Homes, Trades and Games of Long Ago · Drawing 36 of 40
The cup-and-ball game
The 18th century
Almost 300 years ago in Montréal, children already played cup-and-ball. Toss the ball up and try to catch it in the little cup. Look at his old-fashioned hat and shoes!
Look together
How are his clothes different from yours?
An idea to try
Follow the string in the drawing with a finger. Then pretend to move the ball into the cup, without using an object.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
Look at the boy’s clothes: three-cornered hat, breeches tight below the knee, buckled shoes. These clothes evoke some garments worn in eighteenth-century Ville-Marie, the first name of Montréal, founded in 1642. Pointe-à-Callière presents the top and the cup-and-ball among the games of children of that time, between chores and school. School already existed: in 1658, Marguerite Bourgeoys opened Montréal’s first school in a stone stable made available by Maisonneuve.
Compare the two games in the book. The top spins on its point, while cup-and-ball means aiming the ball into the cup. Your child can trace the path with a finger and talk about the patience it takes to try again. The drawing is an interpretation, not a copy of a specific museum toy.
Sources and illustration notes (2)
Original simplified illustration for colouring; not a historical document.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Pointe-à-Callière — Grandir à Ville-Marie en Nouvelle-FranceVie des enfants au 18e siècle, dont jeux de toupie et de bilboquet.
- Congrégation de Notre-Dame — Ouverture de la première école de MontréalÉcole ouverte en 1658 par Marguerite Bourgeoys dans une ancienne étable; la source ne justifie pas le nombre précis d’élèves auparavant annoncé.
Source review: 2026-09-19. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.
