I have now lived in three different regions of the United States. I grew up in Texas (the Texas panhandle to be exact), I lived in Denver, Colorado for five years, and I have now lived in Chicago for more than two years. I love observing the differences in cultures between the various places I have lived. . . the accents through which people speak, the foods people eat, the sports teams for whom people cheer.
But one thing that has been an interesting discovery in my various moves around the country is the differences between the games people play from region to region. People in Texas don't play the same games as the people in Chicago, and the people in Colorado don't play the same games as the people in Texas. I have a hunch that one could go to any state in the United States and find one regional pastime that is mostly unique to that region, that most people in that region understand and play, and that most people outside that region have never heard of. And understanding and competently playing these games is perhaps one of the most important steps in assimilating into any new environment.
So I thought I'd begin a list of games that are often played in certain regions, but rarely played in others. If you'd like to add to the list leave a comment below. . .
Chicago
"Bags" (A.K.A. "Baggo"; A.K.A. "Cornhole" in Indiana): It didn't take me long to discover what Chicagoans like to do in the summer. They love to play "Bags." The object of bags is to toss a corn-filled bag onto a slightly slanted board with a hole on the far end. You're awarded point if your bag either goes into the hole or remains on the board. A quick walk around Wrigleyville on summer evenings or your local neighborhood on the fourth of July reveals the shear volume of people who are willing to play "bags" for hours upon hours and complain about the Cubs as they wait for inebriation to sets in.
Michigan
"Euchre": OK, so I've never lived in MIchigan. But we have enough Michigan transplants in Chicago that I've discovered this unique game only Michigan natives (and maybe Ohio natives) seem to understand. It's a card game called "Euchre" (pronounced "Yuker"). It plays similar to "spades" except it only utilizes the A, K, Q, J, 10, and 9 cards and Jacks are really important. There have been many Euchre tournaments played in the state of Michigan, and many failed attempts at bringing this card game to the rest of the world. I just can't see myself playing a card-game that's so difficult to spell.
Colorado
Mountain Sports: So it's not exactly a game, but it is a Coloradan pastime unique to the Colorado experience. People in Colorado love mountain sports, which is probably why Colorado has the fewest overweight people in the country. In the winter, skiing and snowboarding is a common weekend activity. In the summer, hiking, rock-climbing, and mountain-biking. You cannot drive through Denver, Colorado without seeing a bike/ski/kayak rack on the hood of at least 50% of the cars you pass. If you move to Colorado you will soon learn the best ski resorts to ski, back-country terrains to navigate, and 14-ers to climb. And soon, you will find yourself climbing these 14,000 foot mountains wishing you were drinking beer and playing cornhole in Chicago.
Texas
"Forty-Two" (A.K.A. "Bones;" A.K.A. "Texas 42"): This is a game I learned in college at Texas A&M University, which ended up consuming way more of my time and effort than the sociology degree I have hanging on my wall. "Forty-Two" is a dominoes game that plays alot like the card game "spades" (or Euchre). It's a four-person trick-taking game, and Texas college students love it. You will often find "Bones" tournaments happening at local bars, and all-night games being played in homes by the college students who couldn't find dates.
I'm sure there are other games and pastimes being played in other parts of the country that are unique to those areas. I'd love to hear about them if you want to leave a comment. . .
How about "Big Booty"??
Posted by: Chris | August 11, 2009 at 05:43 AM