The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc.Gomme, Alice Bertha
History
The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc.
Gomme, Alice Bertha
Folklore -- Great Britain; Games -- Great Britain
Is played by two boys as follows:—One of the boys remains “at home,” and
the other goes out to a prescribed distance. The boy who remains “at
home” makes a small hole in the ground, and holds in his hand a stick
about three feet long to strike with. The boy who is out at field throws
a stick in the direction of this hole, at which the other strikes. If he
hits it, he has to run to a prescribed mark and back to the hole without
being caught or touched with the smaller stick by his playfellow. If he
is caught, he is “out,” and has to go to field. And if the boy at field
can throw his stick so near to the hole as to be within the length or
measure of that stick, the boy at home has to go out to field. A number
of boys often play together; for any even number can play. I am told
that the game was common fifty years ago. In principle it resembles
cricket, and looks like the rude beginning of the game.—Addy’s
_Sheffield Glossary_.
See “Cat,” “Cudgel,” “Kit-cat,” “Tip-cat.”
Musical Chairs
A line of chairs is placed in a row down a room (one chair less than the
number of children who are playing) in such a way that every alternate
chair only is available on either side for the players to seat
themselves. The children walk or dance round the chairs, keeping quite
close to them. The piano or other musical instrument is played while
they are dancing round. The music is continued for any length of time
the player pleases, the children running round the chairs as long as the
music goes on. The player stops the music suddenly, when all the
children endeavour to take seats. One will be unable to find a seat, and
this player remains “out.” A chair is then taken away, and the music and
dancing round begins again. There should always be one chair less than
the number of players.—A. B. Gomme.
In Ellesmere, Miss Burne says, “Snap-tongs,” called in other circles
“Magic Music” or “Musical Chairs,” is thus played. Five players take
part; four chairs are set in the middle, and one of the players, who
holds a pair of tongs, desires the others to dance round them till the
clock strikes a certain hour, which is done by snapping the tongs
together so many times. While they dance, a chair is taken away, and the
player who cannot find a seat has to become the “snap-tongs” next
time.—_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 525.
Nacks
A game in which pegs of wood play a similar part to the well-known
object “Aunt Sally.”—Robinson’s _Mid Yorkshire Glossary_.
Namers and Guessers
Any number of players can play this game. Two are chosen, the one to be
Namer, and the other Guesser or Witch. The rest of the players range
themselves in a row. The Guesser retires out of sight or to a distance.
The Namer then gives each player a secret name. When names have been
given to all the players, the Namer calls on the Guesser to come, by
saying—
Witchie, witchie, yer bannocks are burnin’,
An’ ready for turnin’.
Whereupon he approaches, and the Namer says—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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