Am I aggravating? Don't answer that:) It was a hypothetical question. But I do know that there was a lot of Aggravation last time I visited the Eicher family. Okay, enough of the jokes. Aggravation is a fun game that the Eichers have played as long as I have known them. The Amish - despite ferocious societal pressure from the outside - still largely live in an electronic-free world. This means that entertainment - gasp - actually involves doing non-electronic stuff together like playing games or talking. Connect Four, Sorry, Aggravation, other board games, and puzzles still do much to entertain Amish families during the evenings of a long, cold winter. This winter has been anything but cold so I think some of the indoor games have been curtailed a bit. But Aggravation is still a favorite and Lovina's brother-in-law Jacob makes these beautiful homemade versions. The late Elizabeth Coblentz wrote about the game often. I found references to it in her column as early as 1993 and almost 10 years later 10 months before her untimely passing she wrote: "this Sunday in January has now ended. The boys had a good time today playing a board game called Aggravation."
Another game she wrote about often is called Carrom, anyone heard of that?
So if you would like to watch me do a little demo of the game Aggravation using a homemade board at Lovina's house, click here. It really is a fun game. I think board games sort of bring people together in a way that everyone at their individual electronic stations doesn't. Does your family play board games? If so, which ones are favorites?
jodie
we play board games every week. Sorry is our favorite, then chinese checkers. We also play cards, Uno, Skipbo and poker.
Diann
On the rare occasion we do play a board game, it is always Aggravation. Love it!
Kris
I grew up playing aggravation with my grandmother on a board made by my uncle while he was in school. Such fond memories. My husband and I play cards or yahtzee every night after supper and enjoy the time to unwind from our day.
Kevin
Kris, good to see you on here! And that is so nice that you and your husband do that every evening...I sometimes feel that society has become so wired, so internet-driven...time spent playing games like that with one another has to be great for a relationship!
Jill Stratman
I grew up playing Aggravation as well. We had a board for 4 players and one for 6. I have one of the boards and I believe my brother has the other. It's a great game because even fairly young children can understand and play. What great memories it brings back! Hundreds and hundreds of hours trying to "aggravate" one another lol
Heather Mitchell
With my youngest granddaughter now living with me...she's 8....she loves to play board games. For Christmas she got a slew of them. Sorry, Yahtzee, Monopoly, Scrabble, Uno Attack just to name a few. Her favorite? Scrabble! Every night we play a game of Scrabble. She loves word games....and so do I. She's also learning the game of Chess from her Uncle.
Denise
Sequence, and Scattergories
Mary Ellen Hemenway
Carroms is an old board game we played many many years ago. The board fit over the top of a card table, with net pockets in the corners. Playing pieces were ring circles you tried to get into the corner pockets. I feel like this is really showing my age even knowing about this game. I still have the board my parents had.
Kevin
Mary Ellen, welcome to Amish Cook online and thanks for sharing! Your description matches what the Eichers and Coblentzes always told me they played...sounds fun!