins, especially in southwestern France.
6. **Choule**: A medieval ball game originating in Normandy, played with teams trying to get the ball to a goal.
7. **Béret Game**: Two teams race to grab a beret placed in the center of a field.
8. **Lancer de Fer à Cheval**: Horseshoe throwing, a classic French countryside game.
9. **Boules Lyonnaises**: A variation of pétanque, played with heavier balls and requiring more precise strategy.
10. **Course à l’Œuf**: An egg-and-spoon race often played at fairs and community events.
---
### **Board and Strategy Games**
11. **Jeu de Dames**: The French version of checkers, played on a 10x10 board.
12. **Moulin**: Also known as Nine Men’s Morris, this game involves strategic placement of pieces to form mills.
13. **Jeu de l’Oie**: A spiral board game similar to Snakes and Ladders.
14. **Les Cartes (Belote)**: A popular card game with strategic bidding and tricks.
15. **Pioche**: A simple card-drawing game for children.
16. **Jeu de Tarot**: A traditional card game using a special deck, popular among adults in France.
17. **Dominos**: Played similarly to international rules, dominoes are a favorite in many French households.
18. **Jeu du Toc**: A wooden board game involving marbles, resembling Ludo.
19. **Le Jeu des 7 Familles**: A classic card game where players collect family members in themed sets.
20. **Fanorona**: A strategic board game of Malagasy origin, introduced to France during colonial times.
---
### **Cultural Festivals and Traditional Contests**
21. **Maypole Dancing (Danse Autour de l’Arbre de Mai)**: A spring tradition involving colorful ribbons and intricate dance steps.
22. **La Soule**: A rough medieval football game that inspired modern rugby.
23. **Cheese-Rolling Races**: Similar to the English tradition, rolling large wheels of cheese downhill.
24. **Torch-Lit Processions**: Part of many festivals, participants carry torches while parading through towns.
25. **Eel Catching Contests**: Popular in coastal regions, participants compete to catch slippery eels.
26. **Crêpe Tossing (Concours de Lancer de Crêpes)**: Competitions to flip crêpes as high or as neatly as possible.
27. **Rope Pulling (Tir à la Corde)**: A test of strength and teamwork in villages.
28. **Potato Sack Races (Courses de Sacs)**: A common game at festivals and fairs.
29. **Marble Games**: Competing to knock others' marbles out of a circle.
30. **Mutton Racing (Courses d’Agneaux)**: A quirky event in some rural festivals.
---
### **Musical and Rhythmic Games**
31. **Tambourin**: A ball game played with tambourine-like rackets.
32. **Bourrée Dancing**: A traditional folk dance from Auvergne.
33. **Musical Chairs (Chaises Musicales)**: A universally loved game often played at French parties.
34. **Clapping Games (Jeux de Mains)**: Rhythmic games involving synchronized clapping patterns.
35. **Accordion Competitions**: Common at village fêtes, showcasing traditional French music.
---
### **Children’s Games**
36. **Cache-Cache**: The French version of hide-and-seek.
37. **Chat Perché**: A tag game similar to "freeze tag," where players perch on elevated spots to be safe.
38. **1, 2, 3, Soleil**: Similar to "Red Light, Green Light," where players freeze when "Soleil" is called.
39. **La Marelle**: The French version of hopscotch, often drawn on sidewalks.
40. **Les Échasses**: Playing with stilts, popular in Gascony.
41. **Le Cerceau**: Rolling hoops with sticks, a nostalgic pastime.
42. **Pomme Suspendue**: Biting an apple hanging from a string without using hands.
43. **Rondes et Chants**: Circle games accompanied by singing, such as "Sur le Pont d’Avignon."
44. **Faire des Bulles**: Blowing soap bubbles and competing for the largest or longest-lasting one.
45. **Lancer de Ballon**: Ball-throwing games, often incorporating creative rules.
---
### **Regional Specialties**
46. **Branle Dance**: A traditional group dance from Brittany.
47. **Pousse-Pousse**: A pushing game involving small wooden carts in Normandy.
48. **Jeu de Massacre**: A carnival game involving throwing balls to knock over wooden figures.
49. **Tir au Canon**: Shooting games using air rifles, popular in fairs.
50. **Corsican Wrestling (Lutte Corse)**: A traditional form of grappling unique to Corsica.
---
These games and activities illustrate the diversity of French traditions, combining fun, community spirit, and historical significance. Many are still enjoyed today, either in local festivals or as cherished pastimes.
---
### **Traditional Outdoor Games**
1. **Petanque**: A popular boules game, especially in Provence. Players throw metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden target ball called the "cochonnet."
2. **Jeu de Paume**: An ancestor of modern tennis, players used their hands to hit a ball over a net or against a wall.
3. **La Thèque**: Similar to baseball, this game involves hitting a ball with a bat and running to bases to score points.
4. **Palet Vendéen**: A traditional game from Vendée, where players throw metal or wooden discs onto a board.
5. **Quilles de Neuf**: A bowling game played with nine wooden pins, especially in southwestern France.
6. **Choule**: A medieval ball game originating in Normandy, played with teams trying to get the ball to a goal.
7. **Béret Game**: Two teams race to grab a beret placed in the center of a field.
8. **Lancer de Fer à Cheval**: Horseshoe throwing, a classic French countryside game.
9. **Boules Lyonnaises**: A variation of pétanque, played with heavier balls and requiring more precise strategy.
10. **Course à l’Œuf**: An egg-and-spoon race often played at fairs and community events.
---
### **Board and Strategy Games**
11. **Jeu de Dames**: The French version of checkers, played on a 10x10 board.
12. **Moulin**: Also known as Nine Men’s Morris, this game involves strategic placement of pieces to form mills.
13. **Jeu de l’Oie**: A spiral board game similar to Snakes and Ladders.
14. **Les Cartes (Belote)**: A popular card game with strategic bidding and tricks.
15. **Pioche**: A simple card-drawing game for children.
16. **Jeu de Tarot**: A traditional card game using a special deck, popular among adults in France.
17. **Dominos**: Played similarly to international rules, dominoes are a favorite in many French households.
18. **Jeu du Toc**: A wooden board game involving marbles, resembling Ludo.
19. **Le Jeu des 7 Familles**: A classic card game where players collect family members in themed sets.
20. **Fanorona**: A strategic board game of Malagasy origin, introduced to France during colonial times.
---
### **Cultural Festivals and Traditional Contests**
21. **Maypole Dancing (Danse Autour de l’Arbre de Mai)**: A spring tradition involving colorful ribbons and intricate dance steps.
22. **La Soule**: A rough medieval football game that inspired modern rugby.
23. **Cheese-Rolling Races**: Similar to the English tradition, rolling large wheels of cheese downhill.
24. **Torch-Lit Processions**: Part of many festivals, participants carry torches while parading through towns.
25. **Eel Catching Contests**: Popular in coastal regions, participants compete to catch slippery eels.
26. **Crêpe Tossing (Concours de Lancer de Crêpes)**: Competitions to flip crêpes as high or as neatly as possible.
27. **Rope Pulling (Tir à la Corde)**: A test of strength and teamwork in villages.
28. **Potato Sack Races (Courses de Sacs)**: A common game at festivals and fairs.
29. **Marble Games**: Competing to knock others' marbles out of a circle.
30. **Mutton Racing (Courses d’Agneaux)**: A quirky event in some rural festivals.
---
### **Musical and Rhythmic Games**
31. **Tambourin**: A ball game played with tambourine-like rackets.
32. **Bourrée Dancing**: A traditional folk dance from Auvergne.
33. **Musical Chairs (Chaises Musicales)**: A universally loved game often played at French parties.
34. **Clapping Games (Jeux de Mains)**: Rhythmic games involving synchronized clapping patterns.
35. **Accordion Competitions**: Common at village fêtes, showcasing traditional French music.
---
### **Children’s Games**
36. **Cache-Cache**: The French version of hide-and-seek.
37. **Chat Perché**: A tag game similar to "freeze tag," where players perch on elevated spots to be safe.
38. **1, 2, 3, Soleil**: Similar to "Red Light, Green Light," where players freeze when "Soleil" is called.
39. **La Marelle**: The French version of hopscotch, often drawn on sidewalks.
40. **Les Échasses**: Playing with stilts, popular in Gascony.
41. **Le Cerceau**: Rolling hoops with sticks, a nostalgic pastime.
42. **Pomme Suspendue**: Biting an apple hanging from a string without using hands.
43. **Rondes et Chants**: Circle games accompanied by singing, such as "Sur le Pont d’Avignon."
44. **Faire des Bulles**: Blowing soap bubbles and competing for the largest or longest-lasting one.
45. **Lancer de Ballon**: Ball-throwing games, often incorporating creative rules.
---
### **Regional Specialties**
46. **Branle Dance**: A traditional group dance from Brittany.
47. **Pousse-Pousse**: A pushing game involving small wooden carts in Normandy.
48. **Jeu de Massacre**: A carnival game involving throwing balls to knock over wooden figures.
49. **Tir au Canon**: Shooting games using air rifles, popular in fairs.
50. **Corsican Wrestling (Lutte Corse)**: A traditional form of grappling unique to Corsica.
---
These games and activities illustrate the diversity of French traditions, combining fun, community spirit, and historical significance. Many are still enjoyed today, either in local festivals or as cherished pastimes.