Valentine Brevities
Friday, February 1st, 2008
Old time Valentine’s party games from the 1932 Cokesbury Party Book.
MIXER: HEART GOING TO JERUSALEM: Pin hearts on the window curtains or put them up with thumb tacks. There should be one less hearts than guests. While the music plays, all march around the room. When the music stops, they all put one hand on a heart, and there must be only one hand on each heart. The person who does not have a heart to put his hand on must retire from the game and take his place in the center of the room. When the music starts again, the leader takes down one of the remaining hearts, and so on, until only one heart remains. If the game continues too long, the leader may take down more than one heart each time.
HEART HUNT: A large number of hearts have been hidden around the room before the party starts. Among these should be a gold-colored heart and a silver-colored one. Give two prizes, one to the person finding the gold heart, and one to the one who finds the silver heart. Candy hearts or candy in heart-shaped boxes would be appropriate for a prize.
PULLING THE HEARTSTRINGS: Hang from the doorway between two rooms a large heart made of red cardboard through which is a hole. Through this hole hang red cords, having half as many cords as guests. Care should be taken that these cords are large enough that they will not tangle easily. Girls go into one room and the boys into the other. The girls take hold of one end of a cord and the boys the other, taking care not to pull into the leader signals. When the whistle is blown, all pull at the same time, and those who have opposite ends of a cord are partners and must work together in the couples games.
HEART PUZZLE: Give each couple an envelope containing a large cardboard heart cut into eight or ten odd-shaped pieces. When the whistle blows, all try to assemble the heart by putting the pieces together. The first couple to finish wins the prize.
FLOUR HEART HUNT: Don’t let anyone know the name of this game just yet. First divide the boys into two groups and pick one boy from each group. When the boys have been chosen, bring in saucers of flour in which are hidden cardboard hearts. They are to dig these out without the use of their hands, using only their tongues and teeth.
HEART ARCHERY: Draw a large heart on a piece of cardboard about thirty inches square. Draw circles on the heart. In the circle near the center should be labeled “Lovers.� The next circle should be marked “Somewhat Affectionate.� The next circle should be marked “Indifferent to Love,� and the outside circle “Woman Hater, Man Hater.� Bows and arrows can be purchased at the five-and-ten-cent store. If arrows with rubber tips are used, they may be touched to a rubber stamp or lampblack so that they will make a mark on the target. Burnt cork will also do.
MAKING THE MOST OF VALENTINE: Give blank slips of paper and pencil to each guest. They are to see how many words thy can make out of the letters in the word Valentine. Give a prize to the one who has the largest number.
DRAWING HEARTS: On a chart of white paper hung on the wall, or a writing board with blank sheets of paper in it, have each guest draw a picture of a heart and write his name on it while blindfolded. The best effort will receive a prize.