Leisure notes (responsible for final exam)

As a rural population, Islanders had little time for leisure, but took advantage of the leisure time available to them.

Skating, picnics, riding horses
Cribbage, whist, backgammon, checkers
Sports were informal and rules differed from place to place; boxing and wrestling popular
Dancing, ice skating

People living on the Island did not have a lot of money; therefore, they engaged in leisure activities that were not costly.

Kitchen parties, dancing, music, and outdoor sporting activities provided lots of entertainment for little cost.

What can leisure activities tell us about a society?

Climate (ex: ice hockey is a popular leisure activity in Canada)
Geography (ex: surfing is not a popular sport in PEI)
Cultures/ethnicities (music, food)
Social/economic status (ex: yachting, golfing, polo)
Religion (art, etc.)

Changes in Leisure Activities
Many historians and sociologists believe leisure activities have changed in the following ways. Agree or disagree?
(1) organized pastimes replaced informal and spontaneous recreation
(2) commercial entertainment, especially spectacles such as movies and professional sports, replaced self-generated and active leisure
(3) private diversions replaced collective recreation