Traditional games in Cyprus

Comenius 2013-2015

By S΄ Class of CHRYSELEOYSAS PRIMARY

SCHOOL

Egg race

. This traditional game can be

played by a number of players

(mostly 5-10 players). You

need spoons and eggs

according to the numbers of

players. All players must put

the spoon in their mouth and

carry the egg on the spoon.

When all the players are ready

someone will give the signal to

start. The first one to get to

the finish line without the egg

falling from the spoon is the

winner. If the egg falls before

the finish line the player is

immediately disqualified.

A very popular traditional game in Cyprus is “Ziziros”. One person has to cover his eyes while one of the group of players behind him hits him on the back.Sometimes hard …..very hard !!Immediately, after the hit the rest of the players make a “ZZZZ” sound like a cicada (ziziros) and wave a finger in circles, so as to confuse the unlucky one who is hit.The person who is hit has to guess who hit him and if he is correct the person who hit him takes his place.

‘ziziros’ [Cicada]

It’s a team game! The players get inside a Large bag which is made of cloth! They tie it with a knot on their waist. They run by making small jumps. They try to reach the finish line first without falling down. If there are a lot of players, they can be divided in two or more teams!

This is fun with everybody falling over all the time!!

‘Sakoulodromies’[Sack race]

First you choose someone that will hold the handkerchief. Then you make two equal teams. The two teams stand in a straight line opposite from each other. The person with the handkerchief stands in the middle. The leader of each team numbers his players secretly. Then the person who holds the handkerchief calls out a number and the 2 players from each team with the specific number run to take the handkerchief. If the player who takes the handkerchief returns back to his team without being touched by the other player, his team earns a point. If not, the other team gets the point. The winner is the team with the most points.

Handkerchief

‘ A very popular and

traditional game is ‘cattomougia’. One child closes and covers his eyes with a piece of cloth. Then the child (‘blindly’) tries to get one of the other children and when he catches one he must try to guess who he is. If he guesses right they switch places.

‘Cattomougia’

‘Dielkinstinda’ is a fun

game. The children take

a long piece of rope.

Then the children are

divided into two teams.

One team holds the rope

from one side and the

other team holds the

rope from the other side

over a line. After that the

teams must pull each

other until one team

gives up or pulls the

other team over the

line!!

‘DIELKINSTINDA’ [ROPE]

GAMES

Which of our traditional game do you like?Try them and tell us your favourite one.