How You Can Join The Mahjong Craze!
Mahjong is the new craze these days! I have gathered lots of ideas to give as gifts for a mahjong player. This is a game I grew up playing, and you should give it a try if you haven’t already!
I am an oddball. Everyone is starting to join the mahjong craze, but I was raised on it! And, no, I am not Jewish or Chinese. Not that you have to be, but historically, those are the groups who were thought to typically play. There are several reasons why you should learn to play. It’s easy and fun!
I was just an ordinary girl growing up in the midwest. My mom was part of a group of women who learned from a friend when she had visited town, and they loved the game so much, they continued to play at least once a week ever since! I was about 10 when they started, and we were raised to think it was a privilege to play at the grown up table of the game.
*My mom’s group plays a different version of the game than American: “Wright-Patterson Mahjong was created by the Officer’s Wives Club at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the early 1920s. It has elements of NMJL and Cantonese styles with Classic Chinese scoring.“
This is how I raised my own boys. They and their cousins sat at the corners of our “grown-up” mahjong tables. They now play with each other and others they have taught!
For at least 50 years, I have played this game: sometimes as a fill in for my mom’s group, sometimes with my sisters and our friends, and eventually with my own kids and now my neighbors!
This is a great way to bond with a group you are already friends with!
But, it is also a great way to form a new group of friends. I moved to our forever home last summer, and last spring reached out to a few neighbors. We have the most fun group of players now, and I really look forward to my Mondays when we play. It is also fun that we live near one another and can play anytime some of us are available!
*Another note: over the years, I have been able to adapt to playing American if that is what my friends are playing. I still prefer Wright-Patterson over American, different and fewer rules, in my opinion.
**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our full disclosure.
Best Gifts for a Mahjong Player:
Did you know that there are health benefits to playing mahjong? One thing that doctors agree on is that learning new things, getting your brains neurons to connect, in new ways is an incredible way to stay mentally fit! So, by learning a new game, and continuing to play and get better at it will help your brain health!
As you learn to play the game, you will learn how to put tiles in order to match a line or a hand -depending on the style you play. Either way, it is a very satisfying feeling to yell, “Mahjong!
Check out the fun mahjong supplies and extras below! I list everything you need to get started except for a teacher!
I will link to Amazon tile sets here, but I personally ordered a set from Amazon, and I was not pleased with the quality. The tiles had stickers instead of the images being engraved. That may have just been that particular set. I went ahead and splurged on a set from Oh My Mahjong, which I love. I know many friends who are into collecting sets and mats. I just wanted an updated set from the basic set I’ve had since I was in college.
The rest of this post is about fun items to have around as you play the game!
Before your friends arrive, put out one of these cute flags!
Don’t forget to preserve the memories of your MJ besties! Here are some fun picture frames:) And, here are some more!
Best Gifts for a Mahjong Player #1: Bags
Here are a variety of bags for various things pertaining to mahjong. You can use bags for the racks, a bag for the sets, or bags for a combination of all things.
Best Gifts for a Mahjong Player #2: Dishes
It’s fun to have pretty bowls available for players’ money. I also like to have a few extras for little snack items. These are all so pretty!
Speaking of dishes, you need a mahjong apron! Here are some great dish towels to put out when your friends come over. Here are some more choices.
Best Gifts for a Mahjong Player #3: Table and chairs
A card table is always a good option, but finding a folding table with drink holders and drawers is more fun! No matter which table you end up with, you will need a mat, see below.
Here is a short table if you have a group that wants to play on the beach or somewhere else outside where you sit on the ground!
Here is a floating table for a pool.
Best Gifts for a Mahjong Player #4: Racks
There are all sorts of racks. Wooden or plastic. Colored or natural/clear. Make sure you get racks with pushers!
Best Gifts for a Mahjong Player #5: Coasters
Here are some really cute one at Amazon.
And, here are some really cute ones at Etsy.
On the coasters will sit some sort of beverage. Here are some great wine charms! And, here is an even bigger selection.
Best Gifts for a Mahjong Player #6: Mats
There are so many mats. I know several players who collect mats to match their sets of tiles. Here are lots of choices!
And, here are some pretty ones at Etsy!
Best Gifts for a Mahjong Player #7: Mixers
These make me laugh. I mentioned above that I have played almost my entire life, but honestly, most of the things in this post are new in the past couple of years. You can get by with a table, chairs, and a set to play with. That’s all we ever had!
Here are some mixers for stirring the tiles between games.
Best Gifts for a Mahjong Player #8: Card clutch
My friend Laura had a really cute card holder from OMM, but I found some great ones. This one is so cute, and can be personalized!
Best Gifts for a Mahjong Player #9: Watch a movie
If you group is unable to play sometime, why not sit down and watch a movie with mahjong in it? These movies are not just about mahjong, but the game is played at some point.
How you can join the Mahjong Craze #10: Cute merch to wear
Here are some really cute things from Etsy, mostly t-shirts and hats. And, here are various MJ things from Amazon: candles, socks, tea towels, jewelry, tote bags, cosmetic bags, and cups.
How you can join the Mahjong Craze #11: Travel
There are a couple of ways to play mahjong as you travel. Don’t forget to have a game for a rainy day or downtime!
First, did you know that the entire game of mahjong can be played with cards?!
And, then, there is a mini mahjong set that will fit into your suitcase easily. The set includes everything but the mini mat, so put that in too!
How you can join the Mahjong Craze #12: Planner Stickers
Every Mahjong player needs to put their Mahjong dates on the calendar. Why not do it with these awesome Mahjong Planner Stickers like Laura does?
How you can join the Mahjong Craze #13: Wrap it all up!
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