What types of entertainment did they have in Elizabethan England?
In Elizabethan England, during the times when plays were not completely outlawed, going to the theatre was the favourite pass time of the masses. In times of pestilence, when disease ravaged London, comedians would travel across the English countryside, entertaining farmers. There were also many days devoted to feasting, such as Mad Day, Midsummer Day, and Ascension Day (just to name a few), when people would drink and make merry. Dances were popular, whether you lived in London or in a small town, and so was getting together at the local pub for sing-alongs. Games like chess and checkers were extremely popular — Miranda plays chess in The Tempest and Queen Elizabeth herself was known to love the game. The upper classes also hunted for fun (shame on them), and engaged in tournaments of fencing. Reading was very popular, and most educated people could read their favorite books in more than one language. One other form of entertainment, called bear baiting, was popular for a short time
