JACKSON, Wyo. — The Teton County Library will host three beginning mahjong classes in June for those interested in learning this popular tile-based game.
The classes will be taught by Annette Osnos, described in the library’s announcement as a mahjong enthusiast. Each of the three classes will cover the same beginner material, so interested players need only attend one date: June 16, June 27 or June 30.
Each class will meet in the library’s Ordway Auditorium from 6 to 8 p.m. Register online here.
According to the library, mahjong is commonly played by four players and is similar to the Western card game rummy.
Developed in China in the mid- to late 1800s, the game has since seen an explosion of popularity in the Western Hemisphere, according to a recent feature by the Smithsonian Magazine.
“A 19th-century Asian game is lighting up TikTok,” the article reads. “Mahjong, long synonymous with grannies at Chinese New Year, is attracting a new legion of fans. Mahjong clubs with light shows and DJs are forming in Los Angeles and New York … The new generation of players is finding that the game, which [mahjong fan and actress Julia Roberts] said aims ‘to create order out of chaos based on random drawing of tiles,’ is not only helping people create social connections after the Covid-19 lockdowns, but also boosting their mental health.”
