10 Games Every Lebanese Has Played At Some Point In Their Lives

Playing is a major part of our lives. It is one of our most intrinsic instincts that both keeps us young and engages our physical and mental abilities. Here is a list of 10 glorious games we grew up in the era before video games.

#1 Barjees

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One of Lebanon's oldest traditional games, Barjees is thought to be of Persian origin. It consists of throwing shells of assigned values on a broidered piece of cloth. The game sharpens analytical skills and focus, and a single round can span for hours!

#2 Seven Blocks

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Seven blocks or filish is a group game that requires teamwork and coordination. It consists of piling seven bricks on top of each other and throwing a ball to tip-over the pile. The remaining team members then have to rebuild the stack while the opposing team blocks their attempts with the ball.

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The simplistic game preaches sacrifice and team effort, with members often acting as human shields to give their partners the chance to rebuild the pile successfully.

#3 X, or Fakha/ S ikke A'rjaa

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All that this entertaining game requires is a piece of chalk. It consists of hopping from one drawn box to the next and collecting a thrown object while avoiding the chalked borders. The game is strictly a physical one, with benefits including a better physique and increased hand-eye coordination.

#4 Checkers, or Dama

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This ancient French game found its way to Lebanon in the early 1900s via the Ottomans. Often compared to chess, Dama is a board game that harnesses tactical strength and mental prowess.

#5 Marbles

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The basic rule for this ancient Greek game is to hit one marble with another from a significant distance. Playing with marbles improves aiming and focus since the tiny glass balls make very difficult targets. The most successful player often walks away with the largest and most coveted marble of all, the tahboush .

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#6 Hide-and-Seek or Tag

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What list is complete without them? These two global games need no explanation. Despite its many names (Police Harame, Ovrira ) and variations, the goal of the game goal is the same in essence.

#7 Pinball and Baby-foot or Foosball