Parlor Games were Taken to a New Level
As we fall ever deeper into the technological clutches of TV, tablets, and smartphones, we might complain that the modern Christmas is morphing into a much less intimate, family-friendly celebration. There is certainly some truth in this, but in a sense, we should be grateful. For had we been born in the Victorian Age (or in any other age since the end of the sixteenth century for that matter), we would have most likely been expected to participate in a group game of Snapdragon.
The premise of this particular parlor game is simple. First, you fill a shallow bowl full of raisins. Then you drown the raisins in brandy. After that, you set the brandy alight so that the blue flames dancing above the bowl light up the faces of family, friends and loved ones so that they come to resemble demons. Finally, in a blatant disregard for health and safety quite typical of a culture that thought sending people to the workhouse was perfectly fine, people would take it in turns to reach into the flames, grab a flaming raisin, and eat it before it could self-inflict significant burn damage on their fingers – or worse, their tongues.