Holiday fun is all in the cards

AVIVA GOELMAN

Holidays already! Somehow this year has just flown by. We all know

December for its famous holidays, such as Hanukkah, Christmas,

Kwanzaa and the winter solstice, but are you aware that it is also

known as National Bingo Month?

Before I tell you how bingo began, I want to share why it is of

such interest to me. Here at the Costa Mesa Senior Center, our

seniors play bingo religiously on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They show

up early, anxious to find their favorite spot to sit, buy their four

cards with their lucky numbers, and most of them go home winners.

Bingo is so popular among the elderly because there is no real

physical activity involved besides sitting at a table.

However, nerves are often strained as one important number might

wait and wait to be called, and jealousies arise when two players vie

for the same winning game and wait for their special numbers.

Bingo was started by the Italians and was first called “Lo Giuoco

del Lotto D’Italia.” In the late 1770s, it was played in France where

they shortened the name to “Le Loto,” and it was played strictly

among the wealthy French aristocrats.

The Germans developed their version of bingo in the 1880s as an

educational game for children to learn math, spelling and history.

During the Depression, the game reached the U.S. and was first

played at a carnival in Atlanta.

At the time, the game was being called “Beano,” because beans were

used to mark the squares on the cards. Edwin S. Low, a toy salesman

from New York, changed the name of the game when a player

misidentified it as “Bingo” and not Beano.

The carnival version, drawing numbers from a cigar box and

covering cards with beans, remained popular for many years.

Bingo was used by a Catholic priest to help raise money. It became

a church fundraising event, energizing its popularity among the

population.

Many other organizations followed and still use bingo today as a

main fundraising event. Organizations that host bingo games today

raise money for their organization, but also use it as a tool to

bring people together for fun and social evenings.

As the end of 2004 approaches and before we greet 2005, we have

time to have fun, host many holiday activities and be warmed by the

companionship of old and new friends. I personally look forward to

seeing you all at these cheery events.

Come along and share special moments this holiday season and bring

your friends. It’s a wonderful opportunity to invite that lonely

neighbor or acquaintance whom you’d like to get to know a little

better.

Please mark your calendar with these upcoming holiday events.

Join us Tuesday at Shakey’s from 5 to 8 p.m. We will be having our

restaurant fundraiser, where we receive 20% of all food proceeds with

the presentation of the Shakey’s flier.

Please call the center at (949) 645-2356, or stop by at 695 W.

19th Street to pick up a flier and join us for a fun-filled evening

while supporting the center.

We will once again be enjoying our Winter Celebration party, which

is always a fun way to get everyone in the holiday spirit, from 3:30

to 6 p.m. on Thursday.

This evening includes dinner, entertainment with carolers taking

requests at each table and sing-alongs. For members, the cost is $5;

for nonmembers $11. Reservations are a must.

Get ready for the holidays with a morning brunch on Dec. 23, from

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Santa will be here to take your holiday wishes and there will also

be great music by Toni Bartel and gifts for everyone. The charge is

$2 per person for members and $11 per person for nonmembers.

You can make a senior’s holiday special by donating to our third

annual Senior Chest drive to benefit homebound seniors and members of

the Senior Center.

Suggestions for unisex gifts include afghans, candles, grocery

store vouchers, lotto tickets, old movies and videos, photo frames,

stamps, stationery and any other great idea you may have. Please

deliver gifts to the center at 695 W 19th Street by Tuesday.

As you can see, it pays to become a Costa Mesa Senior Center

member, as there are many privileges.

Just attending one event as a nonmember almost covers a year’s

membership, which is $18 a year.

Make your New Year’s resolution and become a member. We look

forward to welcoming you.

I would like to close the year by wishing everyone love,

friendship, happiness, laughter, joy, peace and most of all, health.

May you all enjoy the holidays!

* AVIVA GOELMAN is the executive director of the Costa Mesa Senior

Center and will write occasional columns about the center, its

members and senior issues.