Thanksgiving, Family, Pit, and Anarchocapitalism

First, let me wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope it was a joyous holiday for everyone who celebrates it.

Thanksgiving in my family was always a celebration of togetherness. It was always a feast, with thirty-pound turkeys and all the trimmings, tables full of appetizers and desserts. We had seven in my family plus usually a relative that was living with us. We would invite extended family and friends to join in with the celebration.

As we grew older, the turkeys got smaller as friends and other family member started their own families and their own traditions. I even moved out of state for a while. Six years ago, my father passed away. This year there was only six of us, my mother, two of my brothers, my niece, my daughter, and me. For the first time, we didn’t cook a full turkey, opting instead for just a breast. We still had a diverse spread with plenty of appetizers and desserts. I even tried a new dressing recipe. Even with all the changes that have happened over the years, one thing has remained constant, my mother always gets out Pit and we play a game.

^{The version I remember growing up}

For those not familiar with Pit, it is a card game that was Parker Brothers first million seller and was first sold in 1904. It was originally developed by Edgar Cayce, who would become famous for his psychic predictions. Gameplay is fast-paced and rather raucous. It is designed to simulate the open outcry bidding of commodities inspired by The Chicago Board of Trade (known as ‘The Pit’) and the US Corn Exchange. The game can be learned in a matter of minutes.

Very few people I know have heard about the game and even fewer have played it. It’s usually my family that introduces them to it if they happen to stop over on Thanksgiving (or another family holiday). This year while I was playing, I wondered if this game might be popular in the Anarchist community and more specifically the Anarchocapitalist community. There are very few rules, the dealer keeps rotating (no ruler), there’s a lot of trading (with whomever you choose), and the goal is to corner the market. Sounds like a game made for Anarchocapitalists to me. I wonder if it instilled a love of the free market in me at an early age. If so, it’s another thing to be thankful for today and I should remember to thank my mom since it is her favorite game to play.

^{The 1919 cover illustrated by John Held Jr.}

So, do any of my fellow Anarchist, or anyone else for that matter, know of and play this game? What family games do you like to play together? Do they teach you anything about anarchy or the free market? Please feel free to comment below.

Peace