International Mahjong Day (August 1): History, Significance And Celebration
 |
| International Mahjong Day |
What is Mahjong
It's a game like rummy that three or four people play with tiles that look like dominoes. In the game, players try to put together groups of three or four tiles that match or are in the right order. Four players, one in each of the cardinal directions (East, West, North, and South), try to win the game by making four sets and one pair.
Mahjong can help people get better at things like talking to others, negotiating, working together, and even making plans. Hollywood movies and TV shows like "The Joy Luck Club" (1993), "Fresh Off the Boat" (2015), and "Crazy Rich Asians" (2018) made the game more well-known over time.
Learn more: August National Days, World Events and Celebrations Around the World
How is the Mahjong Day Celebrated
Fans and experts of Mahjong get together on this day to play their favorite variations of the game.
Spend some time showing someone how to play Mahjong. Get some friends together and learn how to play if you don't know how! It's easy once you know what the different letters and numbers mean.
Because of the tiles, Mahjong can be played all year, both inside and in the park on a hot summer day. If you want to share on social media, use #InternationalMahjongDay.
There are also different ways to play Mahjong. Some of these are American, Hong Kong, Singaporean, and Japanese. Pick the version that you like playing the most. Learn a few different ways to play and use them all. Now is a great time to learn how to play if you've never done it before.
History and Significance of Mahjong Day
A group called Riichi Mahjong Central started National Mahjong Day to get more people interested in the game and teach them how to play it.
International Mahjong Day was created by Riichi Mahjong Central to get more people interested in Mahjong and how to play it. Japanese-style Mahjong is becoming more and more popular in Japan. This platform works really well for adding a social element. Because of this, professional leagues are also growing, just like they are in the US.
The Registrar at National Day Calendar declared August 1st to be International Mahjong Day every year in September 2018.
The community changed the name of National Mahjong Day to International Mahjong Day in 2020 because the game brings together people from many cultures.
According to Annelise Heinz, who is working on her PhD in history at Stanford, the game came from China. Chinese people who moved to the US made the game popular in other parts of the world. As the game spread around the world, it changed into different versions over time.
| The game was first called máquè, which means "sparrow" in Chinese. The clacking of the tiles while they were being shuffled made the sound of sparrows chattering. Most people now call it májiàng, which means "sparrow cards." |
Benefits of Playing Mahjong
People who play the game are not only entertained, but their mental health also gets better. Here are some good reasons to play Mahjong:
-Keeps your mind sharp: Mahjong can help slow down the process of dementia. This game helps you focus and remember things better.
-Great for mental health: The game is good for people of all ages and helps them feel less depressed.
-Helps kids develop cognitive skills: Mahjong is good for little kids because it requires them to plan ahead, be smart, focus, and make plans.
 National Women's Day in South Africa (9 August): Meaning, Traditions and Celebrations South Africa has a holiday every year on August 9 called National Women's Day.This day is set aside to recognize the important roles women have ... |
 Summer Bank Holiday (August) in United Kingdom: Date, Meaning, Tradition/History and Celebrations The United Kingdom has a public holiday called the August Bank Holiday. It is a statutory bank holiday. In the past, the holiday fell on ... |
 Assumption Day (15 August) Around the World: Date, Meaning, History and Celebration The Christian feast day of the Assumption of Mary celebrates the belief that God assumed the Virgin Mary into Heaven following her death. |
 International Childfree Day (August 1): Meaning, Celebrations Every year on August 1, it's International Childfree Day. Today, show your support for people who choose to live a child-free life and honor them. |
