The Puritans had a strong work ethic and believed that leisure activities should be limited to those that were morally uplifting and beneficial to the community. They discouraged many forms of entertainment, such as theatre, dancing, and card playing, as they believed these activities were frivolous and could lead to moral laxity.
Some of the entertainment that the Puritans did engage in included:
* Singing: The Puritans loved to sing, and many of them were skilled in music. They sang hymns and psalms at religious services, and they also enjoyed singing secular songs for entertainment.
* Reading: The Puritans were well-educated and placed great value on literacy and reading. They read the Bible and other religious works for spiritual enrichment, but they also read other literature, such as history, biography, and poetry.
* Playing games: The Puritans enjoyed playing games, such as chess, checkers, and quoits. They also enjoyed sports, such as wrestling, running, and swimming.
* attending religious services: The Puritans saw attending religious services and practicing religion as important forms of entertainment and spiritual enrichment.
As time went on, the Puritan communities relaxed some of their restrictions on entertainment. By the 18th century, many Puritan families allowed their children to engage in moderate amounts of entertainment, such as attending the theatre and playing musical instruments. However, the Puritans continued to discourage idleness, and they believed that entertainment should always be subservient to the higher goal of serving God.