HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

(in other countries)

1. Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptians led a colorful and pleasant life; it is said that their energies
were directed to the arts of living and the arts of dying. They engaged in many
sports as part of education and recreation, including wrestling, gymnastic exercises,
lifting and swinging weights, and ball games. Bullfighting was a popular spectacle
and, at least at its inception, was religiously motivated. Music, drama, and dance
were forms of religious worship as well as social entertainment. The Egyptians had
complex orchestras that included various stringed and percussive instruments.
Groups of female performers were attached to temples, and the royal houses had
troupes of entertainers who performed on sacred or social occasions.

2. Ancient Assyria and Babylonia

The Assyrian and Babylonians had more popular recreation activities, such as
boxing, wrestling, archery and a variety of table games. In addition to watching,
dancing, listening to music, and giving banquets, Assyrians were also devoted to
hunting; the nobles of Assyria went lion hunting in chariots and on foot, using spear.
The w=chase was a daily occupation, recorded for history in numerous reliefs,
sculptures, and inscriptions. As early as the ninth century B.C., parks were
established as sites for royal hunting parties. They also provided settings for feasts,
assemblies and royal gatherings. On the estates of other monarchs during the ninth
and tenth centuries B.C. were vineyards, fishponds, and the famed hanging gardens
of Babylon.

3. Ancient Israel

Music and dancing were performed for ritual purposes as well as for social activities
and celebrations which are proven with the abundant references in the Old
Testament. Like other ancient societies, the ancient Hebrews also engaged in
hunting, fishing, wrestling, and the use of such weapons as the sword and javelin for
both recreational and defensive purposes.

4. Ancient Greece
Because of the influence of Ancient Greece on Western civilization, it is important to
understand how leisure and recreation were viewed in that society. Most scholars
regard Aristotle to be the “Father of Leisure” due to the fact that he championed the
 view that leisure was an ideal, or, in other words, an end in itself. Unfortunately,
only privileged classes were able to live this way of life-a lifestyle of freedom for a
few was possible due to the enslavement of many.

5. Ancient Rome
Ancient Romans pursued a different kind of leisure, valuing physical strength and
promoting athletic competition. Social classes were non-existent, and leisure was
seen as a right of citizenship. As the masses became stratified into classes, the ruling
class participated in creative, cultural activities that only its members could afford,
while the “plebs” did what they could during their free time with their limited
resources. The ruling classes staged entertainment for the plebs, built facilities (e.g.,
The Colosseum) and proclaimed 175 official holidays, which became known for
increasingly perverse behaviors and brutality. Many historians believe that this
abuse and Rome’s inability to deal with mass leisure was a major reason for the
downfall of the Roman Empire. Rome’s difficulties with the use of leisure time
resulted in a dislike for recreation during the Middle Ages.

6. Medieval Europe
“Rome, the Empire” became “Rome, the Church”. The church was eager to separate
itself from the hedonistic way of life practiced by its early oppressors. During the
Dark Ages, the value of work was stressed from the pulpit, and leisure as an ideal
ceased to be promoted. Pleasurable pursuits were equated with sinfulness, while
self-denial, sacrifice and solemnity became viewed as righteous. The Protestant
Reformation slowly facilitated a general appreciation of leisure and an extension of
recreational opportunities to the masses. Leaders of new religious sects often went
to extremes to distance themselves from the Catholic aristocracy by declaring the
importance of work for all, and by discounting the value of leisure pursuits in
general.

7. Pre-confederation North America (up to mid-1800’s)

Many religious groups fleeing persecution in Europe brought with them extreme
views about leisure, play, and recreation (i.e., Puritan work ethic). In addition,
leisure was not particularly prized in colonial times, given the fact that building a
new country left little time to “play”. However, in the early 1800s, a second wave of
religious reformation swept over North America, which served to significantly
increase public awareness concerning the benefits of leisure and recreation. There
was a Recreation Renaissance; in other words, a renewed interest in recreation
came about. It is important to realize that neither life nor leisure in Canada began
 with European settlement, and that Canada’s aboriginal people contributed much to
the development of leisure in this country. They regularly participated in hunting,
fishing, playing games, singing songs, dancing, and telling stories. Some of these
leisure pursuits have endured to this day, such as Canada’s national sport, lacrosse,
which is a modern version of an ancient game played by the Algonquin and Iroquois
nations long before the days of European settlement, called “baggataway”.

8. Post-confederation North America (1840 -1880)

Between 1840 and 1880, community resources, structures, and values underwent
significant changes. The role of the church in directing leisure activities was
challenged, and the Puritan notion that recreation was sinful began to erode. The
importance and value of physical fitness and social recreation became increasingly
recognized. In addition, rural migration to cities resulted in an increased demand for
leisure opportunities, as workers sought substitutes for the recreation they had
previously enjoyed as part of their rural lifestyles. In these early years of Canada’s
history, the commercial sector responded to the need for recreation services (beer
gardens, bars, dance halls, amusement parks and stage shows). This same time
period also witnessed changing attitudes of men towards women. Certain activities
became “acceptable” public recreational pursuits for women (e.g., croquet, lawn
tennis, golf and ice skating). Last, but not least, improved transportation in Canada
(railroad) led to recreational travel and the discovery of some scenic natural areas
that have since become our national parks. Better transportation in this country also
resulted in more traveling entertainment (circuses, theatre companies) and
increased distribution of books, foods, and sporting equipment.

9. Young Canada (1880 - 1900)

This time period saw increased government involvement in recreation
development. This was particularly evident in the establishment of numerous
municipal park authorities in towns across North America prior to the turn of the
century. City bylaws, however, often legislated that parks were to be quiet and
serene places. As such, the playing of games was often prohibited, and it was mostly
the upper class that ended up enjoying the benefits of the parks. In 1885, the
Canadian Pacific Railroad established Rocky Mountain Park (now known as Banff
National Park). During the late 1880s, there was increasing interest in public
recreation programming. The most significant event related to recreation
programming around the turn of the century was the formation of the National
Council of Women, an organization that brought forward youth- related issues. This
raised public awareness about the potentially positive effects that recreation might
have on young people, and in time, led to the Playground Movement.
10. 1900 - 1920
Some significant recreation-related events that took place in the first decades of the
1900s included the increasing popularity of Boys Clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides,
all of which provided additional recreation opportunities for youth. The Lord’s Day
Act, which was introduced in 1907, gave rise to the concept of “weekends.” In
addition, one week’s annual vacation started to become a standard employment
benefit, and the number of statutory holidays was increasing (seven statutory
holidays per year in most parts of Canada by 1922). These changing work patterns
made available blocks of leisure time that had previously been unavailable to most.
The arrival of automobiles (especially the Model T Ford in 1908) further increased
the number of recreational opportunities and introduced new forms of mechanical
recreation. Finally, physical education and athletics became promoted in the public
school system.

11. 1920 - 1940

There were many important social and technological changes that occurred
between the two World Wars. The voting population expanded to include women,
who exercised their newfound political clout by demanding more recreational
opportunities for children. They also demanded more equitable treatment as
consumers of public recreation services; discrimination, however, continued to limit
their participation in many recreational pursuits. Women’s participation in high-
profile athletics, for example, was looked upon with disdain. Other factors
influencing recreation at this time included the introduction of commercial radio
broadcasting, which began in the 1920s and resulted in the widespread popularity
of “Hockey Night in Canada.” Attending talking movies and major sporting events
also became recreational pastimes that many could enjoy.

12. 1920 - 1940

With the Great Depression of the 1930s, unemployment increased. One positive
outcome of this event was that the government spent considerable money on job
creation programs, many of which were instrumental in the development of
recreation and parks facilities and programs. Another significant event during this
time period was the establishment of the U.S. Fair Labour Standards Act, which set
out the five-day, 40-hour workweek. This piece of legislation ultimately influenced
labour codes in Canada and set the stage for our present practice of balancing work
and non-work time. Finally, community and provincial government involvement in
recreation increased dramatically between 1920 and 1940. Service clubs became
 involved in the Playground Movement, and constructed many neighbourhood
playgrounds. The first major involvement by a provincial government in the area of
recreation also occurred with the British Columbia Ministry of Education
establishing classes for recreational and physical education.

13. Post-War Canada (1)

The stress of combat during World War II reinforced the need for recreation and
diversion as a means of maintaining morale and psychological health. Ensuring
improved fitness levels in the armed forces also became an issue and led directly to
the National Physical Fitness Act, which the federal government put in place in
1943. Pitching their tents in foreign lands exposed millions of enlisted men to the
notion of “camping,” a practice that evolved into a recreational pursuit after the war,
as many sought ways to enjoy Canada’s peaceful environment with their families.
The war also provided opportunities for travel, especially on the international front,
and many continued to take an interest in overseas holidays long after the fighting
was over.

14. Post-War Canada (2)

Today’s number one leisure activity (watching television) became a possibility in
the early 1950s. It has been suggested that no single event changed the face of
leisure and recreation so dramatically. The 1950s also saw a huge increase in
materialism, much of it connected with recreation pursuits (cars, boats, sports
equipment and labor-saving devices). Another important development during the
1950s involved the increasingly widespread acceptance of community centers and
community schools, which were actually joint ventures between municipalities and
organized community associations. Often, the town council would build the
recreational facility and then turn over its management and operation to a
community group. This model has endured to this day.

15. 1960 – 1970

By the 1960s, there was renewed concern over the physical fitness levels of
Canadians and the poor performance of the country’s athletes in international
competition. This concern gave rise to the Fitness and Amateur Sport Act in 1961,
which redefined the roles of governments and established principles for federal and
provincial cooperation. Governments at all levels became involved in financial
assistance programs promoting the development of recreation, mostly through the
 construction of facilities. Also significant is that during this time period, most
provincial governments established some kind of department responsible for
recreation. Many universities also began offering recreation education programs
during the 1960s.

16. (1970 – 1985)

The energy crisis of 1973 impacted recreation in many ways, as high-energy costs
resulted in empty arenas, poorly maintained parks and greatly reduced pleasure
travel. In the latter part of the 1970s, limited resources and a new “community
development” approach to recreation led many municipal recreation agencies to opt
out of direct service provision in favor of assuming a more facilitative role.

17. (1970 – 1985)

Perhaps the most significant event of the 1970s with respect to recreation was the
creation of a national, not-for-profit agency called PARTICIPaction, whose purpose
was to encourage Canadians to become more physically active. The campaign
resulted in a much higher percentage of Canadians becoming committed to a
physically active lifestyle (from 5% to 37% in ten years). In 1981, this increased
level of interest in physical fitness led to one of the largest and most comprehensive
surveys ever done to assess the fitness of the nation (Canada Fitness Survey). In
1985, the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute was created to conduct
research and disseminate information about the lifestyle practices of Canadians. The
historical development information presented in this presentation was summarized
from Brayley and Searle (2000) Leisure Services in Canada: An Introduction.
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
(in the Philippines)
1. Pre-Spanish history
The Filipinos of the 15th century must have engaged primarily in shifting
cultivation, hunting, and fishing. Sedentary cultivation was the exception.
Only in the mountains of northern Luzon, where elaborate rice terraces were
built some 2,000 years ago, were livelihood and social organization linked to
a fixed territory.
Children were instructed in the proper use of spears, bows and arrows, and
swords. Essential in their living because the skills involved were useful in: a.)
catching animals for their daily meals securing clothing articles, b.) finding
shelter materials, c.) fighting off enemies whether man or beast; and d.)
providing props for their religious ceremonies.
The men and boys were involved in long-distance underwater swimming,
double underarm stroke, diving to fish for pearls which they sold at a profit
to neighboring countries, and rowing/paddling the banca.

2. Spanish Era

 Physical and material well-being was subordinated to a wholesome

spiritual life that looked to Heaven for a reward. The people indulged
only in the activities and amusements approved and tolerated by the
church.
 The Filipinos were not deterred from playing games and engaged in
their own native sports. Some were forms of amusement, as pastimes,
for self-defense and others were even in a form of gambling. These
undesirable activities were not suppressed by the Spanish
government for they helped increase the revenue of the Crown.
 Sipa -a native ball made of a hollow sphere of rattan was kicked back
and forth but it was not supposed to touch the ground -highly-skilled
players could deftly kick the ball over their heads or about their sides
while directing it to a definite player.
 Arnis or native fencing -two men each held a wooden bolo or saber
about thirty inches long and two inches wide and engaged each other
in a duel -only the hardest native wood was used in carving the bolos
which were later seasoned in fire.
3. Post-Spanish to Current Era

 The idea of cockfighting was introduced in the Philippines and

instantly has become a trend. From being a recreational activity, it has
long evolved to be a form of gambling and currently, it is a multi-
million event heavily participated by some.
 Sports events such as basketball and volleyball have been localized
into recreational activities by communities as means to spend leisure
time and connect in the neighborhood. Although still considered as a
sports discipline, its implementation in the local landscape has been
made more lenient on rules and considerate as such.
 Other recreational activities including trekking, mountain climbing,
biking, etc. have been widely adopted by Filipinos in synergy with its
global development.
 At present times, people have been more innovative in creating
activities for recreation and leisure which do not require much
resources and time to prepare. Amazingly, most means of leisure are
spontaneous and made on-the-spot and end up yielding positive
effects as to the goal of these physical activities; developing teamwork
and sportsmanship while connecting with others.
 Throughout the years, recreation has been a major part of
development in societies. It has even sealed its part in businesses as
means to enhance employee satisfaction and productivity in work.
Most entities have designated time for recreation.
 REFERENCES

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https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines/Sports-and-recreation#ref23713
Morales, N. (2017, April 5). Historical development of physical education in the Philippines.
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physical-education-in-the-philippines-spanish-era
Morales, N. B. (2017, April 5). Pre-Spanish times ( - 1521). Retrieved from slideshare.net:
https://www.slideshare.net/norzie/history-of-physical-education-in-the-
philippines-prespanish-times
Recreation and leisure in modern society. (n.d.). Early history of recreation and leisure, pp.
49-59.
Team, L. C.-E. (2014, August 12). The historical development of recreation. Retrieved from
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historicaldevelopment-37925443